While we regret seeing him go, we were not unduly surprised by his decision because we have always considered the manager’s position to be a stepping stone – an opportunity for a young, keen and progressive person to pick up and develop some quality knowledge, skills and experience that would assist in progress up the ladder to whatever the ultimate goal is. As a result the twin objectives of having on the one hand a reasonably long-term and stable manager, and on the other hand a person with a switched-on and progressive nature, and willing and eager to learn, are largely incompatible. We have been very fortunate that both our most recent managers have not only been highly competent and enthusiastic, but have also stayed with us for seven years.
There can be little doubt the job has its attractions, and this was confirmed with expressions of interest from more than 50 different potential managers after advertising the vacancy on Fonterra’s Farmsource website. As a result we spent most of March sorting through all the formal applications to have the vacancy filled by the end of March, which was the completion date we had targeted.
The approach we used to arrive at a final choice was a very common one – in fact it would be close to the only one. We got a set of written applications, went through them and compiled a shortlist of candidates, and interviewed these. I believe if possible the applicants should be interviewed in their current work situation.
They are likely to be more confident and less inhibited in their own environment, and you can learn a lot about a manager or sharemilker by seeing them in situ.
The most striking thing about the applications received for our job was the big variability in the standard of the written applications.
Obviously, where there are a large number of applications for a job, a shortlist of candidates will be selected for interviews and closer examination. Thus the first step for a candidate is to get on this shortlist, and its compilation will rely on the written applications. Fail this and you are not even at first base.
There are two key components to the written application – presentation and content.
Presentation tends to take second place. It shouldn’t. An untidy, mixed-up, hard-to-follow document will undoubtedly be a turn-off for its reader. Remember the employer will likely be going through a heap of applications and will be attracted to the well-presented ones. Furthermore an untidy and sloppily prepared application could well be indicative of a state of mind that could be reflected in work habits. In the written applications for the Demonstration Farm job, there were quite a few examples of clumsy and obscure use of the English language, bad grammar, and most reprehensibly, spelling mistakes. There is absolutely no excuse for the latter – all common word processing systems will carry spell checkers. Having said that, recognise that unfortunately “a spill cheque wool knot sea awl selling miss takes”. Get a friend or family member to check the final effort. A few more pointers:
Never handwrite your application – it’s untidy and unprofessional.
Use paragraphs, headings and bullet points so information is separated, spaced out and easy to read.
Photos can be useful – as they say one picture is worth a thousand words – but don’t overdo, it’s not a photo album.
Now to the important factor of content – this is what will secure you a place on the shortlist. First, be truthful and factual. BS or malarkey might get you an interview but it won’t get you much further because it will inevitably be sorted out at that stage. At the same time don’t undersell yourself. Modesty might be an admirable trait but it’s not high on the list of things a prospective employer is looking for.
Your written application should consist of two separate parts.
First is your curriculum vitae – the CV. This should start with your personal details, your objectives, ambitions and plans for the future and contact details.
Then you can list qualifications and work experience and history, with performance details, including your present employment.
If you are applying for a sharemilking job, give details of any stock, plant or machinery you can bring to the job.
Finally you need referees. Choose these carefully. Obviously ensure they will report positively on you. Past employers are virtually mandatory here but also anyone who is familiar with you and is well-known and respected in the community will be helpful.
Mention how they know you. It goes without saying you should get the agreement of anyone nominated as a referee and keep them fully informed about the positions you apply for. Contact details should be provided and, if your referees are agreeable, written references that can be appended to your CV are helpful.
I have often seen the advice that the CV should be revised and tailored for the specific job that is being applied for. I don’t go along with this. In my view the CV should be a standalone document that warrants putting in a lot of work.
It should be attractive, and look professionally prepared and presented. This document can then be copied and furnished with any and all job applications.
As far as applying for specific positions, this is where the second part of the written application comes in – the covering letter, which should be attached to the front of the CV.
This is, in a sense, a personal letter to the prospective employer, and it’s really the “selling yourself” exercise. Put yourself in the employer’s place and think about what he or she will require and be looking for in the employee, then say you are ideally suited to meet those requirements. Tell them why you are attracted to, and want, the job. Provide a summary of your skills, knowledge and experience and point out how they fit the job description.
Stock words such as reliable, honest, conscientious, hard working, enthusiastic, positive attitude, willing to learn etcetera are overused to the extent that if they are not the employer will start to wonder why. So do use them.
I have avoided going into the detail of the content of the written job application. Space forbids, and an online search will bring up plenty of good examples and guidelines along with models and templates.
