When applying for jobs, the first thing you need to remember is that employers are busy. They don’t have the time to dig through applications to find the information they need. More often than not, they are skimming the applications to pick out the skills they are looking for. If you fail to put these skills front and centre, then you could be missing out on opportunities.
Learning to match your qualifications and experience to events job descriptions isn’t difficult, but you do need to put in the effort. In this article, we’ll share our 10 step process for reading a job description and making sure you submit a CV and a cover letter that perfectly match the requirements.
Step 1: Analyse the job description
The first step is to pick apart the job description. Think about the seniority of the title, the position in the team and the main requirements. Most job descriptions are structured in the same way. The description starts with an overview of the company, followed by a description of the role, the key skills required and finally, the salary and benefits on offer.
Step 2: Expand research
Some companies prefer to leave their job descriptions brief in order to attract a wide range of applicants. This means you will have to dig a little deeper in order to make your application shine. Check the company's website to see if they offer any more information about the role. You can also search on sites like Indeed for similar job roles and descriptions. And finally, you can look on LinkedIn to discover what kind of experience and qualifications their current staff hold.
Step 3: Make a list
Now that you have a greater understanding of the job role, you can now start to make a list of the key skills and competencies they are looking for. If you think that your own skillset is a good match for the role, then this is an opportunity worth pursuing. You might not completely match every single requirement, but if this is a role that would help you to grow professionally then it is worth applying.
Step 4: Review the general skills
Think about the more general skills you would need in any job. Communication might seem like something that the events industry holds in high regard, but this is really something all employers look for. Make sure you have accounted for the more general “soft skills” in your CV and cover letter.
Step 5: Match your skills to requirements
When reviewing your CV and cover letter, you should make sure that you have mentioned every requirement. Don’t just tell the hiring manager that you have a particular skill, show them. For example, rather than saying that you are a highly organised individual, give them an example of a job or project which required strong organisational skills.
Step 6: Put your strengths front and centre
If you think writing a cover letter is unnecessary, then you’re not using it correctly. A cover letter is your chance to shine and put your strengths, passions and motivations front and centre. It shouldn’t be a re-hashing of your CV, but rather an independent document which will help to build a picture of you in the mind of the employer.
Step 7: Review your CV
When deciding what to include on your CV, it can be tempting to list absolutely everything. When you list every job role you’ve had since you were 16, this can turn your CV into an itemised list rather than a powerful description of your past experience. You can be brief with the less relevant job experience to avoid any career gaps. But when it comes to the most relevant experience, make sure that your strengths shine through.
Step 8: Write a powerful headline
The CV headline or summary is a powerful tool. It can draw the reader’s attention to the most important parts of your CV and help to shape their opinion of you. A well-written headline will stay in their mind and paint a picture about where you have been and where you hope to go in the future.
Step 9: Get some advice
Getting a second, third or even a fourth pair of eyes on your application can help you to identify gaps. Reach out to colleagues, alumni from your university and even connections on LinkedIn to ask if they would be happy to review your CV or application.
Step 10: Follow up in the interview
If you are invited to an interview, it’s important that you keep all of this information in mind. They will want you to expand on your skills and experience, not just repeat what they have already read on your CV. Be prepared to answer behavioural interview questions to demonstrate your skills. You can also reiterate your points and further strengthen your application by sending a brief thank-you note or email after the interview.
When looking for a job in events, it helps to have experts on your side. As the UK’s leading events recruitment specialists, we are well-versed in helping applications prepare for interviews for their dream jobs. If you’re looking for a job in events in London, Manchester, Leeds or Birmingham, get in touch with Live Recruitment today.