Use their Job Spec against them

Break this down. If I find a vacancy, and through the job specification I count ten 'duties' or 'responsibilities' that the employer requires, then I establish which ones I can directly relate to and which ones I can't.

For example, in a Job Spec for a role as the Head Chef for a restaurant, the Duties and Responsibilities might read something like this:

• Overall responsibility for the kitchen’s daily operations
• Liaising with the relevant companies for food orders
• Creating new dishes and menus
• Interviewing and hiring new staff
• Maintaining/raising the food’s profit margins for your employer
• Monitoring and controlling stock levels
• Ensuring correct stock rotation procedures are followed
• Implementation of health and safety procedures in the kitchen
• Estimating costs and ensuring all purchases come within budget
• Taking care of the kitchen’s accounts and creating a work roster

If you can't relate to or connect with all of the duties and responsibilities, take the ones that you can. There are ten laid out above. Let's say you can relate to eight of them (generally you won't always find a Job Spec where you can relate to everything required), you split the eight in half and use four of them to elaborate on your Personal Profile and four of them in your cover letter. 

When you are now explaining your skills that are related to the duties, you can literally explain them back through your Personal Profile in your own words. The recipient of your application will probably have their Job Spec to hand while reading through your CV, which allows them to cross-reference what they need with what you have. 

The Personal Profile is a very brief version of the Cover Letter!

Okay, so now you have established which four duties and responsibilities you can relate to and put into your Personal Profile.

Let's go back to the above example and choose four of them:

1. Overall responsibility for the kitchen’s daily operations
2. Liaising with the relevant companies for food orders
3. Creating new dishes and menus
4. Interviewing and hiring new staff

You now need to explain these back in your own words. Let's try that:

1. Overall responsibility for the kitchen’s daily operations

An example of this could be: I have many years' experience across a variety of restaurants and kitchens, leading teams of between five and fifteen.

 2. Liaising with the relevant companies for food orders.

An example of this could be: In previous positions, I undertook responsibility of food products inwards so as to ensure an exemplary standard of food passed through our kitchens.

3. Creating new dishes and menus.

An example of this could be: I am equipped with extensive knowledge of multi-cultural restaurants, which sets me apart and allows me to build new and innovative menus, based on the various food cultures I have experienced.

4. An example of this could be: I have a significant background in mentoring staff and can boast a minimal staff turnover in kitchens. I aim to recruit efficient staff and I have a stern interview process to ensure that I secure the most desirable candidates for the position.

Now that we have created the foundations for our Personal Profile, let's build it!

"I have many years' experience across a variety of restaurants and kitchens, leading teams of between five and fifteen people. In previous positions, I undertook responsibility for food products inwards, ensuring an exemplary standard for all food passing through our kitchens. I am equipped with extensive knowledge of multi-cultural restaurants, which sets me apart and allows me to build new and innovative menus based on the various food cultures I have experienced. I have a significant background in mentoring staff and can boast a minimal staff turnover in kitchens. I aim to recruit efficient staff and I have a stern interview process to ensure that I secure the most desirable candidates for the position."

As you can see, when it comes together it looks quite well. It also executes the plan we put in motion: 'Use their Job Spec against them'

It can be a demanding exercise at times, but the more practice you put in, the smoother the process will become.

Check out our write-up on The CV which helps develop the rest of the document; and if you are successful with your application, make sure to read our write-up on the most Common Interview Questions or Learn From Your Mistakes in an Interview.

Best of luck with your application from all of us here at EnglishLogica.