Your tools to get interviews and land attractive job offers
In my last three articles, I discussed integrated career and life planning mastery, navigating the career maze, and the five essential steps you must take in your career and life planning exercise to set yourself up for a good start. One of those steps, called the “career arsenal,” involves preparing, understanding, and developing the tools you require in the application and interview process. While I have aimed to keep it as simple as possible, I realized that for a young person, it can be challenging to relate to and complete the exercises correctly.
That is why I need to discuss the career arsenal separately and in some depth. I use the term “career arsenal” as it refers to your collection of the essential tools and skills professionals”Must Have” cultivated at the start of their careers. As time passes, updating and fine-tuning this arsenal is vital to stay ahead in your career. Too often, as we move from position to position, from one posting to another, most professionals need to take more time to prepare for the next step well in advance when there is no pressure.
It’s important to note that building this arsenal requires not only commitment and discernment but also a productive state of mind. It is, after all, not a purely technical exercise but also a spiritual one. After all, you are in “future-building” stage of your journey. If your mind is balanced and entirely of satisfied with a promotion you just received, you are much better prepared to plan the next step, even if years ahead. You do not want to be in a situation when time is suddenly of the essence, when updating your resume files becomes torture, and your negative expectations take over your worries and fears. And they will have a guaranteed impact on your future.
A never-ending stream of articles and samples is available online, telling and advising you on the art of resume writing and career planning. Many of them are good, and many of them need to be more accurate and outright right. Few are focused on the hospitality or hotel industry exclusively. Even on the most popular professional platforms, you get bombarded by modern-day coaches and self-appointed specialists, particularly the chatter coming from the human resources arena can be annoying. The field is overcrowded. You need help. Worse even, you feel inferior or unskilled. The well-meaning coaches know this and use it for their advantage.
In the following sections I shall cover the details of this arsenal with you so you can utilize these tools intelligently and understand their ultimate power and purpose.
Your Resume
The foundational element of your career arsenal is, of course, your well-crafted resume. While the format and information provided in it used to vary from region to region and country to country, it is the American resume format that has become prevalent globally and takes the guesswork out of the equation; not only that, but it makes it easier to structure it. Old-fashioned and outdated resume styles are still found in Asia and Europe, but they are disappearing quickly, partially because the information provided in those old formats has nothing to do with the job in the first place and is partially even illegal, like age or religion. (Below an example of a very basic resume).
An added benefit of the American resume is its authentic and timeless format, which remains the most accepted and preferred by most recruiters and companies due to its simplicity in structure and readability. It must be at most two pages. In my article “The Resume Challenge Beyond 2024,” I elaborated on this subject, and you can easily visit the post to find the most essential information for a professional resume there.
It is imperative to prioritize simplicity over complexity in design. More complex designs can fragment the resume’s information, making it less readable, especially for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which primarily filter based on content rather than design aesthetics. It also can make it difficult for the recruiter to permanently juggle between formats. Many young professionals, as well as older ones, still believe, that design can be a dealmaker or impresses a seasoned recruiter. As a former CEO, Regional Director, and General Manager for top international companies, I have seen and read thousands of resumes and can tell you it can also be a deal-breaker. Use the American traditional format; it is recognized, easy to read, and structured, and with these two criteria clarified, you can focus on its content and writing.
Cover Letter Mastery
The second important tool in the career arsenal is the cover letter. Despite the prevailing belief that many cover letters go unread, they can still play a significant role in career advancement. Well-crafted, a cover-letter can even swing the pendulum in your favor when competing with an equally qualified competitor. In an earlier blog, “Relict of the Past,” I discussed the importance of cover letters and emphasized their potential impact in unforeseen circumstances. Not having a cover letter is not really your option. You have to have one, whether someone will read it or not. When crafting your cover letter, begin with a captivating introduction that expresses genuine enthusiasm for the position. Put yourself in the recruiter’s position and think about what would be vital for him or her to read, not what is essential for you. Consider that that person has read hundreds, if not thousands, of cover letters and will quickly form an opinion without reading the whole letter. (The example below is a simple, elegant and easy to read format).
Following this, showcase your top 3 skills and align them with the job requirements, illustrating your perfect fit. Demonstrating your passion for the hotelier profession is crucial, but don’t get into flowery language, conveying why this opportunity excites you. Ensure your letter is customized to the job and company, indicating you’ve conducted thorough research. Explain the benefits you bring to the role and the company, emphasizing what sets you apart. Finally, conclude with a strong closing statement reaffirming your interest and readiness for the position. Remember, the letter must capture the recruiter’s attention and be concise, at most 270 – 320 words. This formula ensures your cover letter effectively conveys your skills, passion, and suitability for the job while showcasing professionalism and consideration for the recruiter’s time.
We have now addressed the top tools: your resume and cover letter. Let us move on to educational credentials, certifications, and letters of recommendation to bolster your credentials.
Educational Credentials
Educational credentials will not be the immediate attention-grabbers; the professional recruiter will acknowledge them and return to them later. Please remember that graduating from a well-known institute automatically raises the bar and expectations for you as a candidate and if you have studied at top hospitality schools, it will definitely help you in the selection process. However, you need to keep in mind that the myriad of online courses and degrees provided by almost all schools have now inflated the value and impact of an education at famous schools like Lausanne, Glion, Cornell, and other top schools; no offense, but that is the reality in 2024.
The recruiter will holistically evaluate your educational credentials. If you score well in all other areas, an impressive degree from an exceptional school will impact and set you apart from a competitor. If you studied at a lesser-known university or college but show an impressive list of continued education on the other side, your value for the employer balances out, or you may even be preferred simply because you have proven to be motivated and educate yourself consistently. Therefore, take advantage of every company-sponsored training and certification, including a company training course with a reputable institute.
Certificates and Continued Education
Certificates, continued education, and documenting career development are not just checkboxes on a list; they’re pivotal aspects of your career arsenal that can truly set you apart from the competition. These elements serve as game-changers and differentiators, showcasing your dedication to ongoing learning and professional growth. Combined with your work history, they paint a comprehensive picture of your commitment to staying up-to-date in your area of specialization.
In my career journey, I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of these components. On three separate occasions, I was selected for roles over candidates with degrees from prestigious hotel schools solely because of my demonstrated expertise and continuous learning efforts. It’s a testament that practical experience and a proactive approach to education can often outweigh the allure of a university degree.
While junior recruiters may overlook the significance of these credentials, seasoned hiring managers recognize their importance. Therefore, it’s crucial to have your certificates ready and articulate why you’ve chosen specific areas of expertise. This attention to detail demonstrates your proactive approach to professional development and showcases your strategic thinking and dedication to excellence.
Moreover, documenting your career development through training, courses, awards, and achievements provides concrete evidence of your progress and accomplishments. Whether obtaining certifications in food safety, kitchen management, or leadership courses for chefs and food and beverage managers or pursuing courses in general management, hygiene, or employee training for housekeepers, each milestone adds depth and credibility to your professional portfolio.
By investing in these components of your career arsenal, you position yourself as a forward-thinking and proactive professional, ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities that come your way in the dynamic hospitality industry.
Letters of Recommendation
You must recognize the power of a good letter of recommendation. Historically speaking, a letter of recommendation was more important than a resume or certification. A letter of recommendation was a guarantor for at least an interview, mostly ending up with the opportunity to prove oneself. In the past 100 years, that has changed and given way to the resume, we know today.
Young recruiters are slowly rediscovering what their aging predecessors have known all along. A solid reference and letter of recommendation can weigh heavier than the best-drafted resume. Therefore, you must pay particular close attention to obtaining a well-drafted L.o.R. from your immediate superior, co-signed by the H.R. Manager. This is not easy these days due to potential legal implications. Letters of recommendation drafted by Human Resources officials have lost much of their historical enhancement and informational nature. They follow a basic script and show their appreciation for your years of service only reluctantly.
Therefore, it can help if you have a pre-drafted template to help them and make their job easier. Most of the time, they will not accept this; however, it is enough to let them know what is important to You, and some will follow through with a letter that has some of the components you wanted. Make sure, you have some fundamental understanding of the coded language, used by Human Resources administrators when issuing a letter of recommendation.
Continuous Updating and Maintenance
It’s important to note that a career arsenal is not static but rather evolves. As individuals progress in their careers, they must continuously update and maintain their arsenal to ensure it remains relevant and practical. This means regularly updating resumes and cover letters with new skills, experiences, and achievements, obtaining additional certifications or training as needed, and seeking new growth and development opportunities. By keeping their career arsenal up-to-date, individuals can adapt to changing industry trends and position themselves for continued success in the dynamic world of hospitality.
Conclusion
Building and maintaining a robust career arsenal is vital for your success. You can enhance your competitiveness and stand out in the job market by mastering skills such as resume and cover letter writing, obtaining relevant certifications, collecting letters of recommendation, and documenting career development. Moreover, continuously updating and maintaining your arsenal allows you to adapt to evolving industry trends and navigate your career path confidently and successfully. When submitting your application, ensure all this is well-organized and available in PDF format. When attending the interview, have it in hard copy. As I mentioned in another blog, having this in paper format in a professional and high-quality folder will make an impression. Additionally, ensure all this information is in a digital format, ideally on a flash drive you can give and leave with the recruiter.
This has been a long article, but it is fundamental for your future to accept, understand, and master your career tools. It can make a big difference in your journey, and I hope that you will find the time and willpower to develop expertise in this area.
My biggest reward is that this article provides you with clarity and helps you in your career planning and evolution. As always, please contact me with any questions you may have.
All the Best,
HELMUT
