A previous column "Differences between trying and getting" (Capital June 22, 2008) has prompted avid readers' responses, to one of which Yoseph delivers this follow up on the best strategies for evading dependency on Lady Luck and increasing the actual possibilities of garnering that coveted job….

I read your article “Difference between trying and getting” in Capital newspaper of Sunday June 22, 2008 with a lot of interest and excitement- more grease to your elbows.
I have a question for you: in a job search situation (which you are qualified for), how could you control the 99.99% element power of luck?
Samuel.

Hello Samuel,

Thank you for your response and question. I am glad to hear that you found that article interesting.
In that article, I attempt to show that when we just try to get an opportunity we are qualified for, we are giving a lot of power to luck and the outcome becomes unpredictable. But when we actually pursue it with persistence, do the strenuous preparations necessary behind closed doors, when we plan ahead, we are taking much power from luck and getting more control of the final outcome.
First of all, I am not a big fan of luck, and I try to avoid the concept even though luck does exist and sometimes we do get lucky. My idea is to take that 99.99% of the power luck has and bring it down to zero, so that we have more control over the outcome.
Your scenario is an ideal example, and that is something we all go through at many points in our lives: getting a job that we are qualified for.
It becomes very tricky when it comes to the job market, and the definition of ‘qualified ‘ is questionable. Also, it varies a lot from job to job, and there isn’t one general approach that works with every application. But I will try my best to share with you what I would do in such a situation, which might not necessarily be the best one, but at least it has worked for me.
I believe that when applying for jobs, most of the work is done in the house, before applying. There are three steps I would take before applying: research, prepare, and present.
When I am researching, the first thing I would do is to ask myself, what are the employers looking for? What kind of position is it? What skills and qualities does the position require? Let us face it, if it is down to academic qualifications and years of experience, everyone who applies would have similar qualifications, and so at the end of the day, I would be just like everyone else. So when applying for that job, my aim would be to stand out, to be different from everyone else, to prove to the employers that I am the best candidate and that if they don’t take me then they must be out of their minds.
I would find out as much as I can about the firm: the job they are advertising, try to talk to some employees working there, the challenges the firm has been facing, why they are looking for an employee (is it because the previous person couldn’t perform well? Or are they introducing a new product? Or do they want someone with new ideas?), etc. I would try to find out as much as possible, so that when I send my application, I match what I have (my qualities, my strengths, my experience) with what they need. Everyone applying would have the minimum experience requirement, so just saying the years of my work experience wouldn’t help. But, bringing out certain qualities from my experience that would be extremely useful for the position they are advertising for would help a lot.
The second step is a crucial one: preparation. After I have found out what they are looking for, who they are and what the position entails, I would sit down with my CV and tailor it to their needs. I would not just send my general CV, but modify it, talking more on what I have done that would be useful for them, and write a cover letter simply matching what they want with what I have. I would create a very attractive package that would be hard for them to decline. The point is not to exaggerate my achievements or parts in my profile, but to emphasize on what I think they would be interested in knowing about.
And finally I would work on the way I present myself to the employers. I would first make myself believe that I am not looking for a job just for the salary, but I am applying for it because I am the right person for the position and that I bring solutions to the firm. Building that self-confidence while remaining humble is very critical. My application and cover letter would show that self-confidence I have built in a very professional manner. The formatting of my CV and my resume would be reader-friendly and different from everyone else’s. I would dress up very smart for the interview, and not dare to be late to it.
With those three steps, even if I don’t end up getting the job at least I have made it really hard for them to turn me down. With those steps, one can reduce the power luck has and have more control over the outcome. So this is how I would do it, and as I said, it might not necessarily be the best way, but it is better than simply printing a CV and a generic cover letter and slamming it on an employer’s table, and hope that I get the job.

Yoseph can be reached at askyoseph@gmail.com