How to get shortlisted in 30 seconds!

Yes, trust me it just takes about 30 seconds to get shortlisted amongst the multiple CVs that an Employer for a job opportunity. Note, it is about first getting shortlisted and then move onto a more detailed assessment round of interviews. Statistics show that over 87% of candidates get rejected in the first shortlist round of assessment.

What is the ‘first shortlist round of assessment’? Imagine from the perspective of the Recruiter. After a hard days work, she gathers 30 odd CVs with a plan to call of each of them. This is the first round of short listing. And believe it or not, this round has nothing to do about your skills, expertise or experience!

It is about ‘INSTINCT’ of the Recruiter to shortlist a few manageable set of profiles that will move onto the next round.

Human psychology largely works on instinct when it comes to decision making. Inspite of so many automated applications (web or mobile), none offer an instinct based decision making tailored to a specific individual. Further human mind is judgmental all the time, trying to create opinion that subconsciously maps to one’s past life experiences and environmental influences.

So when a Recruiter is doing her first round of assessment, 99% times telephonic, she is constantly following her instinct about your suitableness and is trying to judge who you are at break-necking speed. Research shows that the instinct and judgment is in play for the first 30 seconds of the call and in most likelihood the Recruiter’s mind is ready to make a decision to shortlist in these first 30 seconds. Funny, but true!

So imagine what if you knew what are the key things an instinctive and judgmental mind is looking for in those 30 seconds, there would be an immense increase in your chance to get shortlisted…

Here are those 3 key things that if you master, you would probably get shortlisted every time you give a telephonic job interview:

1. Your Language proficiency? Interestingly the Recruiter’s mind is trying to judge whether you speak correctly and are able to communicate your message clearly. Mind you it is never about your accent (because a French will speak in French accent and a Kannadiga will speak in south Indian accent…It is ok)
2. Your differentiation? The Recruiter is trying to spot something different about you. This is largely dependent on what you are talking (your professional personality) and not about your professional skills.
3. How engaging are you? Whatever that you are talking in these 30 seconds needs to keep the Recruiter engaged and not feel bored (trust me a non-engaging talk can make 30 seconds into 30 minutes J)

Now that you know what you need to do to increase your chances of a shortlist within 30 seconds, let me give you an example that maps the above three. You can prepare your own 30 seconds pitch, which will not only be useful during a tele-call, but even when you finally get onto a face-to face interview.

Lets say you were a Business Development Person and you are on a phone with a Recruiter  (your first round of assessment moment), here’s what I would like to hear, if I was that Recruiter:

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“Hello my name is Ramesh Balasubramanian. Thank you for your interest to explore my suitability for the Sr.Business Manager position. I read about the roles and responsibility and I feel it will allow me to leverage my past experience and further build on it. <LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY>

Fact that you are in ecommerce business, makes me admit that I am quite an ecommerce addict myself and today I buy almost everything from ecommerce sites. <DIFFERENTIATION>

Given that in the last five years I would done over $5 million of collective sales, I am very confident of achieving the targets and growth vision of your company. <ENGAGING – Overall>

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So, let them control their Judgment; you control the 30 seconds! Get Shortlisted!