[Vnbiz] Do CVs and cover letters still effective to select for the positions?

[Tran Dinh Hoanh]

Dear brothers Nhon & Lam, sisters Huong Singapore & Huong DC & CACC,

Brother Nhon poses an interesting issue.  And this issue shoud be
analyzed separatedly from the recruiter's and recruitee's point of
view.

>From recruiter's viewpoint, companies have better recruiting methods
than just relying on CV and cover letter, such as referral from
current employees, internship, demonstration time, intensive
interiews, etc...   But regardless of what method is used, the CV and
the cover letter are ALWAYS a part of the process.  You can't just
walk into a company without a CV and a cover letter.  They are your
messenger.  If the messenger looks bad, you may get hurt.

And that should be the recruitee's viewpoint:  The CV and cover letter
are always your first messenger (even if you dad has put in a good
word for you with the company before that).  Your messenger may not
help you win, but may make you killed in the first minute.  In
ddition, a good messenger may help you go further into the process.

Indeed being a messenger, the CV and the cover letter are so important
for job search that they are always the first focus of any job search
training (like the project for undergraduate students that we are
discussing).

Writing a good cover letter is a truly challenging work of art.  In
the old days, I usually spent a couple of hours to write a cover
letter with less than 20 lines.  Cover letter is the first thing the
recruiter sees on your "face."  You have less than one minute to make
him like you more than 500 other applicants, through your over letter.
 Better make that minute work.

Have a great day!

Hoanh


On 12/4/06, Pham Thanh Nhon <nhonpt at gmail.com> wrote:
> [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
>
>
>
> Dear anh/chi em CACC,
> I released this topic because I found boring in traditional recruitment. I'm
> a person that something is crazy and very open-minded for dicussion. An
> traditional interview is too oppressive to me. Maybe I's too unluck that I
> couldn't meet a passionate person as I like.
> To chi Huong huongluongdc at yahoo.com, I really like the ways of American
> using for recruitment. However, as you difficultly see this on Vietnamese
> employers as my friend mention: "It sounded great but it was too ideal to
> get easy because Vietnamese Manager, you knew, did not spend much time for
> any "no-name' candidate".
> Chi Thu Huong meocon24 at yahoo.com, I understanded that traditional
> recruitment was good in some case. Actually, I would like to note that I
> hate it not mean it's not suitable for others. I recommend that employers
> (especial Vietnamese recruiters) should look other methods for the best
> recruitment. It's also the chance for employers gaining new experiences and
> broadening their mind outside the traditional thinking.
> Nice day anh/chi em.
>
>
> --
> Best regards,
> Pham Thanh Nhon
> PR Freelance. If you like to do sth for our country, take me up:
> Phone: (+84) - 987 728 911
> YIM: companion7_18
> MSN: nhon.pt at hotmail.com
> Skype: nhonpt

-- 
Tran Dinh Hoanh, LLB, JD
Attorney of Law
Washington DC