Every time I vote I read through all the candidate profiles in the accompanying pamphlet, having learned not to assume I ‘know’ who is the best fit. I don’t rely on pictures or political parties to dictate my choice, but rather on track record and message.
What did you notice when you voted to ‘hire’ your last official?
The Screen
Just like a recruiter (did you know I was one?) I scan the profile to see which words catch my attention and how the content is laid out. Things that stood out to me this time:
- THE PICTURE: So many had them that it’s noticeable when those don’t. There is no way for the candidate to know unless they look at examples.
- THE HEADLINE: This is the political party, which could give you a sense of how they would function in the role, how they positioned their brand, or their attention to detail when they included made-up information.
- THE EXPERIENCE: This includes elected positions and work history. In many cases, I saw the trend is not to be a career politician. Or that they had tried many times and never won. Some experience didn’t align with the position at all.
- THE SUMMARY: This is the one chance to share the vision for a better future. How the message begins sets the tone, including if it gets read. Some start with childhood details, frustrations, or even details that detract from candidacy because it highlights why they may not be a good fit (like not being local).
What caught your attention to let you know the candidate was qualified? How does that inform your approach to your own application?
The Application
I invite you to notice (or remember) how you decided which candidate you would choose. Having been hired before, I avoid looking at pictures or parties. At first I started looking at experience, but, as someone who works with Career Changers, that is not always telling, so then I caught myself scanning through the Summaries. When I narrowed down the field to those who shared a message that showed they wanted the role and took it seriously, I then read through the rest of the profile.
Knowing many job seekers feel there are too many applicants in the market right now and assume they are all equally or more qualified I witnessed candidates with made-up parties, messaging that indicated they were doing this just to market their websites, or those so fed up with how things have gone that it was difficult to see how they would make things better.
Spoiler Alert: Just because they’re a lot of applicants, doesn’t mean they’re qualified.
The Choice
I see the opportunity this presents for job seekers to know that how they approach their messaging can impact if they get chosen.
In noticing how you review the materials, narrow the field, and make your selection, what will you do differently when you put together your next application?
Selah.
