Did your Mom ever tell you that you can’t have dessert if you don’t eat your vegetables? My wife and I tell it to our son all the time. You can’t eat just the steak and garlic bread – you also have to eat the peas.
It’s the same way when applying for jobs. You can’t pretend the stuff you don’t like in the position description doesn’t exist.
I recently received an email from a small market radio station owner who is hiring a position that combines a variety of duties, including sports. Many applicants killed their chances before the owner even finished reading their cover letters.
Hear the frustration in what he shared with me:
If there is one common error these guys make – at least for a small market where you will be asked to do a variety of chores – they talk exclusively about their passion for sports and how much they know about the NBA, or the NFL, etc.
We only care about our local high school – our sports guy will NEVER talk about the NBA.
I need someone to do a board shift and talk about the local girl scouts. Some of these guys could probably do that, get some sports and play-by-play experience and move up. But I now mark ASATT next to their name. It stands for ALL SPORTS ALL THE TIME…and if that’s what they’re about, I don’t want them.
ASATT means “skip to the next guy.”
Having a job is like being married. There’s no such thing as the perfect one. If you can find a job or spouse that offers much more of what you like than what you don’t, your chances for thriving are strong.
When applying for a job, don’t acknowledge in your cover letter only the parts of the position description that you like. Instead, declare your understanding and ability to do all of it. If you do, I promise that your application won’t be marked ASATT.
If you’re having doubts about whether a small market radio job that includes non-sports duties is worthwhile, it is. I’ve written about why the experience is worthwhile here.