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.
2 Comments
Bill Oliver
This also applies to interviews. Fortunately, I figured it out after the first interview for my first full time job after college. Don’t apply if the job description does not interest you. And when you get the interview, question the prospective employer more than the prospective employer questions you.
Jon Chelesnik
Right on, Bill. I especially like what you wrote about asking questions in the interview. The job interview is as much about you determining if the employer is a good fit for you as it is the other way around.