HOW TO APPLY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 January 1927, Page 18

HOW TO APPLY

SEEKING NEW POSITIONS. WHAT THE BUSINESSMAN WANTS At the beginning of the New Year ii is customary m many concerns to recruit new assistants for various departments ami m nnmlreils, il not in thousand* o. instances, .voting men, and women, too, for that matter, *,turt oh tneir nusmess careers alter the Christmas vacation (states an article in the Aleicantiie Gazette of iNew /.calami). t\here«er possible we believe in .living the more important v acancies by tne promotion o-i those already on the ntall. In our opinion a firm cannot clo better than adopt the principle ol' wonting nom the bottom up. this i.s not only a matter of simple justice, but, in our experience, senior members of start who have graduated from the ranks of juniors through the several departments have a much better grip oi a concern’s ramifications, and qan theieiore lender better service to'the firm's customers or clients. Admittedly, there comes a time in any business where the dropping out oi a senior officer renders it neediui to seek outside aid, simply because there i.s no one in the service quite equal to tne opportunity for promotion that is ottered. Again, sudden expansion in a business .frequently necessitates the engagement of new ” bioo<i” because the development in staff has not Kept pace with the extension in turnover, it i.s a sound practice in any business, however, to so arrange the staff that every officer from the office boy upwards has an understudy. By adopting this principle not only are those in charge in a position to meet any contingency that might arise, but ii members of the start know that .such a method i.s in existence they will be more contented and will more readily fit themselves for the positions ahead. In view of the fact that, most young people complete tlieir school or (ouege careers at the end of the year, it is only logical that January should be the favourite month for them to launch out in business. Perhaps, because they feel that they might do better under other conditions, many employees consider the end oi' the year a good time to throw off the shackles and tackle the New Year under a new employer. Be that as it may, it is significant that there is a certain amount of unrest at this period of the year, lveiently it has fallen to our lot to be consulted iu respect to the filling of i three staff vacancies, a junior and two senior officers, and a few observations in legnrd to our experience in pet using the applications and in deriding those most suitable for the posts may be ol interest to our readers

Altogether, we scanned about three hundred letters. We do not propose to comment much upon the applications from the juniors, except to state that, in letters from lads who had been given the privilege of secondary education the spelling and punctuation were abominable. From the point of view of the commercial community one wonders whether we are getting adequate value for the huge sum of money that is expended annually in New Zealand on higher education. Judging by the letters referred to, it would seem a good idea, for those in charge of our colleges to concentrate more on the fundamentals. Incidentally, a lesson to the senior pupils as to the manner in which an application for employment should be worded would not be amiss, though we believe that in some schools such a pian is already in operation. Evidently we were not fortunate enough to have letters from youths who had been so instructed.

FUR NISHING BETA ILS. The most- noticeable feature about the applications for the senior positions was the apparent carelessness in furnishing the details requested in the advertisements notifying the vacancies. For instance, in each instance, although it was clearly expressed that all letter's should be in manuscript, some of tne candidates responded with a typewritten communication. While, of course, it is easier to read a lypea epistle, it is always better to seek handwritten applications, because character is often revealed in handwriting. By this we do not mean to infer that an application in copperplate form is a sure indication that the applicant is ideal for the post. Ear from it, some of the most atrocious writers are particularly brilliant business men, while many men who write a beautiful hand are mediocre when it comes to commerce. The main 'point, however, that we wish to make is that when a person is forwarding an application in response to an advertisement he should comply precisely with the conditions set out. if copies of testimonials are requested copies only should be sent, and in this connection, whether it is expressly stated or* not. it is never wise to part with original credentials. The copies could be certified to, or it could be indicated that the originals would be produced if necessary. If the age is requested it should: be given. It is not sufficient to state that the applicant is between thirty and forty. Tne employer may have a special reason for wanting to know the exact age. Some candidates have the unfortunate habit of trying to make conditions in their, letters of application. There is opportunity enough to do this when the time comes to interview the employer. All that is required at the outset is that applicants should furnish the information requested. A golden rule to observe is to be terse and brief, state the facts and stop. Many a man has lost a splendid opportunity because after he has complied with the conditions he makes a rambling statement that might well be omitted. A prospective employer is apt to think that the same individual might on that account talk a buyer out of a sale after he had made it.

An applicant who frames his application in the way of a complaint against his present employer or the world in general seals his own doom. His comments may be accurate, hut they are unwise nevertheless. For the same reason it is a mistake to try and secure a position because of some physical defect or other disability the description of which is aimed to arouse sympathy on the part of the prospective employer. He has usually enough troubles of his own without reading about yours. To reflect in any way oil your present employer indicates disloyalty, and what you will do hv him is a fair measure of your integrity. To state either directly or indirectly that you are a member of some lodge or other fraternal organisation brands you as an individual who has joined such bodies not for the good of the order but to serve his own ends. In relating their experience some people are very vague, with the result that the information they furnish is of little or no use. Details of your career should be given fully and frankly, and if you do not feel justified in furnishing the requisite information, do not waste your own or the employer’s time in sending in an incomplete applica-

tion. An applicant for a berth should account lor the period between the time he started his career and the date of his letter, if this is not done there is a suspicion that a certain period ol his lue will not stand ck>*e inspection. It is quite idle to indicate that you are wire a large company or that you have been wit., certain targe firms without naming the mins. If you feet that you cannot disclose the information without risk to your present employment we would advise you not to apply. Nowadays most concerns treat, or stionld treat,' all applications in the strictest confidence, although it is advisable when applying for a berth to murk your letter “confidential.” l uXCIsE FORM OF APPLICATION. In conclusion we will give a few hints as to the manner in which we thing an iueai application should be framed. Write your priv ate address on your own letter paper fully anil clearly, and ii you can be reached by private telephone, stale this fact, it is uniiKely ti.at an employer would care to get into touch with you at your present office, and it is bad form in any case ro quote your business address. State your age. ii married or single, and number of child.en. A mairiea man with children is usually more steady and reliable than a single one, and this tact weighs with employers. They, however, no not ue.sire information as to your vine's health or whether your eldest boy is top of his class. If you own your own home and carry adequate life insurance, the recital of these facts may assist as such evidence of worluiy possessions denote th riit and forethought. Give a brief indication as to your education, such as “f was educated at the

State School, and afterwards put in two years at College which I left when f was 1(5. I matriculated.” Then state your business experience which might read somewhat as follows: iff Id: . Promoted to junior clerkship. 1914: Appointed cashier. Passed bookkeepers’ examination. 1916: Enlisted. J9'lß: Returned from war and joined as town traveller. 1926: Still with .same firm but now occupy position as assistant-manager of the sales department. The enclosure of copies of testimonials from the first firm and: the citation of three business friends as personal references would complete an application that gives all essential information, and yet could be quickly scanned by a prospective employer, v. lio, by the way, would not expect a credential from your present employer, not at any rate until after he had interviewed you. In a later issue we shall deal with some of the more important factors that should lie considered when making appointments.