| The Number #1 mistake job seekers make is to TELL | | | | courses? |
| a prospective employer in their applications, resumes | | | | - What kinds of vehicles can they drive e.g. motor |
| and job interviews they possess skills, experience or | | | | cycle, car, truck or bus? |
| knowledge with little or no supporting information. | | | | - How much experience have they had in vehicle |
| For example, "I have a driver's license" merely TELLS | | | | maintenance and repairs? |
| someone you have passed a driving test. | | | | - Have they had or do they have the ability to handle |
| In my experience, a frightening number of job | | | | an emergency or a breakdown? |
| applications and resumes contain at least one of the | | | | - The type of road and/or traffic conditions can they |
| following similarly ineffectual statements, often for the | | | | had to handle, e.g. snow, off-road, peak-hour city traffic |
| sole purpose earning points by mirroring the employer's | | | | or heavy load haulage? |
| job advertisement listing of "ideal" candidate attributes: | | | | - What, if any accidents have they had, been involved |
| - "I have excellent communication skills." | | | | in, or caused? |
| - "I can work in a team." | | | | - Have there been any claims on their vehicle's |
| - "I have high-level computer literacy and numeracy | | | | insurance over the last 5-years? |
| skills." | | | | - What traffic fines, infringements or penalties have |
| - "I am very organized, can prioritize work and meet | | | | they had made against them? |
| deadlines." | | | | A preferable, convincing and standalone response to a |
| - "I have great customer service skills." | | | | question about driving experience would be: |
| - "I know how to handle a customer's complaint." | | | | "I have an excellent driving record. I have used my |
| - "I have project management skills." | | | | truck for work and car for private travel almost every |
| Employers, particularly Human Resource Managers are | | | | day over the last 10-years without incurring an |
| busy people. They want to see or hear a convincing | | | | infringement, been involved in an accident or have had |
| statement of competence, without being forced to | | | | to claim for damage on my car insurance. Past |
| work it out by having to read every word in an | | | | managers have always said that they can rely on me |
| application letter or resume, or as shown below, having | | | | to deliver on time. I am also a recreational rally driver, |
| to ask lots of extra questions. Imagine two equally | | | | club champion and spend most weekends competing |
| qualified and experienced drivers apply for the same | | | | in events all around the country." |
| job. One candidate shows his experience using | | | | This is a confident and comprehensive response |
| examples from his work history, while the other uses | | | | addressing many of key criteria an employer would be |
| the "I have a driver's license." statement. Guess which | | | | using to measure and evaluate an applicant's driving |
| candidate will be invited for an interview? | | | | experience and skills against other candidates. More |
| Continuing with our driving example (but equally | | | | importantly, the employer does not have to expend |
| relevant to any other skill or competency) an employer | | | | extra effort to obtain critical information. |
| will also want to know how well the candidate drives. If | | | | It only takes a couple of sentences to SHOW a |
| the candidate has only stated they have a driver's | | | | prospective employer in your job application |
| license, then the employer must ask one or more of | | | | documents and at interviews that you possess a |
| the following questions: | | | | particular skill, depth of experience or knowledge. |
| - How long has the candidate had a driver's license? | | | | My recommendation for job seekers is make a list of |
| - Do they have any other type of licenses e.g. forklift? | | | | their skills and to develop comprehensive statements |
| - Have they ever been employed as a driver? If so, | | | | of competency for each one. Also review, amend and |
| for how long? | | | | or avoid using unsupported statements in your job |
| - Have they completed any advanced driver training | | | | application documents or during a job interview. |