So You Wanna Be a Boxer (In the Online PR Ring)?
This week I’ve been tasked with shortlisting candidates for the latest job opening at C&M (as advertised here), which has been an interesting and enlightening process. So far in our short but illustrious existence, the C&M team has come together remarkably smoothly, with individuals finding their niche and departments evolving naturally out of that.
Broadly speaking, we’re divided into Content/Creative, Analytics and Project Management – but because we’re an inherently inquisitive and enthusiastic bunch, everyone likes to pitch in to a bit of everything when they can.
Now we’re after more of an all-rounder who can rise to the many and varied challenges that crop up in an Online PR Agency on a daily basis. By the very nature of the business, it stands to reason that we’re more likely to judge applicants on their online presence than by their CVs, at least in the first instance.
We need to know that whoever joins the team is already ‘gets’ the whole Social Media/Online PR thing – whether it’s on a professional or personal level is less important than having someone who is fully immersed, and versed in online ‘etiquette’. If I Google you and all I get is an unloved blog or incoherent Twitter stream, you’re not going to make the cut.
Having said all that, the CV is still important, not least because it is in itself a promotional document, and we are after all in the promotional business. If you can’t adequately plug yourself, you’re unlikely to be able to do a good job for someone else. This considered, it staggers me how many are still submitted with shocking typos and grammatical errors, especially for a job that expressly asks for writing aptitude.
What we want to see is a pithy and succinct pitch that sums up your skills and experience and gives us some idea of your writing style. You’re applying for an Online PR job, so it’s fine to write in an more informal Online PR style. There are plenty of ‘writing for the web’ tomes out there, but really if you are web-minded enough it should be pretty instinctive.
And when all is said and done, that is what it boils down to: instinct. As a recruiter, you are forming a first impression about someone from two sides of A4 and, these days, a stack of web links. Regardless of how many ‘A’ grades or sparkling references someone has, your instinct will tell you whether they are the right kind of person for the job, based on the personality that does or doesn’t shine through.
It’s exciting to be on the front line of this next round of hiring as the company continues to fly, and I’m really looking forward to introducing the next bright spark in due course. Watch this space!
Photo of Retro Boxing Gloves by Respres on Flickr
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