Struggling to Get My CV Noticed by HR: How Can I Effectively Communicate My Skills?

Dear Cite HR members,

It's been said that the biggest step is "problem identification," and if it's done, the rest can be easily accomplished.

I am a typical case; I know the problem but am unsure of how to proceed towards it.

Below is an abstract of a discussion with a very senior HR person, after 4 or 5 conversations:

"Hi Saurabh,

Thank you for your appreciation.

Your mail speaks volumes. I must appreciate the fact that to understand your CV in its entirety, it must reach the right hands. It's not HR's cup of tea. For your information, I too belong to the HR fraternity.

Well, honestly, you need to speak to a person who speaks the same language."

Generally, fresh HR professionals see only (which might be wrong):

1. Work experience in which field (learnings and whether they can be applied in a different industry are not considered).

2. They look for a specific profile, but there needs to be a person who understands the business integration.

3. Everything cannot be written in a CV (they just focus on the keywords in the CV).

Unless there is a call, you cannot prove anything.

Please advise on what my approach should be to tackle this problem.

Thanks and Regards,

Saurabh Jain

Hi Saurabh,

What you have mentioned about fresh HR people being unable to shortlist correctly is right. I am a little unclear about your problem - let me know if I have stated it correctly. Are you saying that you need help for your resume to be shortlisted or to be able to sell yourself during your interview? These are two different problems, and the solutions are different as well.

Regards,
Ryan

Hi Ryan,

Thank you for your concern. I am having a problem with the shortlisting of my CV. It is essential that the HR person understands my past work experience and the learnings that can be derived from it. I need my CV to reach the top level of individuals who understand business integration, rather than focusing on just one profile.

I have added one more flow diagram, but I am unsure if it is a good practice. I have also used the Resume service from Monster, but the calls I receive are mostly about energy audits or mechanical engineering with 2 years of work experience. However, I have completed my MBA subsequently. If given the chance, I can demonstrate how my past work experience can be valuable for management roles. But for this to happen, my CV needs to be shortlisted.

Regards,
Saurabh Jain

Dear Saurabh,

Help me understand what kind of job you are applying for? In most cases, candidates have one profile that they send to every company they apply to. However, according to me, this is not the right practice. You should highlight your skills in accordance with the job you are applying for. It is always advisable to check the job description before applying.

You may need to remove some of the information mentioned in the resume and tailor it to better fit the job you are applying for. Let me know if you need any further help in this regard.

Arun.

Dear Saurabh,

I understand you have been interacting with a lot of HR professionals without receiving a clear answer. When I went through your resume, I had some questions:

1. What are your main offerings that are most marketable at this moment? Your resume states that you have worked in the Energy sector and for a month in the Gem/Stone and high consumer durable vertical.

2. Is there any particular sector/role/place that you have in mind?

3. I am sure you have conducted your market research. The quickest way is to review all the job postings made in your target role. Please identify the core keywords in them and consider how you can enhance your competency and offerings.

I agree that HR professionals use jargon and expect to see it in resumes all the time. However, before including them in your resume, ensure that you are proficient enough to discuss them during an interview. Otherwise, it could impact your integrity. Though I have not conducted thorough research, I have come across similar profiles for Middle East jobs. Please check those portals; you might find a better fit for yourself.

Wishing you all the very best.

Regards,

(Cite Contribution)

Dear Arun &,

Many thanks for your responses. Let me address both of you together.

As mentioned by you (Cite Contribution), I worked in the gemstone industry. Let me highlight some key points.

I worked in a manufacturing unit with 1500 workers where 8 kg of gold was cast using the investment wax casting process, with a capacity of 50k pieces per month. We had one Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) with quantities ranging from 50 to 100, resulting in a variety of designs on the floor. The SKU changed when transitioning from 10 Karat gold to 18 Karat gold, or from yellow gold to white gold, or even when the type of stone was changed.

I initiated the production planning in this manufacturing unit. The sales were primarily through TV channels in the US, UK, Germany, and a few stores like Walmart. This planning process is applicable across industries, not limited to just jewelry. The inventory holding cost of gold was significantly high.

After successfully implementing the planning process, I was given the opportunity to share my planning insights with an overseas manufacturing unit in Bangkok, where I worked for approximately 9 months.

In addition to this, I was entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring all requested reports were sent from the Jaipur office, following the appointment of Sir Stephen Rip as the new president. This role allowed me to liaise with Marketing, Finance, Commercial, and HR heads.

Furthermore, I was designated as the Group MIS Head to formulate reports for all manufacturing units collectively, which I successfully designed and implemented.

With the tax holiday ending at EPIP, we transitioned to working on a new industry in the SEZ. I was part of the project team that focused on determining the manufacturing layout, engaging with contractors, and other related activities. I held the role of Assistant Manager of Projects during this phase.

During this period, I also cleared the 4th National Certificate Exam in Energy Audit and Energy Management. This achievement led me to join an energy consultancy firm, where I gained insights into sustainability, green systems, and techno-economical analysis applicable across industries.

Subsequently, pursuing an MBA and experiencing various roles provided me with a platform to comprehend theoretical concepts effectively. I recently completed my MBA in Oil and Gas Management and am a fresh graduate.

In my MBA program, I extensively studied subjects such as Econometrics, Financial Management, Project Finance, Marketing, HR, OB, Research Methodology, and Project Management, with a specialized focus on the oil and gas sector.

For my dissertation, I conducted a quantitative risk analysis in the petroleum business, calculating the Value At Risk for refinery Price Risk management. During my summer internship, I developed performance dashboards and planning sheets in Excel for HPCL.

Post-recession, there has been a shift in the recruitment scenario on our campus, with fewer prominent companies visiting for placements. Nonetheless, I remain open to various job opportunities and aspire to venture into oil and gas companies, power industries, management consultancies, and projects related to cost control, risk management, and equity analysis.

Thank you for your attention and any suggestions or advice would be highly appreciated.

Warm regards,
Saurabh Jain

Dear Saurabh,

I have just shared a few contacts of HR Country heads from the Middle East. I hope you find fitting guidance from them.

Regards,
(Cite Contribution)