How To Apply For A Job Without A CV

A couple of days ago, I was researching some job boards, and I found a job post with the following description:

How to apply

We don’t need resumes, we care about who you are today, what you have achieved so far and where you want to go. And we don’t believe in time-consuming cover letters. We believe asking you specific questions is easier than writing a cover letter.

So, What is your primary reaction to this call to action? Are you excited or frightened? 

Let’s breakdown this application process into 3 pillars to understand what this company really wants to access.

Self Awareness

Based on the extract “...we care about who you are today...”, it’s implicit that your self-awareness is crucial here. 

There is a great free test that you can take to help you find out your coefficient of Emotional Intelligence. Self-awareness is one of its components, you can dive into its concept:

The core of Emotional Intelligence is self-awareness. Self-awareness is comprised of three competencies; emotional self-awareness, where you are able to read and understand your emotions as well as recognise their impact on work performance and relationships; accurate self-assessment, where you are able to give a realistic evaluation of your strengths and limitations; self-confidence, where you have a positive and strong sense of one’s self-worth. The starting point and key in these areas is the ability to be critically self-reflective.

Source: The Global Leadership Foundation.

The best way to start talking about yourself is by giving out your strengths and what you’re working to improve, meaning your weaknesses.

Run the strengths and weaknesses part of a SWOT analysis on yourself, it will help you get really great answers. Ask yourself the following questions to illustrate the quadrants.

Strengths:

1. What do you do best?
2. What are your positive traits?
3. What advantages do you have (education, skills, networks, etc.)?
4. What resources do you have?
5. What is your greatest achievement?
6. What values do you have that may help you reach your goals?
7. What do other people see as your strengths?

Weaknesses:

1. What tasks do you avoid doing because of a lack of confidence?
2. What personality traits may be holding you back in your career?
3. What disadvantages do you have?
4. What fears do you have that may be holding you back?
5. What are your negative habits or traits?
6. What resources are you lacking?
7. In what areas do you need more training or education?

Then combine your answers to a rich narrative about your present moment. Don’t forget to be specific!

Measurable Results

As on the job post fragment “...what you have achieved so far…”, it’s inferred they want to know your professional achievements. The best way to show them off is to explore your measurable results.

There is an easy way of extracting measurable results, which is using the X-Y-Z formula:

The X-Y-Z Formula is: Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z].".

To give you an idea of how this formula is really simple and you how you can use it, see the steps below.

STEP ONE

X: What problem did you solve? What did you achieve?

STEP TWO

Y: How it can be measured by numbers (time, money, people, etc)?

STEP THREE

Z: How did you solve or helped to solve the problem? 

Here it is an example to help you write your measurable results:

“Creation of a Holding through the study of the most favourable jurisdiction considering the quantity and diversity of the jurisdictions of the Group's companies, leading to cost reductions of up to 20%.”

X = Creation of a Holding

Y = leading to cost reductions of up to 20%

Z = through the study of the most favourable jurisdiction considering the quantity and diversity of the jurisdictions of the Group's companies

The Vision of The Future

In the job post, it says “...where you want to go…”. Now it’s time to talk about your plans for the future. Do you have a growth mindset? Meaning, do you learn with failure, adapt and keep going?

Answer some questions and figure out where you want to go:

1. What is your professional dream?
2. How did you feel the last time you were fulfilled with your work?
3. When are you planning to do something new? 
4. How do you see the future of your profession in the digital transformation era?
5. How do you overcome challenges to reach your dreams?
6. What are your values and how do you apply them at work?

Those 3 pillars of Self-Awareness, Measurable Results and Vision of The Future will provide you with more than enough material to be ready to apply for a position without a CV and a Cover Letter. I totally believe this is the future in recruiting. More personal and competency-based selection processes.

In any case, I know this is a future trend and that most corporations still require a CV and cover letter. If you need help with building your CV, download my FREE Smart CV Builder here.

Be prepared for the future of the workforce and let’s rock!