Five Questions with Cathy Benn, Human Resources Manager
Obviously, not everyone at Fuel can be a blogger, but there’s no reason that we can’t use the blog to help you get to know the people behind the company a little better. Five Questions is going to be a weekly feature on the Fuel blog, in which we interview a fellow Fuellian and get to know them, and what they do, a little better.
So, without further ado, for the first installment of Five Questions, we sat down with the person who you’re emailing when you send us your resume to find out what she likes - and hates - to see in your resumes and cover letters.
What are the qualities that you look for in someone applying to Fuel? What makes them stick out from the pile?
Stick to writing clear, concise resumes that are easy to read. Especially when it comes to technical people, I like skill set listed first, and then work history. Telling me that you like yoga and horseback riding isn’t really of interest, so if you have to include that kind of thing, bury it at the end.
Do you find that gimmicks are a help or a hindrance when applying for a creative firm?
It completely depends on what the gimmick is. If it’s something that is clever and fits, it may actually get me interested in learning more about them, as long as they have the right skills. I can’t guarantee I’ll hire you but at least I’ll have fun meeting you.
How important is a good cover letter?
Personally, I read cover letters last. Everyone has read the book How to Write a Cover Letter, so most of them end up virtually the same. Focus on impressing me with a good solid resume, and if it’s relevant to the position, a link to see the work you’ve done.
What are you looking for from an applicant in a first interview?
I want to see that they can speak about themselves and their accomplishments (without embellishing). I’m looking for honesty and someone who “gets it.” If it’s obvious that you don’t understand the industry or what we do, that’s definitely points against you.
What should applicants avoid at all costs?
Scented resumes!
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 19th, 2007 at 9:06 am and is filed under Five Questions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
