| Consider this, if everybody was tall then nobody | | | | application will most likely pass largely unnoticed |
| would be tall. That is to say the definition of a tall | | | | because other graduates with higher grade point |
| person is always relative to the height of others. Say | | | | averages will appear, on the surface, to be better |
| for example that Bill was 6"5' and the average height | | | | prepared. |
| was 5"11' then Bill would be considered tall. However | | | | Another common way of distinguishing 'tall' job |
| if the average person happened to be 6"11' then Bill, | | | | applicants from average ones is by the quality of the |
| standing at only 6"5', would be considered short. | | | | cover letter and resume. Quality, however, is a |
| IT courses have developed outstanding curriculum in | | | | subjective term. In my opinion, flowery language is |
| the last two decades in order to better prepare their | | | | not appropriate in an IT job application. Others may |
| Graduates for jobs in this IT industry. But since many | | | | really rate this type of language. It is so true that |
| IT graduates attend similar courses employers are | | | | one mans junk is another mans treasure. |
| faced with many similar skills sets and job applications. | | | | Ultimately, job application exerts do generally agree |
| They simply find it hard to see who is 'tall'. | | | | that each application should address key criteria in the |
| Comparing grades and grade point averages is one | | | | job advertisement. There are very specific criteria in |
| way to distinguish the 'tall' IT graduates from the | | | | applications and the onus is on the job applicant to |
| average. Although this is a common method, it is | | | | demonstrate their capacity to meet that criteria. |
| flawed with sweeping generalizations because the | | | | Working smarter on job applications means tailoring |
| method does not isolate the content specific to the | | | | an application in its entirety to the advertised job. |
| offered job. | | | | This entails understanding the actual job, not just the |
| Say for example that an IT graduate has excelled in | | | | criteria in the job, and how it fits in with the |
| C# programming but struggled in other subjects such | | | | organizations core business. Experienced IT experts |
| as Project Management. If this graduate applies for a | | | | use this type of response in their job applications. But |
| job programming in C# he may well miss the short | | | | there is no reason why an IT graduate cannot use |
| listing based on a quick appraisal of his overall | | | | the same approach. The best graduates are not |
| performance. Given a natural inclination towards | | | | defined by their high grades, but by their |
| programming, excellent results in the subject and his | | | | understanding of how their areas of strength fit in |
| enthusiasm for the C# language this graduate could | | | | with the IT industry and the business world in |
| be an excellent match for the position but his | | | | general. |