As expected this time of year, I have received numerous resume and cover letter drafts from superintendents asking me to evaluate the effectiveness of their job application documents as they prepare to apply for jobs that will open this coming summer and fall. There is nothing unusual about this, except that this year I have noticed two emerging patterns worth commenting on:

1. The majority of the drafts received this year are coming from superintendents who are presently unemployed while in past years the majority of drafts came from employed superintendents looking to upgrade to a better job. This reversal of employment status is understandable in today’s economic environment.

2. Virtually every resume and cover letter draft received is identical in tone to the resumes and cover letters the superintendents who have recently been released (to purge higher salaries) undoubtedly submitted to get hired by these same clubs/courses a while back; i.e., they were prepared as if today’s bad economy did not exist.

The unintended consequence this approach creates is that it virtually eliminates all possibility of a candidate being granted an interview because search committees clearly are looking to go in a different direction when hiring within today’s ever tightening economy.

Revised Application Guidelines

Following is a checklist intended to lead candidates successfully through the job application process during these tough economic times that are not about to go away:

1. Do not fall into the trap of presuming a continuing sound economy when preparing your cover letter because this will always be a high-risk interview denying approach – especially for veteran superintendents with more established salaries; rather . . .

Freely acknowledge that the economy is the reason why you are presently unemployed… because the truth sells well…

2. Use your cover letter to freely acknowledge that the economy is the reason (if this be the case) why you are presently unemployed (or are looking for another job while still employed). Tens of thousands of summarily dismissed private sector people across America today have comfortably adopted this approach when job-seeking because truth sells well when there are jobs to be had. Superintendents are encouraged to follow this same approach when presently seeking jobs and to incorporate the following within their job applications:

a. Request/require that your former employer provide you with a reference letter that confirms your solid job performance and clearly states that you were reluctantly let go solely for economic reasons. This letter will become a valuable tool when applying for your next job. Under the circumstances, most employers should readily comply with this request when asked because you have earned the right to and are entitled to this support.

b. Prepare and submit a standard resume (with a personal web site, if available) that fully optimizes your career performance. Do not soften your resume in an attempt to avoid being characterized as “over-qualified” because this is not where adjustments should be made to accommodate the economy.

c. Rather, use your cover letter to accomplish this task. Before going on, readers should review my April 30^th blog message entitled, “Don’t Waste Your Cover Letter” to place the following commentary within appropriate context when applying for a job.

It is essential that you use your cover letter, resume and web site to advise/educate prospective employers that you have the vision and prerequisite experience to restructure their golf course maintenance programs to fit within today’s economic means while still maintaining the integrity (not necessarily the cosmetic look) of the golf course.

To prove this point – after using your resume (and personal web site, if available) to get the attention of the search committee – clearly state in your cover letter that should you be granted the privilege of an interview you would use this opportunity to personally inspect/audit course, maintenance facility, equipment and budgetary conditions for the purpose of submitting a workable written plan of action (with budget drafts and a recommended personal salary appropriate for the situation) to the search committee that you will be prepared to defend during your scheduled interview. (Candidates should incorporate the interview technique presented in my March 20^th blog message entitled, “Stress Free Job Interviews” within their cover letters.)

The above-described initiatives create a “win-win” situation for all parties because employers and golf course superintendents will once again have found the mutual ground where each can best serve the other within the worst of economies.

Superintendents, want to help your assistant(s) on their career path? Print out these Career Corner posts and responses on an ongoing basis and assemble them in a hard copy binder for your assistants and crew.