A recent
report posted on The Economic Times by Riya Tandon talks
about how Recommendation letters can be valuable for early career
professionals in enhancing job applications.They offer a personalized touch,
validate skills, and help candidates stand out in competitive markets.
A
recommendation letter can be a highly valuable tool if it is used properly. It
opens doors for individuals, or at least guarantees an audience with the
leadership. That can be a great advantage in today's highly competitive
employment landscape.
Freshers or
early career professionals can find a recommendation letter useful as they
would not have any professional experience or access to companies. Just a
resume would not help them stand out. A recommendation letter also offers a
personalised touch while introducing the candidate and validating their skills
and abilities for a job.
Given these
advantages, early career professionals need to understand how to use a
recommendation letter to get the maximum benefit out of it.
Also Read:
Note to
freshers: Skills are important but ignore work ethic at your own peril
Key to
enhancing your job application.
Numerous
applicants today vye for coveted positions. So recommendation letters can help
individuals break through the clutter and present themselves as being fit for a
particular role, says Nirmit Parikh, Founder and CEO,Recommendation letters are
not necessary but they can be a useful addition to your application if you have
them, explains Parikh.
The letters
can complement your interview by providing third-party endorsements of your
abilities. It is unlikely that employers would frown upon recommendation
letters when these introductions are well-crafted and presented well.
Once the
letter opens the door, it is up to the applicant to use the opportunity to
highlight their experience and interest in the job.
Industries
where recommendation letters carry more significance
Companies
tend to value recommendation letters as it gives them an idea about the
candidates concerned. But these letters can make a big difference in certain
industries and positions, and vastly improve the chances of getting hired.
Startups,
multinational corporations (MNGs) and consulting firms are some industries
where a well-crafted recommendation letter may be particularly valuable, as
these environments value practical skills, work ethic and growth potential,
says Parikh.
What to
highlight in recommendation letters
Recommendation
letters of early career professionals must highlight qualities like discipline,
initiative, ownership, the ability to multitask and resilience, says Parikh.
Discipline
and a strong work ethic convey dependability; a go-getter attitude shows
motivation to take on new tasks; ownership of projects or responsibilities
displays accountability; juggling work and studies exhibits time management
skills; and overcoming challenges demonstrates adaptability. These are some of
the attributes that the letter must highlight, he suggests.
How to
effectively showcase a recommendation letter during an interview
It is of
utmost importance to present the recommendation letter at just the right moment
during an interview and effectively leverage it during the interaction.
Parikh says
one approach to generate fruitful results is to submit the recommendation
letters upfront with other application materials, like the resume. This allows
the interviewer to review a third-party's endorsements of skills and
accomplishments ahead of time. Another approach is to find opportunities during
the interview to talk about the specific experiences and strengths highlighted
in the letter. For instance, he says if a former manager has praised leadership
abilities, share a relevant example that demonstrates those skills in action.
This
validates
the positive feedback through articulate examples. Here also, experts suggest
that the most effective strategy would be to submit a concise and succinct
recommendation letter along with your resume, during the initial
application process.
Read more at:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com//jobs/fresher/recommendation-letters-can-give-freshers-more-visibility-in-a-crowded-hiring-market/articleshow/110635859.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst