How Peter Macfarlane received the max job offers?
Who is Peter
Peter was a management student at one of the top business schools in the UK, which also has branch campuses in different parts of the world.
Peter’s average academic performance
Peter was not one of the top students in his class. His academic performance was just average. He rarely volunteered to answer questions from professors during class and did not try to avoid answering by hiding behind a friend sitting in the desk in front. He was not the first to finish his assignments, and the quality of his work was also average. He didn’t sit in the front row, but he was not slow or lacking in understanding either.
Popularity Beyond Academics
Despite being an average student, Peter was popular among his classmates and the faculty members. He was friendly with everyone and often helped his friends by running errands. One of his many skills was writing heartfelt messages and poetry, which he used to express feelings for his friends who struggled to find the right words themselves.
The Job Search Frenzy
As the final term of school was coming to an end, students were in a frenzy trying to find suitable jobs. They researched companies, sent emails to potential employers about job openings, and responded to job advertisements. Everyone was busy running around to secure jobs that matched their academic backgrounds and passions. Peter was also caught up in the same job search.
Surprising Interview Success
To everyone's surprise, even though many students had impressive grades, it was Peter who often received the first, and sometimes the only, invitations for job interviews in response to his applications. Meanwhile, other students with better academic records did not always get these invitations, and those who did often received them days after Peter had.
Growing Curiosity About Peter's Success
This unusual trend of Peter being the first to receive job interview invitations quickly spread among students and teachers, becoming a hot topic of conversation. Everyone wondered how this was happening. Some speculated that Peter might be using unfair influence to achieve this success, while others guessed he had some kind of secret or special skill that brought him such impressive results. When people repeatedly asked Peter about it, his innocent demeanour led some to think he was a good actor who revealed nothing. Others concluded that it was just his good luck.
Mystery of Peter’s Achievements
During a staff meeting, the Founder and Chairman of the institution, asked, “How is it that an average but well-liked student like Peter is always the first to be invited for interviews, while others, including some high achievers, are only sometimes invited or never hear back from the companies they applied to?” No one had an answer to this question. Peter was brought into the meeting and asked about the secret to his success in receiving interview invitations while many others did not. Peter didn’t have an answer either and simply shrugged his shoulders. Then, they contacted Peter’s parents, but they also couldn’t explain his remarkable success. Everyone was puzzled about what made Peter stand out from the rest.
Peter’s Job Offers Post-Exams
Meanwhile, the final exams were over, and Peter had received no less than five job offer letters. In contrast, most of his classmates were still struggling to find a decent job.
Investigating Peter's Secret to Success
As the farewell day approached, the Founder and Chairman was determined to uncover the reason behind Peter's unusual—and perhaps undeserved—success. He believed that Peter must have used some unfair methods, and he wanted to expose these methods to discourage others from engaging in any dishonourable actions that could harm the college's reputation. To achieve this, he invited the five recruitment managers from the companies that had offered Peter jobs to the farewell event. He hoped that each manager would share their perspective on how Peter managed to get into their company.
Insights from HR Managers
Therefore, each of the HR managers was invited to discuss their organization’s recruitment processes and what made them choose Peter. This was framed as a way for other students to learn from Peter's success. When the five managers took the stage, they each had something interesting to share.
The First Manager's Take on Peter’s CV
The first manager explained that the main reason they noticed Peter was his well-prepared CV (Curriculum Vitae). He pointed out that Peter’s striking photograph was placed at the top of the first page, followed by his full name. “This creates a connection between the picture and the name,” he said. This impressed the HR team because it was similar to how people introduce themselves when meeting someone for the first time. “By using this approach on paper, Peter made a great first impression, which led to his invitation for an interview. Additionally, he performed naturally during the interview, allowing us to determine that he was the best choice among all the candidates we met,” concluded the first speaker.
Importance of a Reference Number
The second manager explained that his company advertises various job openings through multiple channels, including job portals, newspapers, and journals. Each job advertisement includes a reference number. Most applicants rarely mention this reference number, which makes it difficult to identify which position they are applying for. However, Peter’s application clearly included this important reference number at the top. This made it easy for the team to identify and sort his application correctly, allowing them to issue an invitation for an interview quickly.
The Value of Strong References
The third manager explained that the references candidates include in their CVs, along with their contact information, are crucial for them. This makes it easy to reach out to the referred individuals quickly by phone or email. In contrast, most candidates write, “References will be provided upon request,” which means the managers do not have the time or interest to send requests for references when they already have the information. In Peter's CV, he clearly listed three references with their contact details and included a note in the cover letter mentioning the best times to reach each reference if they needed to be contacted.
The Impact of a Cover Letter
The fourth manager explained that most applications come without a cover letter. However, Peter included a brief, well-written cover letter with his CV. In this cover letter, he clearly presented information that wasn't included in his CV. This added completeness to his application and made his presentation more impressive.
Attention to Detail in Applications
The fifth manager pointed out that many applications they receive are not signed by the candidates. In contrast, both Peter’s CV and cover letter were dated and properly signed by hand. This shows that Peter took the extra step of printing the documents, adding his signature and date, and then rescanning them to attach to the original files. He concluded, “We look for candidates who pay attention to small details, which is unfortunately lacking in most applicants.”
Understanding the Key to Peter's Success
Everyone in the assembly room listened attentively. There was silence for a few seconds as the speeches of the five HR managers sank in. The attendees began to understand why most students do not receive immediate responses to their applications like Peter did.
Applause for Peter
The silence was broken when the Founder Chairman stood up and began clapping his hands. Others in the hall joined in with appreciative applause. Some people turned to look for Peter, who was sitting nearby, giving him smiles and thumbs-up signs. Peter felt embarrassed by all the attention he was receiving, but deep down, he was glad to finally get the recognition he deserved for his efforts.
Gratitude from the Chairman
The Founder and Chairman, briefly thanked the five managers for attending and for explaining the reasons behind Peter's unanimous selection for the job. He highlighted how Peter's well-organized and detailed CV made it easy for decision-makers to find the information they needed, which ultimately led them to invite him for an interview—the first step in finding the ideal candidate for the job.
Five Steps to Success
These five important steps are:
i. Including a recent, eye-catching photograph along with your full name.
ii. Mentioning a reference number (if applicable).
iii. Listing at least three references with their contact details.
iv. Providing a cover letter to support your application.
v. Ensuring that your CV is physically signed and dated.
A Celebration with Peter
Soon after the farewell party, Peter joined me to celebrate at my favourite Mexican restaurant. He explained that when he received my book, Becoming Recruitable, he happened to open it to a chapter that listed twenty-three important rules for getting invited to interviews. He memorized the key points and applied them when he created his first CV. While waiting for a response to that first application, he read the entire book overnight, which contributed to his success. When I asked him, “Why didn’t you share the method you used to achieve your success with others?” he replied, “That part, like all the other parts of the book, became such a natural part of me that it never crossed my mind to explain it to anyone.” With a smile, we raised our glasses in a toast.
Following Peter’s Example
I Trust you’ll follow Peter’s excellent example for success in interviews.
Best wishes
Ash Nan
About the Author
As a multifaceted mentor, Certified Life and Career Coach, and Counsellor, Ash Nan serves as a guiding light for individuals of all ages, including children. With certified expertise in Hypnotherapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and Emotional & Thought Freedom techniques (EFT/TFT), & soon mastering Counselling, Ash Nan empowers individuals to achieve exceptional success in their personal pursuits. As a certified Kundalini Yoga Third-Eye Practitioner, he skilfully blends ancient wisdom with modern strategies. Dedicated to supporting first-time job seekers, Ash created the transformative program "Finishing Touch," which has guided numerous students toward fulfilling careers.
He is also the author of two insightful books, “Mirror your mega success image” and his latest, "Becoming Recruitable."
To learn more about his work, visit:
www.ash-nan.com
and
www.ashnan.cts.com.