Interview with Jeffrey Fox - Author of the book 'Don't Send a CV '

1. Your book's title, 'Don't Send a CV,' is extremely different and interesting. Do you really mean it - don't send a CV?

Yes. The first contact with a potential hiring company should not be your CV. Everyone knows that CV's are written to make the candidate look great. Thus, hiring managers read all CV's with a negative bias; looking for reasons to toss the CV.

The best first step is to write an 'Impact Letter,' that shows the hiring company how the applicant can help the company increase sales, increase innovation, reduce costs. This is what companies want from all employees.

2. You have a section in your book, CVs don't sell. What does sell in landing a good job?

The biggest 'seller' is the candidate. If the candidate can do the job, and the hiring people like the candidate, he or she has a high probability of getting the job. The key is to get that first interview, and to perform well on that interview. My book gives advice on both of those steps in the progress.

3. In your book, you mention, 'Don't ask for directions.' Can you explain the logic behind this? Is it part of a bigger picture?

The applicant must do lots of homework on the target company. This enables the job seeker to ask thoughtful questions during the interview and to make informed observations on the company. Few applicants, if any, do the hard job of researching and thinking about the target company. Those that do so are rare and are noticed.

5. A review of your book says that some of your suggestions are counter-intuitive. Can you share one?

There are several. Not sending a CV is counter to what everyone thinks is the right thing to do. 'Don't talk in an interview' is the opposite of what most job seekers do. Smart applicants ask pre-planned questions and listen. Unsuccessful applicants talk, talk, talk. 'Always ask for the order,' for the sale, for the job is scary advice for many people. Most people are so afraid of not getting the job, of getting rejected, that they don't ask for the job. Asking for the job raises the probability of getting the job.

6. Innovation is obviously a hallmark of your book. How did you arrive at this kind of thinking?

My job as a marketing consultant to good companies is to find new and novel ways to improve my clients' businesses. Doing what everyone else does, or doing what everyone else does blindly or unquestioningly, does not spawn innovation. Challenging the 'traditional wisdom' is the route to innovation, and to discovering the obvious.

7. What one hard and fast rule would you offer a job applicant?

There is a dream job out there for everybody, but the job seeker does not know the dream company, and the hiring company doesn't know the job seeker. When the job seeker closes that ignorance gap, the job is won.

One other fast rule is to thank absolutely everyone the applicant meets on the job seeking road.

8. Can you share a success story from Fox and Company?

Unlike my other eight books, 'Don't Send a CV,' generates heartfelt and personal questions. Readers tell me that this book saved them. Before reading my book they were looking for a job in the traditional way and were unsuccessful. In desperation, they followed the advice in 'CV' and soon landed a dream job. Another group of writers want advice on special job getting challenges. I answer every letter, and use many of the success stories in my personal appearances. (Most of my personal appearances and speeches are based on the content in my other books.)

10. Is there anything else that you would like to share with readers of this website?

Personal websites are becoming popular for job seekers and hiring managers. It is critical that if someone builds a personal website, that they do so with care. Show creativity, show work samples, show strengths, but do nothing that is off-key.