The Chicken And The Pig

The anecdote of the chicken’s contribution to a cooked breakfast being the eggs compared to the pig’s commitment to the breakfast being the bacon illustrates the current NZ job vacancy applicant market very well.

‘Pig’ Applicant
The ‘pig’ applicant promptly responds to a vacancy advertisement, and they deliver a carefully designed and well written CV and a Cover Letter that demonstrates motivation, drive, and a desire for change in their work circumstance.  They provide all the information requested of them and the vacancy holder finds it easy to connect with them whether it be by phone, email, or text.  This applicant is clearly committed to their objective, and they are a standout applicant who will go on the shortlist. 

‘Chicken’ Applicant’
The ‘chicken’ job applicant responds to the vacancy advertisement in a timely manner, and they provide an acceptable CV but probably won’t include a Cover Letter and if they do it probably won’t really communicate any valuable information.  They will have only provided some of the information requested and they are slow to respond to the vacancy holder’s attempts to connect with them.  They may make it to a long list, but they are not a standout applicant. 

The ‘Swan’ Applicant
Then we have the ‘swan’ job applicant they have no place on the breakfast menu and they swan in and quickly swan out of the process, they make an application that may appear to be from a ‘pig’ or a ‘chicken’ and then they disappear never to be heard from again. 

Of course, I understand that people’s circumstances can change quickly so there are some legitimate applicants in his category, but I cannot fathom the motivation of a ‘swan’ applicant and they really don’t have a place in the job seeker arena. 

So, to our legitimate job seekers are you are you the ‘pig’ or the ‘chicken’?