Let’s get real.
“Do not let the roles you play in life make you forget that you are human.”
― Roy T. Bennett
One of the great things about being a Recruiter is we meet people from all over the world, in all walks of life and everyone of course, has a story. This one, is Dilyana Nikolova’s.
Why did you come to Cyprus?
I have family here and after graduating from university I decided to move to Cyprus as it provides better living conditions — higher standard of living and better quality of life.
Do you have a support network here?
Yes, I have family here.
What’s it been like job hunting here in Cyprus without being a Greek speaker?
It’s definitely harder to find a job when you are not a native and you don’t speak the language. If you don’t have an excellent command of Greek, regardless of your other attributes or even education, most employers are not willing to consider your application, especially if you search for a job in the business or finance sector.
I have recently started having Greek lessons in order to overcome this obstacle, however it will take some time before I will be able to speak and write the language correctly.
What kind of experience have you had since moving here with Recruitment agency assistance?
This is the first time I’ve sought assistance from recruitment agencies. I have spoken to a few agencies and must admit that not all of them have been cooperative. On seeing my CV and my previous experience in the hospitality sector, some recruitment consultants responded that they couldn’t offer me any positions in hospitality at the moment, before I even had the chance to explain that I was not looking for a job in that sector and I wanted to develop myself in other areas, considering the fact that I have a degree in economics.
Only at HR Innovate I received a different attitude. No one here tried to place me in a particular category, or suggest a job in hospitality. The hospitality sector has its advantages and provides excellent career opportunities, it is just not the area of my career aspirations. The recruitment specialists here created a very friendly atmosphere and started thinking of possible vacancies immediately. I liked that approach and the fact that someone had actually heard me, heard my voice.
What do you think the main issue has been with job hunting so far?
The main issue when you are searching for a job, and you don’t have the required experience for it is that not many employers are willing to invest in you, to train you. It’s much easier for them to hire someone experienced than to give you a chance to prove yourself. The advantages of employing a person with proven work experience are indisputable, however taking on someone inexperienced can be turned into an asset to the company. When you have been given that opportunity, you go above and beyond, you push yourself harder to prove that you are a worthwhile addition to the company, while an experienced candidate may not go to such an extent, because they are not challenged by the job. In addition you offer the company the opportunity to let them train you in the way that best fits the company’s needs.
Do you think you have had to work harder at getting your CV and applications noticed?
It turns out that drawing someone’s attention to your application and convincing them to invite you for an interview is actually much harder than probably the job itself and that shouldn’t be really the case. You can’t get a sense of who a person is or what attributes a person has out of a piece of paper. There’s more to everyone than just their work history.
Have you been invited for any interviews for vacancies you’ve applied to?
I have been looking at job listing websites every day since I started searching for a new job. I have applied for positions and have spoken to recruitment agencies, but so far none of them has contacted me or invited me for an interview. The only interviews I have attended are the ones arranged by HR Innovate.
What are the main objections and obstacles you’ve had to handle?
The main obstacles are getting your application noticed and convincing employers that you’ve got all the necessary attributes to be successful in the position despite the lack of relevant experience. Often when employers or recruitment officers review your CV, they just scan it looking at whether your previous occupations are similar to the job you are applying for and if it is not a match, you are not considered a prospective candidate. You get the impression that they neglect your education and important facts from your work history such as managing to hold down a job for a long time in a foreign country, having been promoted or the fact that you have chosen to leave your current job, your comfort zone, to pursue a career in another field. All this reveals particular personal aptitudes and transferable skills that should be taken into account and not be underestimated. Technical expertise or job-related experience can be acquired but commitment, motivation, a willingness to learn and grow are qualities which cannot be obtained or taught, a person either has them or not. In the long term I believe that they create a greater value for a company.
That’s why I have sought the assistance of recruitment agencies, hoping that they would recognise these traits in my CV and bring them to employers’ attention.
What are your ultimate career goals?
In the short term, I hope to get a job even at entry level and then by proving myself, developing new skills and gaining new experience to be able to climb the career ladder, preferably within the same company.
What are the 3 main things you’d change if you were sitting in the seat of the interviewer?
If I were in their shoes, I would show more empathy for the interviewee; not make assumptions about someone’s capability based on their lack of relevant experience; and be more inclined to give a chance to inexperienced applicants.
If you could make one statement that would be heard, to all employers in Cyprus, what would it be?
I would like to remind them of the time when they were in my position — inexperienced and searching for a job opportunity, and what it meant to them when they were given that opportunity.
