Is it possible to luck out and get a prestigious job?

completedit

Or can you be pretty certain that even a stellar cover letter will not compensate for a weak CV?

the_syco

Depends on what you seek.

Some think that a well paying job where you do nothing is great, but can't find it, as they don't how to find it.

Others are prepared to work hard, and give this hard work as an example for a well paid job.

If you seek to do nothing, be prepared to not get paid to do so.

Tom Dunne

It depends on how you define a "prestigious job".

Peregrinus

However you define "prestigious job", assuming it's a real-world job then some people have that job so, yeah, it is possible to get that job.

It doesn't necessary follow that it's possible for you to get that job, of course.

As to the more specific question raised in the OP . . .

completedit wrote: »

Or can you be pretty certain that even a stellar cover letter will not compensate for a weak CV?

. . . depends on the employer and the selection process but, mostly, it's all about the CV. Particularly for the kind of job that most people would characterise as "prestigious". A job is prestigious because it calls for particular kinds of skill and experience that are (a) valuable and (b) scarce. It's your CV that discloses whether you might have that skill and experience.

dashoonage

if Micheal Martin can do it anyone can.

whisky_galore

It's who you know, not what you know.

OMM 0000

completedit wrote: »

Or can you be pretty certain that even a stellar cover letter will not compensate for a weak CV?

If you have a weak CV, you need to either come from a wealthy family (connections) or lie.

Some people definitely luck out, but it's not a case of they luckily pick your CV when they have better ones. You can luck out by:
- Being lucky enough that somehow all the other applicants have weaker CVs than you.
- Being lucky enough that you heard about the job when it was difficult for others to.
- Being lucky enough to have connections that help you get the job.
- Being lucky enough that you embellish wildly and never get caught out.

But if your CV is weak, and there are better CVs in the mix, and there's no other external factor to help push your CV forward, then no.

OMM 0000

true-or-false wrote: »

Some people definitely luck out, but it's not a case of they luckily pick your CV when they have better ones. You can luck out by:
- Being lucky enough that somehow all the other applicants have weaker CVs than you.
- Being lucky enough that you heard about the job when it was difficult for others to.
- Being lucky enough to have connections that help you get the job.
- Being lucky enough that you embellish wildly and never get caught out.

But if your CV is weak, and there are better CVs in the mix, and there's no other external factor to help push your CV forward, then no.

Nice reply, covers the angles I think.

Jim2007

dashoonage wrote: »

if Micheal Martin can do it anyone can.

Rubbish. Politicians have the ability to convince a lot of people to vote for them and the ability to get elected leader from a number of skilled politicians. If they'd got into business instead they'd be in leadership there too.

And no most people don't have those kind of skills.

Deirdre5

if you have work experience and a good education, you'll eventually get a good job

dashoonage

Jim2007 wrote: »

Rubbish. Politicians have the ability to convince a lot of people to vote for them and the ability to get elected leader from a number of skilled politicians. If they'd got into business instead they'd be in leadership there too.

And no most people don't have those kind of skills.

I was taking the complete piss to be honest.

AndrewJRenko

It's not just a question of getting the job. You need to be confident that you can actually hold onto the job, once they figure you out.