Standing out from the crowd and how to get noticed when going for that next big opportunity in the turf industry. James Bledge – Course Manager at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club – offers some practical advice.

We would all like that nice new car, maybe a winter sun break with the family, the chance to save a deposit for a first house or that ridiculously sized television! In order to make these dreams and goals a reality a strong ethic of hard work along with high standards, aspirations and expectations is required.

Unfortunately, there are not many Head Groundsman or Course Manager positions available, however there are countless opportunities for people to progress for those who really REALLY want it.

So, how do we let someone know that we really want this job when applying? Here are a few simple things I love to see from applicants which always make them stand out from the crowd:

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Preferably one page but two pages max.
• Keep it catchy and colourful, so it stands out amongst all of the black and white CVs on the desk.
• Information has to be relative to the job you are applying for. There is no need to include details about historical achievements or about old workplaces, swimming badges etc that have nothing to do with the position you are applying for.
• Avoid a generic personal statement that is full of clichés and is copy and pasted from the internet – but also don’t miss this out, this is your time to sell yourself.
• Remember, your CV is similar to a bill board, you’re advertising your skills, so keep it relevant.
• Ensure the file name of the CV is appropriately named before sending. There are often CV’s just saved as ‘CV” and not ‘John Smith CV’. This will make it easy for the employer to find at a later date.
• Print out a copy before sending, sometimes the formatting looks fine on a phone or desktop but can be altered when printed.

Covering letter

• Customise and tailor each cover letter for each position you apply for, answering any questions and matching your skills to the job description and person specification. For example: If the job advert says that the club is installing a new irrigation system then include details of your irrigation experience;
• Tell them why you specifically and personally want that job. Is it your favourite football club? Do you have history with the place after playing county cricket there as a kid? Do you love the architecture style of the golf course or is it a dream to work at the venue of the Grand National;
• Don’t be afraid to tell them how much you want the position and explain why;
• Make it personal, this is your chance to make sure you stand out from the crowd;
• Be yourself! Don’t be too over the top and make sure you don’t tell any white lies as these could lead to awkward moments during interview questions!

Last minute pointers before sending

• Make sure your spelling and punctuation absolutely flawless, get a few friends or family members to check it over before it is sent, it can be easy to miss something if you have looked at it so many times.
• Convert documents to PDF format, that way your work cannot be changed and the file size is smaller. You can do this easily on Word or there are countless websites that can convert a document for free;
• Send it to yourself first, make sure it arrives the exact way you intend your prospective employer to see it.
• Send it from a professional email address, not Bigboy21@hotmail.com or Partygirl18@gmail.com; and
• Make sure your social media accounts are the image you wish to portray, employers will Facebook / Instagram or Twitter stalk you! It is very easy to find information on someone these days and more often than not an application goes no further after a social media search.

What else can I do to stand out from the crowd, what do we look for as extras?

• Continuing Personal Development (CPD), proof of your efforts to keep up with the industry, whether this be attending small seminars, visits to local courses, grounds or racetracks, networking with peers, experience at golf tournaments or forking pitches at half time at other clubs. Even crossing boundaries to help out on other areas of turf, how great would that look on a CV!? There is so much to be learned from others inside the wider turf industry;
• Prepare for the obvious questions…‘Tell us a bit about yourself’, ‘what do you know about our Club/Business’, ‘why did you apply for the post?’ All of this will be asked;
• Do your homework! Before going to interview make sure you know all about the club’s history. What silverware have they won? Who are their star players? When their big meets take place and if the going was ‘good to firm’ at the last meet!? Interest in the company shows you are interested in the job, and you will quite often find the first question in the interview will be ‘So have you had a chance to walk the golf course? What did you think?’

You need to really SMASH this question and this is your first big chance to secure the job;

• Familiarise yourself with some additional literature that shows you have gone the extra mile. A portfolio of your work showing pictures of all of the project work you have completed or any experiences you have had; and finally
• Maybe even go absolutely crazy and make a video about yourself and why this is the job for you! Why not? How impressive would that be and talk about standing out from the crowd!

I have always lived by the 5 P’s: ‘Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance’.  By taking heed of these handy tips I can guarantee that you will never be forgotten!