Is there a 'secret phrase' that can land you a job?

“There are no secrets to success. Don’t waste time looking for them. Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty to those for whom you work, and persistence.”

So goes a famous quote by Colin Powell, but the long wait and level of perseverance may seem the worst thing to a jobseeker after being rejected by a variety of employers.

In a desperate bid to gain employment, jobseekers look at quick-fix solutions. Whether it’s job-for-money scams or giving in to the lure of making your CV stand out in the crowd, most candidates learn the bitter truth only after having spent a few hundred or even thousands of dirhams to land that elusive job.

The latest quick-fix solution that is doing the rounds on the Internet is about a “secret sentence” that can help a candidate land job interview and job offers.

Tempting as it seems, the video is just a collection of some interesting caricatures, driving home the point that a perfect résumé may not be your way to get a job.

So, what is exactly the secret sentence that will get you the job you’ve been seeking for a long time now? Silly, it’s the cover letter – or so claims a website.

The site www.amazing-cover-letters.com spills the “secrets” that many a desperate jobseeker may have already bought.

“In Only 3½ Minutes, You Can Quickly And Easily Crank Out A Killer Cover Letter That Is Guaranteed To Have Your Phone Ringing Off The Hook With Hot Job Interviews And Top Job Offers... Just Fill-In-The-Blanks!” goes the spiel.

Posted as a discussion under the category of ‘Dubai Opportunities’ on a popular social networking website, the link then takes you to a paid service of writing cover letters that will get you a foot in the door.

Only if it was that easy. “Cover letters are important,” agrees the HR manager of a multinational bank in Dubai, but hastens to add that they’re not the only thing that matters. “There are so many other, more important things a recruiter looks for in the successful candidate. The qualifications of the candidate, their attitude, aptitude for the job, cultural fit within the organisation, being a team player… I could go on and on,” he said.

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