1.
First Impressions
First impressions
always count, if your CV doesn't grab the reader's attention in
the first 20 to 30 seconds then your
chances of obtaining an interview are greatly reduced. An employer
may have a hundred or more CVs to look through and
probably only a couple of hours in which to make their selection.
So don't put personal details at the start of a CV or
educational details (unless you have only recently left education).
What an employer
really wants to know is why they should invite you for an interview.
For this reason a short summary of your
capabilities and/or a list of your major achievements can often
be a good idea. This should make an employer want to invite you
for an interview - but, please be careful that you don't oversell
yourself.
2. Visual Layout
The visual
layout of your CV is very important. Even if the wording you use
is excellent if people can't find the
information they want quickly they will move on to someone else's
CV. You should use plenty of 'white' space in your CV and
appropriate headings and section breaks.
Always use
a word-processor/DTP package. Never use a typewriter, as you will
look old fashioned and out of date. Use good quality A4 paper,
preferably 100gram.
3. Length of CV
It is usually
best to try and keep your CV to two or three pages of A4, unless
someone specifically asks you for a longer CV. If you can't keep
your CV to this length then you probably haven't understood an
employer's requirements. Employers don't want to know your whole
life history - just enough to decide whether they want to interview
you or not.
4. Organisation of the information on your CV
If your CV is disorganised then the reader will find it hard to
follow and won't be able to build up a good picture of you
quickly. Remember the reader won't spend very long looking at
your CV - so if they can't find what they want they won't bother
to read any further.
5. Overwritten - long paragraphs and sentences
This makes
it difficult to read quickly - try and keep your sentences short
and punchy. Use bullet points in your CV to
break up the information into manageable chunks.
6. Too little information
If you have
included too little information or the wrong sort of information
a recruiter will not be able to make an informed
decision on whether to interview you or not. You therefore need
to identify what an employer is looking for so that you can
ensure that your CV only includes information that is relevant
to their needs.
7.
Not directed to the right person/company
If you are
sending your CV to a company make sure you include a full cover
letter telling them why you are writing to them and why you are
the right candidate for the job. This may sound obvious to you,
but you would be surprised at the number of
people who send their CV off with a cover letter which literally
says please find enclosed my CV.
If you are
making a speculative application you will need to write a particularly
good cover letter to make the company sit
up and take notice of you. Too many people send a CV to a company
without any thought for the person who will be reading
their CV.
8.
CV makes you look too young/old for the job
In general
being too old/young can be a real problem and a barrier to future
advancement, or even to getting a job in the
first place. It is therefore important that you convey the right
impression and don't use words that will put off a potential
employer.
9.
Misspellings, typographical errors, poor grammar
Your CV should
be carefully checked for errors before you send it out to employers.
Tiny errors in your CV can detract from an otherwise good CV and
make you look lazy or careless - not the sort of qualities you
want to portray to an employer.
10. Make your CV results orientated
You
should be confident and positive about your abilities - so do
shout about your achievements. Please remember that your CV
is your sales document to an employer. If it doesn't tell an employer
why they should employ you then it has failed. An
employer will only want to employ you if they can see a benefit
in it for themselves. So do tell them what you can do for them.
But, don't over do it!
Interviewing Tips
The interview
is when employers will get to know your personality, interests,
goals, and objectives. You will no longer be a list of skills
and experiences on a piece of paper; this is your opportunity
to give specific examples and anecdotes and explain how these
experiences make you the perfect candidate for the position. It
is the perfect time to demonstrate your interest in the position
and your knowledge about the company and the industry. This is
the time for the employer to find out who you are, so be yourself.
What Employers
Are Looking For
Interviews can be very stressful, but the best way to overcome
this is to be prepared and know what employers are looking for:
• Job candidates with a definite idea of their goals, objectives,
strengths, and skills.
• Candidates who are knowledgeable about the position they
are interviewing for, the company and its products, and the industry
overall.
• Candidates who can match their own skills and experiences
with the needs of the company.
• Candidates who are confident in themselves and their ability
to contribute to the company.
• Candidates who can discuss past experiences and give specific
examples that demonstrate their skills and accomplishments.
Prepare Beforehand
Another way to decrease the stress of an interview is to prepare
beforehand. Review your resume and make sure you know your skills,
experiences, goals, interests, accomplishments, and objectives
inside and out. You'll be asked a lot of open-ended questions,
and you will need to be able to give specific examples and articulate
yourself clearly and concisely.
Familiarize
yourself with the most common Questions Asked by an Employer.
Develop answers to these questions, but do not memorize your answers.
Make sure all of your responses are positive and highlight your
skills and accomplishments. When asked about difficult or negative
experiences, describe those experiences as learning experiences.
During the
interview, the employer will not be the only person asking questions;
you are expected to ask questions throughout the interview, as
well as at the end when the inevitable question is asked: "So,
do you have any questions for me?" Always ask questions.
If the employer has answered all of your questions already, come
up with something else to ask about. Your questions can demonstrate
your interest in the position and your knowledge about the company
and industry. Keep all of your questions job related.
Interview
Format
Interviews can be one-on-one or you may be interviewed by a panel
of people. You may interview with the hiring manager or recruiter
for screening purposes or you may interview with people you will
be working with and for.
During the
interview, the employer will ask you about yourself, your background,
and your experiences. These will often include open-ended questions
that you can use to relate your experiences to the needs of the
company. Always give specific examples that highlight your skills
and accomplishments.
The employer
will also present information about the company. This is a good
opportunity for you to ask questions and demonstrate how you would
contribute to the organization.
At the end
of the interview, the employer will typically ask if you have
any questions. Make sure you have a few questions to ask during
this time. You can also take this time to add any information
that you didn't get a chance to mention earlier. Find out the
next step in the interviewing process. Thank the employer for
his/her time. |
