It’s amazing how many different variations of CV’s are out there. The reality is you want to keep it simple and to the point - and most of all memorable. Below is what I recommend you structure your CV like. In our current employment climate where jobseekers out number actual jobs, it’s become even more important when applying - you make sure to present your details in the best way possible.
We all know it. The UK is in a deep recession. Many qualified and experienced people have lost their jobs.. Also there are many young people who want to get that precious first job in their chosen field. Let me suggest something which I believe can help those who are seeking work – volunteering. I have proven it for myself and believe it or not, it works.
Some businesses use social networking sites to check out potential employees. Jobseekers beware - employers are increasingly checking out networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to get a feel for prospective employees. Fiona Hewitt, director of Brand YOU, says while some are just “checking out drunken photos on Facebook”, savvy employers are using these sites as a recruitment tool to assess people’s public persona and reputation.
If you’re on the market looking for employment then you know how hard times are getting - with a literal flooding of candidates applying for any available positions - employers are bombarded with CV’s and interviews. The trick of course is standing out from the crowd! Here are some tips on handling some of those more awkward questions or blemishes on your application and keeping your confidence high for those interviews.
One of the most annoying let downs when you find a job you really want is to be told you’re over qualified. In the current economy world wide - many people are being retrenched, losing their jobs and are looking for new opportunities. You need to be able to restructure your CV to not seem intimidating or out of the salary range of your prospective employers - noone recommends dumbing down your CV but at the end of the day it’s about being right for the job - you definately need to be targeted about what appears in your CV.
Finding your dream job is akin to finding your soul mate. If you feel you’re just not mingling with the right crowd of people to meet him/her - then naturally you change the groups you hang around with to find new prospects - using the network of people you are in contact with. Therefore if you’ve been searching for that perfect job match but having no real success - then it’s time to re asses your strategy.
When considering a career change their are normal stress and anxiety points that play one ones decision. It’s possibly the most important decision someone can make as we need to consider those most affected by our motivations - our families, lifestyle, friends, finances and of course our competency in a new field.
Here is some good advice for anyone new to the job hunting scene. If you want to make your CV count - you need to crack the cover letter. As a whole employers will generally read the cover letter attached to the front of your CV in near totality - but will skim through the actual contents of the CV thereafter.
6 things executives have in their CV’s but shouldn’t:
1. A focal “goal” statement:
Essentially the decision makers do not care about what you want. Rather than leading your CV with a proclamation of what you expect & want from the job, focus on delivering a powerful brand statement of what it is you will be doing for them.
Many executives every year find out just how detrimental a bad CV can be on ones career. It’s essential that your CV be the one that stands out of the crowd – and by crowd we mean the hundreds of other CV’s hiring decision makers are forced to review ad nauseam.