Cv For Interviews

Creating a résumé or CV is central to the search for a job, but is something most of us hate doing.  Unfortunately, very few people are adept at presenting themselves in the best possible light and this can mean their application is rejected at the first hurdle.

One of the biggest mistakes most people make is sending out the same résumé for every application. It’s a big temptation – you’ve spent hours getting the details and layout just right, or perhaps you’ve paid a considerable amount of money to have someone write it professionally. The trouble is, each résumé needs to be tailored to the job in question, and it’s vital that you do this if you want to stand out from the crowd.

What does tailoring a résumé mean? It simply means writing it specifically for the post you are targeting. To do this you must recognise the keywords the employer will be looking for and relate them to your own experience. Keywords will be found in the job description and person specification, or in the job advertisement and on the company website. They describe the skills, qualifications and experience needed for the post. Keywords should stand out on your résumé – don’t forget that in the first round of the selection process, résumé s are usually only given a 20 second glance. So if the interviewer doesn’t see what he’s looking for, your résumé is destined for the shredder.

Here’s an example of targeting: let’s say you are a secretary who speaks several languages and can take shorthand in all of them, but are applying for a job in an office where only English and audio are used. Languages and shorthand, impressive as they are, would not be the most prominent skills on your résumé. Instead, you would focus on the skills required, which might be fast typing, advanced Excel or Powerpoint. Languages and shorthand would be mentioned briefly, perhaps under the heading “Additional Skills.”

Another common mistake, usually made by older applicants, is including their entire work and educational history. It’s usual (in the UK) for CVs to go back only 10 years in terms of work and if you have a degree, school qualifications can be omitted, unless specifically requested or relevant. Employers occasionally ask for a full CV, in which case you do have to include everything.

Choosing the wrong format can also condemn your résumé to the bin - different styles work best in specific situations. Many people stick to the chronological résumé, but this is not always the most appropriate. It works well if you have been steadily progressing up the ladder in a particular career, or if your most recent jobs are likely to impress the company you hope to work for.

A skills-based or functional résumé is great if you have gaps in your work history, as you can use it to highlight the fact that you have exactly the skills the employer is looking for. It’s also useful if you are moving to a new career or area of work and your work experience isn’t completely relevant.

A targeted résumé is aimed at a precise job or career, for example if you retrained as a teacher in your 30s or 40s and were applying for a teaching post, your work-related heading might be “Teaching Experience” and your main skills would all be relevant to teaching, for example using IT in the classroom and curriculum development. For soft skills, such as communication skills and team work, you would use examples from your teaching career.

You may need to have different styles of résumé for different applications. If we use the previous example of the secretary, she might have had a series of language related jobs and is now applying for linguist and non linguist posts. She could choose a chronological résumé for the language jobs and a functional résumé for the others.

To sum up, individualise every résumé for the job concerned, choose the most suitable format for the situation and remember: keywords must jump out at the reader in the first 20 seconds.

© Waller Jamison 2005

The major purpose of Resume/CV is to get you to the interview rooms. Therefore, for jobs seekers this is the step that requires great deal of care and holds vital significance in the whole process of Job Hunting.

Now I have listed down some key mistakes to avoid so that your Resume/CV could give you better results the next time you send it.

1- Avoid Grammatical Mistakes:

At times this has been observed and has been sated by the employers that one of the most negative that could go against any candidate is having grammatical errors in their Resume/CV. Thus, preventive measure should be taken. Before taking a printout for final submission whole document should be carefully corrected for any grammatical mistakes.

2- One Resume/CV will do:

Another turn off for the employers has been that the Resume/CV which they have received has nothing to do with the job opportunity. What the Job Seekers do is that they take many printouts of one CV and send it to all the employers. What the employers actually are looking for is a specific CV which has been created for them only. So substantial care if required.

3- Lack of Details:

At times irrelevant information is provided and relevant information seems to be missing from the Resume/CV. Therefore, we need to make sure that the key information will remain present there. Remain to the point and not to mention irrelevant details. However, do list about your accomplishment in a story form.

4- Incorrect Contact Information:

Another thing that needs attention is that you should not provide incorrect information in the resume. As this process usually entails getting in touch with you. But, if the information is not as correct that it should be then it will again fail to full fill its purpose.

5- Consultation:

Before sending your resumes do get it checked by some individuals. It’s always a good idea to get your Resume/ CV checked by some expert. They will provide you professional feedback and might also recommend you for something better in future.

So, these are the major mistakes which you need to avoid and by doing so you will be increasing the probability of letting the Resume/CV attain its objective.

The only information a potention employer usually has about you as a job candidate is the information presented on a resume and in the cover letter. It is also the only information that a hiring manager may have about the other five hundred candidates. Given that there are often large numbers of candidates applying for one position, you need a resume that will stand out.

<b>Using a Professional Resume Writer</b>

A professional resume writer is familiar with the job application process, and knows how to present your information in the best possible way. A professionally written resume can definitely help your resume stand apart from the crowd.

Writing a resume is a difficult and daunting task for many people, including those who have been in the workforce a number of years. For a college student with little or no work experience, the idea of writing a resume may seem like trying to do the impossible.

A professional resume writer knows the types of questions to ask to learn more about your background, education, skills, and experience, and then put this information into a cohesive marketing document called a resume. Additionally, a professional resume writer has typically written hundreds or even thousands of resumes, including many for new graduates and college students. Whereas you may be unsure which information to include, a professional can determine the most appropriate information to include and how to best present it. The result? A resume that stands out!

<b>How Does it Work? </b>

Depending on the service you choose, your writer will obtain as much information as possible from you regarding your background. You will need to provide information for your college resume including work history, education, volunteer work, professional memberships, skills, abilities, and anything else that may help your resume rise to the top. Most professionals will provide you with a questionnaire to fill out, will ask you a variety of questions, or both. Some resume writers work through the Internet, some by phone, some in person, and some using a combination of these communication methods.

<b>Choosing a Professional Resume Writer</b>

When choosing a resume writer or service, look for one that uses resume writers certified in the industry or who have degrees or other, legitimate credentials in the careers field. A number of organizations certify resume writers. Some of the more respected certifications include Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Master Resume Writer (MRW), and Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW).  

Many career counselors and career coaches provide resume writing and additional services, such as assessments, interviewing skills, and job search strategies. Which service you choose will depend on your needs, budget, and comfort level with the organization, and method of communication. Some people enjoy the convenience of working online and through email, while others prefer the immediacy of face-to-face contact.

If you want your resume to rise to the top and obtain those coveted interviews, consider using a resume writing professional. Your future is at stake!

A resume is the first and the most important step in the process of job seeking. A resume consists of a brief account of your qualifications and experience. It basically showcases your skills and experience. The whole idea of a resume is to put you in such a light that the prospective employer finds you perfect for the job.

A resume should contain personal details such as name, address, telephone number, email ID and date of birth. Educational details are next. An important thing you should keep in mind is to start from the latest information and then move backwards. Start from your recent education and mention the subjects studied at your college, school, courses, etc. Similarly, start from the latest job responsibilities you are holding. Mention your job profile and what all you learned at the job instead of simply mentioning the job-title and employer. It is not necessary to write exact dates, a simple mention of months and years is sufficient. There are various formats you can work with.

The chronological format includes a job-by-job listing of your experience. It proves effective for the people who have careers moving in the upward direction. Another format is the functional format in which you highlight key skills and knowledge. It widens the scope of people who have been changing jobs often, as they can talk about responsibilities, projects and skills learnt from each job. Then you can also use a combination of the chronological and functional formats. Such a resume will mention the job-by-job experience alongside accomplishments at each job.

There are certain factors you must keep in mind while formulating your resume. The resume should not ideally go beyond more than 2 pages. Try to keep the information as precise as possible. If you have some 30 years of experience, it is not necessary to enlist all of it. The details of the last 10 years of your career will suffice and the rest of the information should be provided in a very concise manner. Use more of action verbs such as: supervised, organized, learned, contributed, etc. The freshers in the industry can highlight their responsibilities at the college/school level. Mention the extra-curricular activities that you have taken part in. You must also mention your achievements. Be careful to tailor make your CV according to demands of the employer. Use an Arial or Times New Roman font; do not go for very decorative fonts. Do write about the skills pertinent to the job, making you fit the brief perfectly. List out five or six key attributes the employers are looking for and prepare your resume accordingly.

It is important to format your resume since you are being judged by the way your resume looks. You can choose to exclude certain details such as hobbies if they are totally unrelated to your profession. However, if you are applying for a Public Relations job and your hobby is making friends, then it is sensible to include it. Do not give reasons for leaving your current job as it has a negative impact. Leave such tough questions for the interview. It is advisable to inform your references beforehand and hand over a copy of your resume to them. Last but not the least; keep updating your resume regularly.

Nearly all job seekers are well aware of the importance of a resume when applying for a professional opinion, but few realize the vital role that an accompanying cover letter plays in the selection process.  In fact, your cover letter is just as important to your job search as is your resume. 

Consider this: recruiters and managers often receive dozens, if not hundreds, of applicants for every one available position.  With so many applicants to review, interviewers do not have much time to determine if you are qualified for the job.  In fact, a recruiter typically spends between one and two minutes quickly glancing over a resume, hardly enough to thoroughly investigate if your skills set and experience is a good match for the position. 

This is why a cover letter is such a critical tool to the job seeking process.  The purpose of a cover letter is to clearly express your interest in and qualifications for a position to a prospective employer.  So while the resume is a generic advertisement, your cover letter tailors your application to each specific job.  By condensing your resume into key points and drawing the recruiter’s attention to the most relevant areas of your experience, you are assisting the recruiter in matching up your qualifications to that of the open position.  And by taking the guesswork out of your resume, you greatly increase your chances of getting a call for an interview.

A cover letter has to “sell” your qualifications to a complete stranger and convince them that you are worthy of an in-person meeting.  Therefore, as you can imagine, it is not an easy document to write.  There are several guidelines, though, that should assist you in the cover letter development process.

Typically a cover letter is less than one page in length and has four main sections: the introduction, a highlight of your qualifications, a summary of why you are interested in the position, and a concluding follow-up.  Before you start listing a litany of skills, though, it’s important to do some research on the company and the position for which you are applying to give you a better understanding of the company’s products or services, history, values, and target customer market. This will help give you a better idea of what recruiters are likely to be seeking in a candidate, and allow you to tailor your cover letter to specifically address those areas. 

Part 1 - The Introduction:

Your cover letter should be addressed to the hiring manager, whenever possible.
Specifically mention the position(s) that you are seeking
Let the recruiter know how you heard about the position.  If you saw the position advertised or were referred by someone, be sure to include this information.
Grab the reader’s attention and stimulate their interest in you right away!!

Part 2 – Summary of your Qualifications:

Highlight your strongest qualifications for the position you are seeking.  Be sure to limit your qualifications to only those that are the most relevant to the position. 
Show, rather than simply tell, the manager your qualifications by including specific, credible examples from your experience. 
Quantify these qualifications whenever possible by focusing on pertinent figures, projects, awards, and equipment/software/tools you’ve used that are relevant to the job you want.  For example, rather than highlighting your “excellent customer service skills” indicates that you “achieved a 98% customer satisfaction rating” or “increased department sales by 25% in the first quarter”.

Part 3 – Why you are Interested in the Position:

Let the recruiter know why you want to work at their company.  What is it about the company that appeals to you?
Why does this particular position appeal to you?
Indicate why you are a good fit for the company.  How will be an asset to the team?

Part 4 – Conclusion and Follow-up:

Refer employers to your enclosed resume so that they can review your qualifications in further detail.
Request a personal interview or meeting with the hiring manager.
Indicate how the recruiter should contact you.  Be sure to provide a working phone number or e-mail address.
Set a time to follow up.  For example indicate that you “will call to follow up on Monday afternoon”. 
Thank the reader for his or her time.

One final note: your cover letter is the first impression that recruiters will get of you.  A strong focused cover letter can convey a powerful, positive first impression.  A weak non-focused letter, though, can kill any interest a recruiter may have in your qualifications, regardless of how strong of a fit you may be for the position.  Be sure that you proofread carefully for grammatical and typographical errors before sending any correspondence.