Cv For Interviews

Posts Tagged ‘tips’

Bonus Tip # 1:  Don’t include your “hobbies”.

Generally, It is not of any value to put in your hobbies on your CV. Otherwise, if it should be related and of relevance to the position applied for – then you may do so. 

Bonus Tip # 2: Your CV is more about your accomplishments.

Most are mistaken of the idea that CVs are a plain listing of their work experiences – it is actually more than that.  It provides for a record of your accomplishments that would show your capabilities and effectiveness to carry out the responsibilities of the current job aspired for.

Bonus Tip # 3: It should clearly tell what you could do for the prospective employer.

Even at a glance or a quick run over of your CV, the employer should be able to get the impression that you are qualified for the position and should be given a chance for a job interview.  Your highlighting, organization and presentation plays a major role here. 

Bonus Tip # 4: Make sure that it is free of spelling and grammatical errors.

To maintain the professional appeal of your CV, these errors should be avoided.  Fancy fonts will take out its formal look and at worst cases, especially if not done tastefully, may look like an experiment of sorts. 

Bonus Tip # 5: Be concise.

 A two-page CV that is well organized and targeted will do the job effectively.  You don’t need to stuff it with lots of unnecessary stuff.  Doing so may just lose the focus of your CV and may provide cluttered information.

Valuable Tip # 1: Determine a job objective.

This should be clear and specific – no more, no less.  Stating an actual job title will be best.

Valuable Tip # 2:  Choose the right CV format. 

Depending on your situation, you can choose either a chronological format or a functional format – or perhaps a combination of both. 

Valuable Tip # 3:  List your work experiences and the achievements you made.

When you choose the chronological format, you will have to do a listing of your work experiences in reverse chronological order.  This will be more convenient for the prospective employers.

It would be to your advantage if you put in specific achievements you were able to make while with previous employers.  State in concise and clear terms what these are, the benefits your company gained (cost savings for example), the improvement of employee morale, the participation you took if it was a group effort and etc.

These achievements are important so that the prospective employers will know what to expect when they hire you.  They will have an idea on what you are capable of contributing to their departmental and organizational goals.  So if you have lots of achievements, you’ll find no problem in this area.

Valuable Tip # 4:  List the skills you have and support it with accomplishments.

Relevant specific skills, especially those that have become your expertise, will be of great use to the prospective employers.  More so if you are able to show that you are able to apply these skills in actual work scenarios, the more they will be impressed by what you can do.

One should understand that the mere skill alone, if without any accomplishments to back it up, would just be like a bubble – full of air and nothing to show for it.  But if one can support it with the contributions you made to your previous employer’s problems, you’ll easily get the nod of the prospective employers. 

Valuable Tip # 5:  List your educational attainments

This is quite straightforward.  The most recent educational achievement should be listed first. 

If you have finished masters or advanced degrees then it would definitely be a plus on your end.  At these levels, you will be considered for supervisory and managerial positions. 

More tips to follow…

If you want to write an effective CV – one that will impress prospective employers, you must present your qualifications in a well-organized manner.  This will make it easier for the employers to browse over your valuable job experiences and educational achievements. 

The special skills, abilities and interests you have that would make you more efficient than the other applicants must be presented well, so that employers get to notice your job application distinctively over all others.

Writing that impressive CV would prove to be to your benefit so that you will have better chances on getting to sign on that job offer you have so longed for. 

If you had given out job applications before and have not received a call for an interview, it might be because you have poorly presented yourself in your CV.  You may have been qualified for the job – but with a lack of content or in excess of such on your CV, the employers may have had a bad impression about you.  

It’s about time that you get to write CVs that work. You need to start writing CVs that spark the interests of the prospective employers.  Your CV should be effective in giving you that chance for the next step and next screening process. 

You want to be able to send out your job application with a CV that commands attention.  This will definitely give you a ticket for that critical job interview.  To follow will be your guide to writing an impressive CV.

Basic CV Formats

1. Chronological Format

This is best used if you have a consistent work record and have been in particular area or field for a long time.  These emphasizes on your work experience, ideally with the most recent listed first.

2. Functional Format

This is also called the skills-based CV format.  The concentration here is on the knowledge, skills and accomplishment acquired due to various exposures to the different fields or due to special studies.  This also works well with those who have gaps in their work history.

More tips to follow…

At the end of the interview, the interviewer will usually allow you to ask some questions you may have in mind.  While definitely there are a lot you may want to ask, your questions should be chosen tastefully.

Such questions to ask may be: “What are the responsibilities that come with the job?”, What is the career path for this position?”,  “What is the management style of the company?”, “Is this a new position? If so, why was there a need to create such?” and “How can one move up the corporate ladder?”.

Don’t overdo this portion though, and don’t take too much of your interviewer’s time.  Choose only those questions you feel are important for your part to make a decision if you would like to work here – assuming of course that you get the job offer. 

In all things, be honest.  In job interviews, it will do you no good to mislead your potential employer.  While you may succeed in getting hired, you will still be subjected to job evaluations that would eventually show how poor a hire you are.  Your immediate boss may find it insulting and will end your stay with cause.

Be truthful with regards to your strengths and weaknesses.  Be proud about your strengths and strong points, but don’t be shy to tell your weaknesses.  We all have weaknesses, who doesn’t? 

Even big-time CEOs have some weaknesses.  What makes them so successful though is the fact that they concentrate on their core strengths, and delegate those areas where they lag behind to a more effective staff which have these as their expertise.   They also make an effort to reinforce their weak areas, as a well-rounded executive can always make better decisions. 

So again, you can’t go wrong with honesty.  You need not hide so much during job interviews, and you will be consistent will all your answers.  It will also be a plus factor for being honest, and a wise prospective will employer will notice that and value you for it.