New year, new you, new job?
If you’re one of the many people returning to work this week, you might be reflecting on your job, your career, and if you’re actually happy with your current work situation. So, if you’re job hunting or considering embarking on a career change, Clear Cut Selection’s upcoming blogs on the subject will provide some food for thought to make the process easier.
Part one. Your CV.
Everyone has an opinion on how your CV should look. Having so many conflicting opinions can be tough, so my advice is to stick to the following rules, which are generally considered to be standard across the board.
Have more than one CV. Especially important if you’re considering applying to more than one type of profession. Try and tailor each CV to the job that you are applying for. Ensure that the terminology used within your CV reflects the terminology used on a job advertisement. Applicant Tracking Software used by larger organisations filters out those applications from individuals whose CVs don’t match the key competency and skill phrases listed in the job spec.
Keep it to two pages. This is a summary, not a story, so keep it concise. (True, there are some exceptions. If you’re an academic and your research has been published in various journals, for instance, your CV will need to be longer to accommodate this).
Keep the style business formal. Adopt a formal font and ensure you maintain throughout. Use only black text on white paper. Avoid garish colours, unusual presentation of text or adding a photo. (Again, there are some exceptions. Photos are more appropriate if you’re a model, for instance. If you’re working in DTP, you may want to showcase your technical abilities within the layout of your CV).
Contact details. Always ensure that your personal contact details appear at the top directly below your name. Email addresses or Linkedin profiles should appear as hyperlinks. If you don’t have a Linkedin profile, get one. As well as helping build your network, it’s essential in terms of being seen my organisations who are directly searching for talent This also applies to undergraduates, where the competition for vacancies can be most fierce.
Have a personal summary. Why are you the right person for this job? What value will you add? What are some of the skills and qualities that you posses which will be attractive to employers. Volume wise, aim for a paragraph of two or three sentences, which should appear directly below your personal details.
Celebrate your successes! Your achievements and successes demonstrate to employers that you will be a value add. Remember to think in commercial terms: Money made, money saved or processes or systems that have been streamlined or improved are great examples of how you have previously made a positive contribution. Internal promotions, awards or targets achieved or exceeded can also make good content.
Tune in later this week for part two, or visit Clear Cut Selection’s previous blog posts for more advice to bolster your chances of getting the job you really want!