Looking for a job is a job on its own. Therefore, mindlessly applying for any and every job vacancy you see on the internet, hoping that “one may click”, is not a smart way of landing your first or your next job. However, if you make the necessary changes after reading the instructions below, you may well be on your way to landing your next job.
Do not apply with an image version of your CV. Your CV should be a Microsoft Office word or a PDF document. Do not email an employer a picture of your paper CV or a screenshot of the soft copy. Your application will be deleted. I know I will delete it.
Unless a job advert says “no experience needed as training will be provided” applying for roles you are not qualified for, or have experience in is really a waste of time.
Read and understand the job description before sending in your application. If your CV does not show that you have experience with some of the responsibilities or that you have some of the skills required in the job you are applying for, your CV will be deleted. This is a fact.
• Make your CV specific to the job title you are applying to. There is no such thing as a generic CV.
• If you are changing career it is imperative that you state it in your cover letter explaining what skills you will be bring to the new job and how the employer would benefit from those skills.
“I am an assertive, focused and hard-working young lady who is self-motivated and goal oriented”
Please stand out from the crowd. There are smarter ways to write your personal statement/profile so that it does not sound like you “googled it”.
Silly email addresses like sexylizzy@yahoo.com or tonybadboy@yahoo.com are not professional. Employers will not take you seriously.
References. It is not necessary to include contact details of your referees on your CV. If you are shortlisted for an interview the employer will then request for it. Also it takes up valuable space on your CV. “Reference available on request” is sufficient.
Recruiters/employers are not likely to read CV’s that hurt their eyes. Keep the format simple and easy to read.
To increase your chances at getting that job, put forward only information that is relevant to the position you are applying for.
For example, if you are applying for an Early Years Teacher position please do not fill your CV with your past engineering or project management qualifications and career achievements.
If you do not show that you possess additional training and experience relevant to the Early Years Teacher position, you will not be shortlisted for an interview. Putting forward irrelevant experience information only tells the employer that you are not really interested in the position that you applied for, and you are just looking for any job to bide your time till you find a job in the field you have qualifications and training in.
Applying for a job with XYZ Ltd with a cover letter that has ABC Plc on it is about the silliest thing you could do in your job search. You would be amazed at how often this happens.
It is understandable that new graduates will have little or no work experience, however you need to learn some skills in the field you want to pursue. There are free online training courses you could do. A new graduate with a degree in Early Childhood Education could also volunteer as a Sunday school teacher or assistant, or be a baby sitter for family and friends. Baby sitting and childcare skills are valued by crèches, nurseries and preschools.
I know there seems to be a lot of rules on how to write the perfect CV, but it really is all about common sense. You have to put in the work to create a decent CV. One job vacancy advert gets over 500 applications. A good CV gets the employer/recruiter to really notice you.
Good luck in your next application.
By: Funmi Uzor
Photo Credit: Dreamstime | Giuliofornasar