Hunting for jobs nowadays is a very competitive, and sometimes, cut-throat affair. That having been said we have provided a few ideas we hope will help you in getting the edge when searching out and landing the job that will be most suitable for you.
The Curriculum Vitae (CV)
As an applicant for certain specialized positions, your CV is the first – and in some instances – the most important part of applying for one of those positions. Since potential employers have to whittle down practically hundreds of applications to a few valid ones, they will have to base their narrowing down efforts on the CVs they have collected.
Studies have shown that about half of all employers decide to accept or reject employment applications based on an applicant’s related work experience listed in the CV. A third of the employers decide to reject or accept these employment applications based on their layout and design.
A concise and relevant CV
Make Your CV Stand Out – When preparing your CV, make sure it stands out from the rest. It should be the type that is appealing to the eyes, making the evaluating personnel want to read it. Step two is for you to make sure your CV highlights all related work experience you have had in relation to the position you are seeking.
Make your CV concise and relevant – Avoid making your CVs too long since such a document that is too lengthly could make it irrelevant (boring?) to the evaluator. Remember that the employer is a person to whom time is important. If your CV shows that you value his/her time while showing the most relevant information in the least amount of time, you will have won one important battle.
A tailored CV
Always tailor your CV to the position – You may have had previous experience that might not be related to the position you are seeking. Some people keep many different versions of their CV for different employment opportunities.
Make sure your CV is appropriate for the available position. A one-size-fits-all CV may not be the best way to go since an employer might get the impression that your previous efforts have not been focused enough to produce any specialization on your part.
A polished & storied CV
Write about your achievements – You may add your achievements, but make your statements factual and relevant. It does not do any harm to advertise yourself, but make your advertisement matter-of-fact and not just hot air (so to speak). You may want to skip on listing your weak points as a CV is not the vehicle for such discussions.
Polish Your CV – Your employer will know if you have put enough time producing your CV. If s/he sees that you have put sufficient and thorough effort into your CV, s/he will assume that you will do the same in your work. This is a big plus for you. It is not uncommon for some people to spend days or even weeks polishing and buffing their CVs.
