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Job
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New Job Seeker |
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A quality C.V. is the crucial
first step if you even hope to obtain an interview. The following are some paramount
"do's and don'ts" that should be followed...
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While the length will vary
depending on your education and working career, each specific section should only contain
important highlights, accomplishments, and skills. A common mistake is to include too much
unnecessary information in the hopes that more is better, when in reality it just makes
the C.V. difficult to read.
As a general rule, you should try to keep the C.V. to one page. Only focus on your last 2
positions (if you've been with different companies) or 10 years (if you've been with the
same company) in specific terms, and list other jobs held by date only.
Remember, the goal of the C.V. is to grab the reader's attention just enough to want to
give you the interview - not to tell your entire story! That is what the interview is for.
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From the employers perspective,
this is one of the most crucial aspects of the C.V.! At a glance, it quickly shows an
applicants job history and work "stability" and can be a major or even the sole
deciding factor in moving the C.V. into the "to be interviewed" pile.
Unfortunately however, so many times the importance of this crucial part of the C.V. is
underestimated, and dates are shown in the broadest of terms, showing the year only.
Ex:
1991-1998 Most recent position 1988-1991 Previous
Position
This way is not recommended!
In this example, it is possible that the candidate
was unemployed some time during 1991 (let's say from Feb - Nov), however, by looking at
the dates it's not immediately apparent - it appears as if this person worked during all
of 1991 and all of 1998.
Professional experience and research has shown that when a candidate uses this type of
dating format, at least 50% of the time there was probably some sort of an employment gap
- especially if the person has held several jobs over a relatively short period of time or
number of years.
When a C.V. is created in this way, it is usually met with initial concern by the
employer! Employers are aware of this tactic, and in many instances, they perceive it as
deliberate deception, and unfortunately, the candidate is not considered further. Don't
let this happen to you!
Remember, the month and the year as a rule should always be included for the 2 most recent
positions (if different companies) or 10 years (if with the same company). If you have had
a longer working career, it is OK to list jobs beyond the 10 year mark by years only and
in "general terms" to conserve space on the C.V..
Keep in mind - If an employer has a specific question about the dates of these positions
they will ask, so it's still a good idea to try and have the exact dates available if
needed!
Ex:
Nov 1991 - Dec 1998 Most recent
Jan 1988 - Feb 1991 Previous Position
This way is best and the recommended way!
Likewise, in nearly all cases, if an employment gap does exist and it is made apparent,
the prospective employer will usually give the candidate the opportunity to explain the
reason (if they are concerned) during the interview.
Bottom Line - It says " that you want to be up-front and honest" (traits of a
good future employee)...
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Keep in mind that any and all
information contained on your C.V. or application will probably be compared and verified.
In today's business world, most companies actually check employment references and
employment history, and most will even go as far as requesting permission to perform a
thorough background check.
For this reason, it is strongly suggested that all of the information on your C.V. be
accurate. In other words - don't just guess! Make sure that any information you provide in
writing can be verified by you personally, in the event you are asked to do so. This may
mean that you have to do some research (looking up names, dates, old sales figures, etc.)
to obtain exact information prior to beginning the job search process.
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| The average job opening can
produce hundreds of CVs and the best jobs can produce thousands. This means competition!
One way for employers to quickly narrow this group is to look at a c.v.’s neatness
and accuracy. After all, first impressions are everything! If your C.V. is sloppy and
contains misspellings what does this say about you as a future employee? Is this how you
want to be perceived doing the job? Of course not! However, it would amaze you how many C.V.s are regularly received
by companies that actually contain misspellings and the like. There is no excuse for a
C.V. that isn't perfect. Even if you have the C.V. prepared professionally, it is your
responsibility to proofread it after completion to ensure that it is completely perfect
before sending it out. (Pay particular attention to all the dates...do they appear in
chronological order?)
For added insurance, it is BEST to have someone
that you trust, proofread it carefully as well! They may be able to find things that you
overlook because you have seen it so many times.
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