24/02/2020
Attracting the Attention of an Employer through your CV
An important document that creates a first impression about you is to BRAND YOU
One of the most important documents that a professional should possess is a CV. In fact this is more important as it is a representation of your whole self. It's a packaged representation of brand you, your personal details, your qualifications and the experience you have spent years acquiring. When one reads your CV, they should have an impression of you before they even meet you in person. It therefore means you need to craft it in a manner that would want the reader or recipient see the person it refers to. In fact It is one document that can make or break your career no matter what qualifications you possess. It therefore calls for you to pay attention to detail and make an invest into it, because it is you. One may wonder why you are not even invited for interviews or even an acknowledgement of receipt of your CV from prospective employers dispite possessing all the required specs by the job. The number one calprit is the presentation of your CV. It's a fact, some CVS are great, some are good and others outright dreadful. A CV has to look good to impress employers and secure interview invitations.
Let me hasten to point out that not a single CV is a one size fit all. Before you submit your CV, it is important to understand first the requirements on a job advert. Once you understand, then re-look at your CV and tailor make it to answer those specifications. I know we all keep a generic CV which we get in the habit of posting whenever we get a job vacancy that interests us. Remember you are not the only one competing for that job nor are you the only one who possess that qualification and skill. As a matter of fact when we advertised for a CEO position of an organization I chair, we got over 200 CVs and imagine the effort needed to get 1 right person that we needed.
One critical aspect of a good CV is that it should not exceed 3 pages. Once it exceeds, it ceases to draw the necessary attention and it means you have included a lot of unnecessary details. In other words you are asking the person reading it to search for specifics inside that document you have submitted. So max 3 pages. It should have a great format and layout hence , making it easier to read.. Do not use font which is difficult to read, a lot of people want to use italics on some sections like personal details and that makes it absolutely difficult to read that section. That's a complete put off. Make sure you use a standard font through out which is easy to read, but you can alter the font size or Bold in some sections.
Make use of bullet points and short sentences and appropriately punctuate your sentences. A CV with grammatical errors and wrong punctuations is a put off. Be precise and straight to the point. Do not use some technical jargon that requires the reader to search for a dictionary to understand you. Use a minimal amount of color and design to improve your CV’s presentation as visual appeal is very much recommended.
It is paramount to ensure that It includes all the information a standard CV should contain..
Let me help you with a section by section look of your CV:
1. The Personal details section:
The personal details section is located right at the top of your CV, and it is the first thing that a prospective employer will see. Do not write a full page of personal details. It's a big no. Also take note that some items are optional to include for example nationality, gender marital status, unless otherwise stated. Remember less is more. The email address should be professional. There are several email addresses that draw attention and can make you be dudged wrongly. Simplify it.
2. Personal Profile Statement
A personal statement is a short statement that tells the employer about your personal skills, qualities, experiences and career ambitions. This is the part where you also need to impress the employer and address the requirements of the job. It has to be punchy all the way. Do not make it long, 5-7 lines is okay. It should not be an essay.
3. Achievements
The achievements section, as the name suggests, contains a short list of impressive achievements or accomplishments that are a testimony of your skills, abilities, determination and desire to be successful. This is not about academic achievements, no but career achievements, e.g,
I have been awarded employee of the month twice in the 2019.
4. Education
The education section contains brief information about your education and qualifications background. Together with the employment and work experience section, it forms the bulk of your CV. Whatever you include here should be in chronological order starting with the recent first.
5. Employment History/Work Experience
The employment and work experience section of your CV contains information on your previous jobs and work history. Employers are particularly interested in this section because relevant work experience is highly valued and usually an essential requirement for many jobs.
You should omit irrelevant or otherwise insignificant work experience. Having worked as a data capture in 2000 will not make you a better marketing professional in 2019!
6. Hobbies and Interests
You should use the hobbies and interests section of your CV to demonstrate that you’re a well-rounded person who is engaged in extracurricular activities and the community. Do not mention any irrelevant hobbies on your CV that do not add additional value to your application. Do not disclose political or religious affiliations. Avoid listing too many hobbies.
7. References
The references section is the final part of your CV containing the contact details of two people who know you well, have worked with you before and who can vouch for you to the employer. Many people make a mistake of including details of their ralatives who have nothing to do with your work exposure. References are included so that the employer can cross check or get assurance of your capacity to execute the job.
I hope this will assist many of us as we repackage ourselves in the CV.
Have a Blessed Day!
