CV Help and Resources

 

Tips to better your chance of getting the job using a recruitment agency.

1. Be realistic about rates – don’t price yourself out of the market.

2. Concentrate on putting your core skills at the forefront of your CV. There is a temptation to put every skill you have ever had on there, but it isn’t worth it. If you don’t have much experience of the skill, you won’t get the job – and it could clutter your CV so that an employer can’t spot the skills he/she wants. Remember that the employer will give a maximum of 2 minutes (and probably less) to perusing your CV.

3. When you speak to the agent, have the job reference for the advert for the job that you are applying for readily available. Often the agent has multiple job ads out for jobs with similar skills. It doesn’t give a good first impression if you don’t have the information to hand.

4. Put on your CV the level that you have gained for each of your core skills and when you last used them. Get CV Help online, from friends or use a CV writer to assist.

5. Swat up on your skills before an interview – you may be questioned on it. Very often you do not use the full repertoire of any skillset at a particular job, but you may be questioned on them at another. You may also not have the answers at the tip of your tongue if you haven’t used the skills at your last job, and hesitation is not as good as having the answers off pat at the interview.

6. Apply for as many jobs as possible. It doesn’t hurt. It is one of the first rules of marketing to follow up any written contact you have made with a phone call shortly afterwards. Agencies get hundreds of CVs daily, and you will get lost under the pile unless you follow up with a call. There’s always a possibility that a job might have just come in that is an exact match for the skills that you have – and you could put yourself first in line for it.

7. Do not have a negative attitude towards the agent. The agent can be your best friend. Agents, like anybody else, are just people, and can be influenced by your attitude towards them. In any walk of life, if someone likes you, they’re much more likely to do business with you.

8. Your CV should be concise. It shouldn’t be longer than two or three pages. There is no point in putting skills on your CV that are more than five years old. After all, the agent or employer is not going to look at it for more than two minutes anyway, so anything on page 10 is not going to get read.Review CV Help online.

9. You need to customise your CV for each different job application. This is not advising you to ‘manipulate’ your CV with false facts, it is merely advising you to bring forward the particular skills that the employer with the job wants.

10. Your CV should be a good read. Agents and employers read hundreds of CVs. If you can make yours a little different and fun to read it can give you competitive advantage on your rivals. Your CV is the best way to sell yourself. Imagine it as your brochure. Try not to make it just one more turgid document for the agent or potential employer to read through.

11. Don’t just mention your skills, but mention what your strongest traits are, e.g. determination, makes sure the work gets done, has good attention to detail etc. The agency and employer want to know what type of person that they might be getting as well as the skills that you have.

12. Develop good communication skills. You are a salesman for your own services.
13. Ask agents what they like and don’t like about your CV and be prepared to accept the criticism. Don’t start arguing with them or try to justify why you did what you did. Just thank them for their feedback and then decide whether to make the necessary changes or not. It would be probably best if you did.

Need more CV Help, review CV.org.nz for further information and videos

 



 

CV Help – which CV is right for you?

Which CV format is likely to work for you?

Do you recognize that there are a number of various ways in which to lay out your CV? Depending on your career scenario, there might be a more applicable format that can bring you higher results. Each has blessings and drawbacks, so it is vital to think about them all before reaching a decision on that can work for you.

Chronological CV – CV Help

If you are coming up with to alter jobs however continue working in the same field, the Chronological CV is in all probability the best option. This is often the most traditional format and therefore the one you are in all probability most familiar with. It’s additionally sensible if you’re changing fields however remaining in a very terribly similar quite job. Your career history is shown in reverse chronological order, with a sturdy stress on job titles and the names of your employers. This is good if your current or previous employers are well-known organisations. It conjointly shows your career development clearly, which means that promotions show up well. People just like the Chronological CV as a result of it is clear and straightforward to scan.

However, there are times when the Chronological CV isn’t going to be the best format for you, and when a Functional, Targeted or Alternative CV might be more successful in securing interviews.

Functional CV – CV Help

If you’ve had a varied career or are seeking to alter direction, this format could be suitable, because it highlights the main achievements and functions (skills, competencies or expertise) of your work history. Job titles and company names are reduced in importance and generally even ignored altogether. The Functional CV could strengthen your application if you wish to draw attention to skills that haven’t been utilized in your most up-to-date work. It additionally works if you have had many varied jobs, as it allows you to sum up your overall experience.

Yet there are instances when this is not the most acceptable format. Promotions are not as prominent, as your list of positions is included on the second page. For the same reason, highly prestigious past employers may not be noticed (although you may highlight them in your profile and covering letter). If you haven’t had several responsibilities, this CV could make your experience look narrow. Another disadvantage is that some employers may not like this format – recruitment personnel are aware that it can be used to conceal weak areas.

Targeted CV – CV Help

This sort of CV emphasises the talents and experiences that are directly relevant to the sort of job or field you’re applying for. It’s extremely useful when you’re coming up with a modification of career direction. It focuses on your talents and achievements used not simply recently, but across your entire career. It will encompass relevant voluntary or unpaid experience. It also means that that you’ll be able to aim for several completely completely different jobs, employing a CV that’s adjusted for each.

The disadvantages are that your promotions or career development won’t be as obvious, as the information will be on the second page (if included). Employers’ names are downplayed and, as with the Functional CV, this format is not liked by all recruiters.

Alternative CV – CV Help

This reasonably CV is most typically utilized by talented individuals seeking work within the creative industries – eg  public relations – as it is highly individual and uses a one-off visual vogue. It’s suitable only for applications for posts requiring exception visual or verbal talent, and then only when the appliance is being created on to the person the applicant can be working for. Even then, it could fail completely if it hits the wrong note.

This kind of CV should never be sent to personnel departments or for advertised vacancies. It is totally unsuitable for senior managers or executives seeking to carry positions of responsibility.

If you find this confusing, or are unsure of your writing skills; we recommend reading more about CV or choosing to use a professional CV writing company to get CV Help.