Category Archives: CV

Job Search: How To Add Value To Your CV And Make It Jump Out From The Pile

Posted on 7 March 2013 by Wendy Mason | 2 Comments

Job Search: How To Add Value To Your CV And Make It Jump Out From The Pile

We all know that recruiters find themselves faced with piles of CVs/Resumes to sift. How do you make your CV jump out of the pile and on to the desk as selected for interview. Well, when you write your it, it helps to keep in mind why you are doing it.

At its most basic, A CV is a short list of facts about you and your work history, skills, qualifications and experience. A good CV is essential when looking for work and it is worth spending time getting it right. It needs to show you as valuable to any potential employer.

So what will a recruiter be looking for?

Well certainly your CV should:

Be neat, certainly typed, without typos, and to the best standard you can achieve in content and layout
Be short, 2 sides of a sheet of A4 paper is usually enough
Be positive, it should emphasize your achievements, strengths, successes
Make a good impression. This means presenting the facts about you in a positive way.

I hope you are going to

Send your CV with a covering letter or email asking companies if they have any current or future vacancies.
Send your CV when applying for advertised vacancies
Use your CV to help you remember all the dates and information you need each time you need to fill in an application form.
Use it to jog your memory when applying for jobs by phone – it can help if you are asked to give more information about previous jobs.
Have your CV with you while you’re waiting to be called in to an interview to help refresh your memory.
You can also leave a copy with the interviewer if they do not already have one!

Sometimes recruitment agencies ask to see your CV before you can register with them.

So your CV is a way of letting a potential employer know just what value they will get if they employ you. This should be you marketing the most valuable product you have – yourself! Therefore it is going to be much more than just a list of roles.

For each role you do include, you need to show how in that role you added value.

When you have done that you can then lay claim to the associated competencies.

For example, if you led a team;

Why did they exist
Where did you lead them
What did they achieve as a result of your leadership?
What was your contribution and what hurdles did you have to overcome
What value was delivered?

How does that information provide evidence to support your claim to the competence of leadership?

STAR stories make you a star

Remember STAR stories - for each one you include your job title and how long you were employed in the role, then set out briefly;

Situation – Describe the situation/problem you were faced with
Task – what did you have to do?
Action – what action did you take and why.
Results – highlight the outcome and the value delivered

Use a summary of your STAR stories to add value to your CV and show how you will add value for any new employer!

Meanwhile if there is advice you would like or questions you would like answered, please get in touch!

Wendy Mason is the Happiness Coach and author of a new novel, The Wolf Project Wendy is a life and career coach and writer. She is passionate about helping people find happiness at work and at home! She helps people reach their goals and aspirations, without sacrificing their home and personal life. She believes coaching requires compassion, warmth and empathy. Wendy helps people reach their career goals and aspirations, without sacrificing their home and personal life. You can contact Wendy at wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com and find out more at http://wisewolfcoaching.com

CV review and interview preparation a speciality

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Posted in CV

Tagged Added value, Career Development, cover letter, Curriculum vitae, CV, Employment, Interview, Job hunting, job interview, Job Search, Job search plan, Job Search Techniques, job seeking, Job-Hunt, Looking for a new job, Resume, STAR stories

Job Search Part 4: Writing That Winning CV

Posted on 26 July 2012 by Wendy Mason | 2 Comments

Job Search Part 4: Writing That Winning CV

Are you looking for work? Then you have come to the right place!

This is the fourth in our new series on Job Search. In the first post at this link http://wisewolftalking.com/2012/07/05/job-searchwhat-kind-of-work-are-you-looking-for/we said that you have a decision to make! The clearer you are about the kind of work you want, the more likely you are to be successful.

In the second post at this link, http://wisewolftalking.com/2012/07/12/job-search-part-2-where-are-you-looking/, I set out some options for you in terms of where to look for work

In the third post, last week, http://wisewolftalking.com/2012/07/19/job-search-part-3what-networking-can-do-for-your-job-search/. I said that networking was the most effective way to look for work and we discussed how to do it well.

Now we are going to consider how to write a winning CV

Last year we published a series of posts on CV writing and you can find the links to them below. You can find lots of books on CV writing on Amazon and those that come well recommended are at this link

A CV that is going to win you the job is the one that makes the reader want to know more about you. The CV that makes it much more likely that you will be invited to an interview! Good CVs are valuable and a very good investment of your time.

So how do you make yourself stand-out from the crowd?

Any CV that you write is only relevant if it shows how you meet the requirements of the particular role – so be ready to tailor you generic CV for each post. Be specific about skills, experience and personal qualities. Show that you understand their requirements.

These days employers and recruiter receive sacks full of CVs. Make yours short (no more than two sides of A4), easy to read and attractive.

Lay it out clearly with enough space and clear section headings.

Your CV shows what you bring to the organization, so make it look professional.

Choose a clear, professional font that is easy to read (e.g. Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
Make no typing mistakes – CVs with typos get “binned”. A simple spell check is not enough: ask someone else to proof-read your finished CV
Have clear headings (work experience, education etc) so that these can be scanned quickly
Order your experience and education into reverse chronological order with the latest first.
For recent posts, sum up what you actually achieved and delivered for each post
Concentrate on the last 10 years and sum-up earlier experience briefly.

Many recruiters’ job sites search candidates’ CVs for specific keywords. It is important to include those which are likely to apply for the particular job. Create clear statements that demonstrate your skills and what you deliver, using terms that show you as positive and pro-active.

These are positive keywords, you could use to describe your personal attributes

Accurate
Adaptable
Confident
Friendly
Hard-working
Innovative
Pro-active
Reliable
Responsible
Intelligent
Experienced

When describing your experience and achievement use pro-active descriptions like:

Achieved
Formulated
Planned
Broadened
Generated
Managed
Represented
Completed
Implemented
Shaped
Delivered
Saved

And, in these hard economic times, if you have saved an organization money or generated new business, flag it up with figures and facts.

Next week we’ll tackle writing that convincing covering letter!

I know you can get that job you have been hoping for and I would like to help you. Email me wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com now to arrange a free half hour coaching session by Skype.

Wendy Mason is a career coach working mainly with professional women who want to make that jump to senior level. Before working as a coach, Wendy had a long career in both the public and private sectors in general management and consultancy as well as spells in HR. She now divides her time between face to face coaching, and coaching and blogging on-line. You can contact Wendy at wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com and find out more at http://wisewolfcoaching.com

Coming shortly – the WiseWolf Career and Personal Development Programme – if you would like to know more email wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com

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Posted in CV, Job hunting, Job Search, Job Search Techniques, Resume

Tagged career, Career Coaching, Career Development, change, coach, CV, Employment, Job Advertising, Job hunting, Job Search, Job Search Techniques, Job Search. recruitment, job seeking, jobs, Labour economics, leadership, life coaching, Looking for a new job, Management, Personal development, Resume, Writing your CV

How to Impress With Your CV in Less Time

Posted on 25 April 2012 by Wendy Mason | Leave a comment

Yesterday Mildred Talabi. Author of 7 Keys to a Winning CV wrote this very useful post on her blog

Six is the new 30 – how to impress with your CV in less time – Mildred Talabi

Last week I read an interesting article on Business Insider titled, “What Recruiters Look At During The 6 Seconds They Spend On Your Resume”. This article has been circulating on the social media front for a little while so if you haven’t yet seen it, it’s probably because a) you don’t follow me on Twitter, or b) you haven’t joined my 7 Keys to a Winning CV Facebook page. But not to worry, you can catch up on the link at the end of the article……………….. 30 recruiters were subjected to “eye-tracking” over a ten-week period which recorded and analysed where and how long they focused on CVs. The “where” is shown in this heat map below, and the “how long” worked out to an average of six seconds.

Read the rest and see the heat map at this link

Adding value to your CV

Posted on 21 June 2011 by Wendy Mason | 2 Comments

See the value laid out before you!

Dave has drafted his CV but it isn’t yet in a fit state to win him a job.

He needs to think about why you write a CV.

At its most basic, it is a short list of facts about you and your work history, skills, qualifications and experience. A good CV is essential when looking for work and it is worth spending time getting it right so that it really sells you to an employer.

So what will an employer be looking for?

Well certainly your CV should:

Be neat, typed if possible, and to the best standard you can achieve in content and layout
Be short, 2 sides of a sheet of A4 paper is usually enough
Be positive, it should emphasise your achievements, strengths, successes, and
Make a good impression. This means presenting the facts about you in a positive way.

I hope you are going to

Send your CV with a covering letter or email asking companies if they have any current or future vacancies.
Send your CV when applying for advertised vacancies
Use your CV to help you remember all the dates and information you need each time you need to fill in an application form.
Use it to jog your memory when applying for jobs by phone – it can help if you are asked to give more information about previous jobs.
Have your CV with you while you’re waiting to be called in to an interview to help refresh your memory.

You can also leave a copy with the interviewer if they do not already have one!

Sometimes recruitment agencies ask to see your CV before you can register with them.

Your CV is a way of letting a potential employer know, just what value they will get if they employ you.

This should be you marketing the most valuable product you have – yourself!

So it is much more than just a list of roles.

For each role you include, you need to show how in that role you added value. When you have done that you can then lay claim to the associated competencies.

For example, you led a team;

Why did they exist
Where did you lead them
What did they achieve as a result of your leadership?
What was your contribution and what hurdles did you have to overcome
What value was delivered?

So, what evidence does it provide that you can lay claim to the competence of leadership?

Remember STAR stores – for each element include your job title and how long you were employed in the role, then set out briefly;

Situation – Describe the situation/problem you were faced with
Task – what did you have to do?
Action – what action did you take and why.
Results – highlight the outcome and the value delivered

I’ll be doing more work over the next few days with Dave on his CV.

Meanwhile if there is advice you would like to give or questions you would like answered, please get in touch!

Writing your CV! Part 1 The Basics (leavingthepublicsector.net)
Writing your CV! Part 2 Making Choices (leavingthepublicsector.net)
Writing your CV! Part 3 Pondering on CVs; language,confidentiality, competencies and referees! (leavingthepublicsector.net)

Wendy Mason works as a personal and business coach, consultant and blogger. She has managed or advised on many different kinds of transition and she has worked with all kinds of people going through personal change. If you would like her help, email her at wendymason@wisewolfconsulting.com or ring ++44(0)2084610114 or ++44(0)7867681439 or

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Posted in CV, Job hunting, Job interview, Job Search, Job Search. Contacts, Job Search. recruitment, job seeking

Tagged Applying for JObs, Curriculum vitae, CV, Employment, Job hunting, Job Search, job seeking Application for employment, public sector, Redundancy, Resume, Simple CV, Unemployment

Writing your CV! Part 3 Pondering on CVs; language,confidentiality, competencies and referees!

Posted on 26 May 2011 by Wendy Mason | Leave a comment

This post is concerned with the particular issues faced by those moving between public and private sectors when completing their CV.

I’m going to comment on language, confidentiality, competencies and references.

Language

A recent post here set out the reasons why public sector jargon needs to be avoided in CVs and job interviews. Keep your language clear and simple. When in doubt ask a non-public sector friend to read it and give you honest advice on clarity.

Confidentiality

Some public sector staff work in areas where the issues of confidentiality are real and significant. But in all honesty most do not! If you do, there will be clear guidance available. You should consult your HR department about what you can say and how best to overcome the barriers to you getting a new role.

Most public sector staff do not work under the same restrictions. The reality is that you can record on your CV the kind of work you have been doing. Of course you should avoid information; under a security classification, relating to an individual member of the public or a fellow staff member, likely to embarrass the organisation or Government Minister for which you have worked.

Most people will be able to describe their work in sufficient detail for a CV. But see the comments made in the next section about how you do it.

Competencies

In my last post I included a list of skills and personal qualities (competencies) that employers are likely to look for. The list was by no means an exhaustive.

When you complete your employment history, try to show how your approach and your achievements demonstrate the competencies you quote.

For example, putting together a team and then driving through an initiative to improve the service to customers while reducing costs illustrates a number of competencies. It can be understood quite easily by those outside the public sector.

Experience of project and programme management again can be understood outside the public sector and can be used to illustrate planning, organizing and delivering benefits when applying for roles in small to medium-sized organizations that do not have large projects for you to manage.

Those who have worked very close to Ministers managing legislation have had to use planning and organizing skills. They are also likely to have demonstrated tact and discretion. If you have worked in difficult and sensitive areas including policy discussions with Ministers (where influencing skills, relationship management, tact and discretion were needed, as well as the ability to be flexible and adaptable) this should be included but with discretion.

Think in terms of the competencies as you write descriptions of the work you have done. Think in terms of organisations, tasks, problems solved and people influenced. Describe the tasks you have completed in terms that others will understand and focus on what you delivered and how you delivered.

References

Some government departments will only offer bland references as your employer. You will need their reference. But it may only be a confirmation that you worked for them in a particular grade over a particular period of time.

Most large private sector employers know this – for others you may have to explain. But you will need something more. Try asking your line manager or someone in your management line if they would be prepared to give you a personal reference. Also consider approaching retired senior colleagues and others who have left organisation.

It helps as well if you can provide a personal referee who holds a senior position in the private sector. This is where people you have met during work in a voluntary capacity may be useful. Otherwise, consider people who you have met through clubs and associations.

You shouldn’t feel embarrassed about asking for a reference, most people feel flattered to be asked But you should always give people the opportunity to say no and make quite clear that you will understand if they feel they simply don’t know you well enough to help.

I would welcome your thoughts on all this and I am very happy to answer questions.

Writing your CV! Part 1 The Basics (leavingthepublicsector.net)
Writing your CV! Part 2 Making Choices (leavingthepublicsector.net)
Watch your language – it’s a different world out there! (leavingthepublicsector.net)

Wendy Mason works as a consultant, business coach and blogger. Adept at problem solving, she is a great person to bring in when that one thing you thought was straightforward turns out not to be! If you have a problem talk to Wendy – she can help you – email her at wendymason@wisewolfconsulting.com or ring ++44(0)7867681439