The Importance Of Writing Your Curriculum Vitae

It is very important to be able to write one’s CV or Curriculum Vitae because it is one of the things that will give your prospective employers an idea of how you were able to spend your life. It includes a life history, your various professional and educational achievements, your skills and abilities and if you have been working for quite some time now, your job history. All of these are very important for the professional simply because it is one of the primary tools that potential employers could use to gauge whether you will be the perfect fit for them or not.

In essence, it is a marketing tool. One in which you can use to promote yourself. One could liken a CV to a brochure where it lists all of the benefits of a particular service. The one providing the service in this case is yourself and the service being referred to here are your time, skills and abilities. Whenever you are writing your CV, try your best to look at it from an employer’s perspective. Naturally, employers would like to be able to look at an individual that stands out from the competition or the other candidates. Would the manager notice your accomplishments enough to merit you a position in their company? Would the manager want to talk to you regarding a possible job because of what you’ve written there? You need to be asking questions such as this whenever you’re writing your Curriculum Vitae because it’s attention to little details like these that will enable you to create a job-landing document.

One should also remember that you need to learn the art of networking and interviewing whenever you are hunting for a job. Your CV is just the first stone you have to step on in order to finally cross the whole job-hunting pond. However, even though it is just one of the stepping stones that you have to cross, it is probably the most valuable since it is somewhat your ticket to the rest of the other steps in the process. When eventually go up the ladder of the application process and get to the interview, then you have the opportunity to expand what is written on your CV.

So include your job descriptions which you have been able to work with before and all of the performance reviews which you have been given by your previous supervisors. Compile all of your educational transcripts as well as the seminars and the conferences that you’ve attended since high school and take note of the references that you put in your CV. All of these information will be very vital to the making of your Curriculum Vitae. All of the things that you will be putting inside will be very integral when it comes to creating the perfect attractive curriculum vitae. Everything that you will be doing that is relevant to your education and learning should be included. So start typing up that CV and start hoping for the best!

Rejecting A Job Offer

There will be times in your life that you simply will not be able to accept a job for many various reasons. There will be other times that you will definitely not like the compensation package of a certain employer or maybe you were able to get to know the different things that the organization does when you were able to get that interview. No matter what your reason is, it is perfectly okay for you to reject a job offer on the basis that it is simply not what you are looking for at the present time. So how exactly do you say what you want to say to a company without being too cocky about it? Here are some sample rejection letters that you can use as templates.

Alyssa White
11 Delaware Drive
Hatfield, PA 08065

Date (indicate date)

Dear Mrs. White,

I sincerely thank you for offering me the chance to work at Silver Rush Inc. Unfortunately, I would like to inform you that I will not be accepting the position you offered as it does not fit the path I am undergoing in order to achieve my present career goals.

Once again, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the offer and my sincerest regrets that it did not work out. Please know that you have my best wishes in finding someone suitable for the position.

Signature

Steve Blake

The rejection letter above is one of the few sample templates that you can use if the job that was offered to you simple does not fit into your current plans. If you don’t think you’re a good fit for the job or if you think that you’ll be better off taking a different career path, then this is one of the few examples that you can use.

Alyssa White
11 Delaware Drive
Hatfield, PA 08065

Date (indicate date)

Dear Mrs. White,

I would just like to sincerely thank you very much for offering me the position of Advertising Manager with Happy Industries. It was a difficult decision to make, but, I have accepted a position with another company which I believe will be able to cater to my present needs in my career path.

I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to interview me and to share information on the opportunity and your company.

Again, thank you for your consideration.

Signature

Steve Blake

The rejection letter above is a sample letter that you can use if you have already accepted a position that was offered to you by a different company. At first, you might be tempted to  simply not mind the other company who is offering you a position but as a cordial gesture to the corporation, you would need to inform them of your current status as a professional for them to have closure should they be willing to continually pursue you and it will serve as a good thing they can look back upon. The company you are sending a letter to will know that you are a sincere individual and you might simply need the goodwill of a company in the future. No matter what, sincerity and honesty is the key to generating a good track record—even if it may not be in the company you choose.

Downplaying Job Hopping

If you have had several jobs for over a short period (for instance, having five different jobs in the last five years), putting it on your resume “as is” would appear to employers that you are what they call a “job hopper.”  Although this practice is a bit more acceptable than it was say, ten years ago, it can still raise concerns with employers.  For one, job hunting can be interpreted as a sign of poor interpersonal skills and lack of performance.  Such jumpy record can slow down your job search.

In order for you to get the advantage, construct your resume in such a way that recruiters would be convinced that you are not a short-term investment.  Here are some recommendations:

Define yourself in summary – Having a tailored summary statement at the top of your resume is an opportunity to guide the reader through the document and—hopefully—influence how they interpret your job changes.  You need to outline the collective number of years you work in a particular field, regardless of how many companies you worked in.  Also, you need to include phrases that would allay the concern that you may also leave prematurely.  A good example of this tip is:  “Over six years of marketing experience with expertise in planning, writing, and distribution.  Seeking long-term role in Product Management.”

Include a summary of previous employment – Avoid using a bulleted list of your previous jobs, instead fleshing out your three or four most recent positions and creating a summary of previous employment section.  Provide a collective start and end date for the previous employment section, instead of listing each start and end dates of all your previous jobs.

Create coherence between job changes – If you have had jobs across different industries, focus on the connections between them.  Try to show progression and that you have taken on increasing levels of responsibility with each job.

Indicate involuntary job changes – If your position changed as a result of a merger or acquisition, or you are a contractual worker, explain it on your resume.  For instance, if your employer underwent a merger or acquisition, put the company’s former name in brackets beside its new company name.  If you were a contract worker indicate that in your job titles.

Using dates to your advantage – Removing months when you date each position can give the illusion that you worked in positions longer than you have.  For example, eliminating the months on “November 2005 to January 2006” would give the employer an idea that you worked for a year instead of three months.  Also put dates on the right side of your resume while diverting recruiters to your skills lists that you put on the left.

Using a hybrid resume – Try a hybrid format for your resume since work history is not much emphasized here.  This combines the skill set feature from the functional format resume and putting the chronological history toward the end of the resume.  Under the heading and summary statement, choose four or five responsibilities that you have excelled in and list accomplishments from your past positions relation to those responsibilities.  Then, list the company where you achieved each accomplishment in brackets at the end of each bullet point.  Under which, create a section listing each employer, title, and start and end dates, in reverse chronological order (most recent job first).

Broadening Your CV Even with Just One Job

You only have one job in your work experience, but that does not mean your resume would be blank and bland. Transform it into a compelling resume may seem overwhelming, but it does not have to be. Flesh out your brief job history with your skills, motivation, and ability to adjust to a new work environment. Here are some tips that would help your dilemma.

Put up a branding statement – Draw in a recruiter or hiring manager from the top of the document by writing a short introduction showcasing your functional strengths, transferable skills, and personal attributes. It should provide a snapshot of your career in about three to five sentences.

Use subheadings – Below your branding statement, include the details about your previous job such as the employer, job title, and dates of employment. After which, follow it with three to five subheadings, each reflecting different skills and your accomplishments involved. Show progression where you can, even if you weren’t promoted. However, if you weren’t promoted do not create job titles. If you were involved in special projects that exposed you to different areas or used new skills, you may want to include a “Special Project” subheading to add breadth to your experience.

Reinforce you work experience – You job is not the only place where you may have gained relevant experience, as you need to consider creating a section for highlighting your know-how acquired in other aspects such as internships, volunteer work, and professional organizations.

Introduction to Creating a Video Resume

With the onset of high-speed broadband Internet usage, higher-quality video technology, and the increased enthusiasm for online video sharing, some job seekers took a different route and marketed themselves to potential employers through video resumes.

A video resume is a short video created by a candidate for employment that describes the individual’s skills and qualifications. It is typically used to supplement a traditional resume.

Creating a video resume has in a way put some job candidates ahead of the competition. However, do note that a video resume is not the only way of getting a job but it may assist you in marketing yourself to prospective employers as long as your video is done right. If your video resume is made poorly, not only it would hinder your chances of getting an interview but it would may also be passed around as a bad running joke (and you’d be scarred for life).

So what are the basic tips in creating a well-presented video resume?

Be professional – Dress professionally in a business attire, just like in any in-person interview. You can either sit or stand behind a neutral background so potential employers would not be distracted looking at the pictures of relatives behind you. Make sure that the shooting location is devoid of any background noise (television turned on, passing cars, crying children, etc). Make use of ample lighting so that the viewer could see your face clearly. Look straight into the camera, just like you would when facing the interviewer.

Keep your video resume short – A video resume between one to three minutes is enough. Anything longer than that would take away precious time from the employer.

Speak clearly – Just like in any job interview, speak in an audible voice. Avoid speaking too fast and too gentle, as you do not want employers to keep on reseting the video when they can’t hear any.

Practice – You have the luxury of time of rehearsing what you are about to say. Practice how you are going to say it (even referring to your script). After the shoot and you feel that you did not do your best, then practice again before reshooting. You need to make your video resume as close to perfect.

What to say – You can begin your video resume by mentioning your full name, where you graduated, and what industry you intend to apply. Then, create a speech as if you are answering several job interview questions that you think is vital in your intended industry. Discuss in the video why you would be a good employee and what you can do for the company that hires you. Please do note to avoid reading your answers from a script, as you need to make your speech delivered in a conversational tone.

Avoid getting too stiff – A video resume is not a type of screen test where you audition as an actor. Keep yourself reasonably relaxed during the shoot and let your real positive personality shine through.

Avoid getting personal – If you know how to play the piano, don’t do it in the video resume unless you are applying for a hotel lobby pianist. Even though a video resume is a creative way to present yourself to the job market, that does not mean you need to make your video “overly creative” by showing off your pets, lifting weights, and or having yourself jump from a bridge.

Wrap it up – Before ending the video resume, thank the viewer for considering you for employment. Mention how you would be contacted, either saying that it is attached on your word resume or through other online means. You can also include your contact information on the video itself.

Upload it – After you have shot and edited your video resume, upload it in some career networking sites like Jobster and MyWorkster. Do not forget to attach your word resume as well in the site. You can also upload your video to your own web site and link to it from there. With the popularity of YouTube, several video resumes are also uploaded but it is strongly recommended to disable comments and ratings in your video resume.

Posting Your CV Online

Many job openings are being posted over the Internet. Job seekers should be able to keep up with the trends and times in order to find the best employment opportunities whenever possible. Here are some suggestions when it comes to putting up your job resume online.Keep it simple – Unlike online profiles in social networks or blogs, you don’t need to include some fancy flash texts, colored backgrounds, or some goldfish floating around in the screen when you put up your online resume. Computers need different styles of presentation and in order for majority of computers could open your CV the format should be at its lowest. Anything more complicated than this would cut off some computers that do not have certain softwares that you used.

Use the right keywords – This is how you highlight your online resume instead of writing texts in boldface or italics like you would do in a normal CV. The need for including the right keywords is crucial because some employers would just search for a person with a certain field of experience or skill that they seek. For instance, a resume of a secretary should also include keywords such as office assistant, typist, stenographer, backend office, personal assistant, private assistant, executive assistant, among others. Make sure that you put up keywords that are related to your skills and not merely inventing them.

Summarize effectively – The shorter the online resume, the better. Just make sure you do not sacrifice the quality of the content.

List major skill in the beginning – One way of presenting keywords on your online CV is to insert a list of your main skills in the beginning part.

Use the simplest format possible – Type your resume in plain text. Not every computer has the same list of font faces in their programs, and if you write your resume in a fancy text chances are only a few could read it. Also, do not use other typeset formats as it would confuse the reader while perusing the codes attached to it.

Provide a professional valid e-mail address – Attach an e-mail address using your name as the handle, such as “john.smith@email.com”. Don’t divulge your personal e-mail because you don’t want the employer get scared when they read your e-mail as “garbage_lover@zorg.com”. Don’t forget to include your phone number (home and or mobile) for immediate contact.

Have a hard copy ready – Once you get a call back for a job interview, print out a more comprehensive copy of your resume so you could submit it to your prospective employer once you meet.

Don’t send group e-mails – When applying for a job online, don’t submit it to different employers at the same time. Each job should have a separate e-mail with the resume uploaded separately as well. If the employer would request to have your CV “copied and pasted” on the e-mail, then do so.

Follow-up politely – You can try contacting the employer about 3 to 4 days after submitting your online resume. Ask them if they have received it and graciously thank them.

Applying Your Military Career in a Civilian CV

Your career in the military is about to end and you are planning to look for a job in the civilian society.  You may have achieve a lot of great things in the military, many skills that you can apply once you become a civilian worker.  However, how do you write a work resume as a military person trying out a civilian job?  Here are some tips that you can follow:

Make sure your resume is focused – Your personal profile defines what career path you would like to follow, and your CV should not be a generic type of document that you can submit into any company.  You have to focus on a particular objective in order for your resume to be effective.  Do some research on what job you would like to do.  Ask for help from your local job center or transition office.  If you would like to keep your options open, write several civilian CVs that focus on the different options you are considering.

Define the job’s requirements – What are the skills needed to perform the tasks in this job?  You could do research in the job vacancies on newspapers and scan the requirements of job positions you are interested in over a period of time.  List all the skills associated with the career you have chosen.

Limit your military achievements – Your military achievements and awards are very impressive as they are signs of determination and self-sacrifice.  However, it should not be the main focus of your civilian CV.  You can mention that you received a purple heart or medal of honor, but your tank driving skills can be omitted (unless if you are applying for a driving job).  Remember to concentrate on your skills list and make sure that the most relevant information is at the top of your resume.
Continue reading Applying Your Military Career in a Civilian CV…

Should Criminal Records be Removed from a CV?

Ideally, all CVs and resumes should not include any negative data. Your CV is a marketing tool, a ticket selling yourself in hopes of getting hired, and the negative data would just spoil the prospects to be called for an interview. However, if you got employed and the company found out about anything negative about you such as criminal records, they may have the option to terminate you without warning for concealing information.

How do you keep an honest background about yourself without having your negative background be your hindrance in getting the job that you want? Here are some tips:

Find out if the company frowns on criminal records – Check out the policy of the company if they require background checks. Companies that practice such would most likely not employ people with past records. Continue reading Should Criminal Records be Removed from a CV?…

Dealing with Gaps in your work history

Sometimes circumstances totally out of your control force you out of your job for a length of time. Or you could have simply walked out of the office one day and decided to tour the world. For whatever reason gaps in your work history don’t bode well for your long term career. Employees are extremely fishy of finding a semblance of  a job hopper in potential employees or a even heaven forbid a stint in prison. The trick is to gain your employer’s trust and to adequately explain those employment gaps.

You can lessen the suspicion by using only years instead of months when you write your work history. This makes it easier for the employer to quickly grasp the length of time between your jobs. Another way would be to use a functional resume instead of a chronological one. A functional resume lists your experience in skills clusters. This type of resume would work well for those with very diverse experiences, those in a technical profession and those with a complex job. However the functional resume isn’t the answer to the huge gap in your resume. In fact most recruiters prefer the chronological resume over functional resumes. Continue reading Dealing with Gaps in your work history…

Upgrading Your Resume

After all the applications you have submitted and you still could not land a job, maybe the problem lies on the document that you are handing to them.  You can put some minor adjustments on your resume, and we are here to help you with that.

Revamp the format – The best thing that resume templates have probably done is that they make your resume similar with the rest of them, making the recruiter difficult to differentiate between candidates.  When searching for a job, the last thing you need is to be an ordinary, run-of-the-mill applicant.

Give your resume a distinctive resume format that will not only make you stand out from the competition, but make you look more qualified and organized.  In truth, how your resume looks is as important as how it reads.

Stick to what is relevant – Hiring managers do not put much weight on outdated accomplishments.  You should focus your resume on your last 5 to 10 years of employment.  In addition, there is no need to flesh out jobs that are not relevant.  Eliminate old and irrelevant jobs, providing you with the opportunity to focus on your career objective, making the resume easier to read and less confusing.

Be original – Though you can use resume books, websites, and even your friend’s resume as a guide, copying information is not a smart move.  Chances are you won’t be the only one replicating the work of others and once again, you won’t stand out from the crowd.