CV Tips, CV Writing, Job Applications, Project management CV, project management recruitment

Creating the money shot – CV tips

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Everyone will tell you that setting up and running your own business is hard work – and it is, to a point. Well it’s busy and no one day is the same – like project management, but the main driver behind starting your own business has to be something you enjoy not just the money. Personally I love creating CVs for people – taking what is sometimes a list or a lengthy essay and changing it into a document which is clear and concise and most importantly; one which will attract the interest of hiring managers and recruiters.

I was asked yesterday, how can I make each CV so right for each individual and yet also make it attractive for roles – simple I responded, I find peoples USP (Unique Selling Point) and ensure I add a balance of “doing” skills and experience. Once you have worked with a number of hiring managers and really got to understand from their perspective what they expect to see in a CV the fog lifts and you instinctively know what a CV needs to look like. Of course you do need to be able to articulate yourself clearly and use professional language; and in The CV Righters’ case you also need to have a good understanding of project management and its terminology (which can be like a second language). Once you have this knowledge and these skills under your belt then all you need is passion and patience.

Understanding the perspective from the candidate also comes into play – I was working with a Project Management consultant last week who was petrified of losing content from his rather long CV. When I pointed out that we can condense the experience and still cover all bases of his career by structuring his CV in a particular way, he relaxed. Trying to secure interviews is a frustrating and scary process especially for those who are currently out of work. Little to no feedback from hiring managers and recruiters for your applications really doesn’t help. How do you know you are doing things wrong if no one actually tells you?

Speaking with another client last week who had harvested no success from agencies from her applications – she said she’d asked recruiters for feedback and the best she had managed to gain was that she needed to add more about what she’s done to her CV. The rather unhelpful recruiter also said; having had a discussion about what the candidate had actually done that she would be a great applicant to put forward to clients’ but her CV needed changing. Being a fairly recent graduate, with little experience of writing a professional CV she walked away from the conversation not much wiser.

Writing an effective CV does not come naturally to all – I started this service because I want to make a difference to those who are good, strong, candidates that could easily win the interview if they could just get through the door in the first place. Creating really meaty CVs to enable people to get noticed for the right reasons and secure interviews is what I do. I insist on taking a collaborative approach to creating the CV which means the CV never loses your mark, time is taken to really understand you and how you work.

Careers Advice, guest blogger, Interviews

10 Ways to Leave an Impression in a Job Interview

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Congratulations, you made the interview. But you still need to go out there and clinch the job. Follow our ten tips to impress at your interview and you’ll be the one they’ll remember after seeing 20+ interviewees.

1. Print off the job description and take a copy of your CV and/or application with you to the interview

Seeing the job description in print forces you to be analytical about how you meet the job requirements. Before the interview, make notes and match your job experience, skills and knowledge against the person specification.

On your interview day, take the job description (with your notes on it), your CV (or application form, if you filled one in) to the interview. They can serve as reference points for you when you’re being interviewed.

2. Research the company

Find out as much as you can about the company by going to its website, reading the company reports and the latest industry news.

Make notes and ask questions at your interview that show that you have done your research.

3. Practise your interview questions

When they ask you to ‘tell us about yourself’, they’re not asking for details of everything you’ve done from the minute you were born to your interview date.

Talk the interviewer – briefly – through your CV. Emphasise the skills and knowledge you’ve acquired from each job and how they meet the requirements of the job you’re interviewing for.

4. Dress to impress

Keep it formal, even if the company you’re interviewing for is the hippest, trendiest in the industry. It makes you look professional and competent.

It goes without saying that your appearance should also be tidy and well groomed. A grimy collar is not a good look.

5. Try wearing smart glasses

Research has borne it out time and time again that glasses-wearers look intelligent and competent. Choose a simple pair of glasses – black is a good option. They can even be used as a prop – if appropriate, take them off and lean forward to make a point, but be careful not to come across as though you are telling off your interviewer, or being too pushy. Best to do it with a smile while saying something like “You know, you are right, that is a very good point” or words to that effect.

Don’t overdo it though, as the last thing you want is to poke out the eye of the interviewer. And definitely DON’T chew the ends of the earpieces if you do take the glasses off.

6. Don’t be too specific about money

Salary questions are always tricky, so keep your answers as brief as possible. If the interview was arranged by an agency, say that you’ll leave the salary negotiation to your agency.

If the interview was arranged between you and the company, then say that your salary expectations are in line with the industry standard.

7. Keep your answers focused on how you meet the job specification

Keep your answers focused. You’re here to be interviewed about a job, so everything you say should be tailored to that.

8. Be positive about your previous employers

Your last employers may have been the worst employers in the world but, as far as your interviewers are concerned, they were Nelson Mandela incarnate.

Keep it positive: the company was going through a restructure and you decided to use the opportunity to seek new challenges in your career.

9. Sit up straight

Good posture is extremely important. Slouching denotes a lazy manner. There is also a psychological benefit to sitting up straight; you tend to speak more clearly and confidently.

10. Smile and relax – but not too much

Nothing gladdens the heart like a smile, but smile too much and you’ll end up freaking out your interviewers. So smile – but not too much.

Try to relax; you’ll be able to sell yourself much easier if you are relaxed rather than a quivering nervous wreck. People who are nervous tend to talk too much and mix up their words. Try not to think of it as an important job interview but as a friendly (but formal) chat.

Make them need you more than you need the job… There are plenty of other companies out there that would love to employ your skills.

Follow these tips and you’ll do all right in your job interview.

Good luck.

Michael is the web content manager for a leading online retailer of prescription glasses and sunglasses at Select Specs.

 

Careers Advice, CV Tips, CV Writing, Event Management, Graduates, Project Management, Project management CV, project management resume, Q&A

Q&A: Graduate CV

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This week we have a question form a recent graduate who is looking to forge their career in event management.

Hi Nicola, I have been looking for a new role recently as the current position I am in is temporary – I have got some good experience in managing events as part of a placement at University and my current role. However I don’t seem to be attracting hiring managers with my CV and wondered if a functional format CV is the right format for me? Without this format my CV looks limited and listing my recent assignments as suggested by recruiters doesn’t seem to be effective either.

Wendy – Project Executive; Derby

Hi Wendy, Many thanks for your question. I am often asked if a functional CV (one which highlights out core competencies at the top of the CV) works for project management roles as effectively skills are the same throughout each role. I have to disagree with this statement as every role is different and I have yet to meet an organisation which runs its projects the same as another business. Therefore it is important to use a chronological format where you can drill down into what the projects were and how you delivered them in each role. Now I understand that you have a limited number of roles on your CV being a recent graduate but this is where you can list your part time positions and responsibilities too, as all experience is good experience. You have been fortunate enough to get some solid industry experience on your placement and in your current role which I would suggest you place most emphasis on and also draw out some key achievements. Your CV will soon be rich with information about your abilities and experience to date; by taking a professional approach to contextualising your experience and where you have used your skills you will be demonstrating excellent communication skills to your potential employer and should start to attract attention from hiring personnel. Here’s some further information about Functional Vs Chronological CV formats.

Careers Advice, guest blogger, Interviews, Job Applications

Six Things To Do Before An Interview – Guest Blog

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With the current economic climate in its current state, interviews, let alone job offers, are a little on the rare side. Because of this, when you’re called in to discuss your suitability for a position, you can’t afford not to put on a good show.

Though the interview itself is of course important, what you do before the interview is equally so. When it comes to effective interviewing, preparation is key.

An hour spent preparing for an interview can not only save you a lot of awkward silences and regretful rambling, it can also greatly increase the chances of you actually landing the job. Here are six things that you should do before every job interview.

Research the Company

The first thing that you should do upon landing an interview is to spend a few minutes researching the company in question. Many job candidates arrive at interviews knowing little other than the companies name and this sends a very bad message.

A little bit of research about both the company and the industry in which it operates will allow you to illustrate that you are serious the position.

Ask Yourself What they Want

If you’ve been called in for an interview, you probably meet the positions requirements in terms of both qualifications and experience. The interview is your chance to illustrate that you also meet the positions requirements in terms of personality.

To do this, you need to ask yourself what they are looking for. What specific personality traits would allow you to perform the job well?

Think of Examples

Once you’ve established what personality traits the employer is looking for, you then need to figure out how you are going to demonstrate them. Unfortunately, listing them is isn’t going to work.

You need to come with specific examples in your past employment when you demonstrated said traits. Specific examples speak volumes, general adjectives say very little.

Decide What to Ask

Unprepared job applicants are often stumped at the end of job interviews when they are asked if they have any questions. You can save yourself a lot of stuttering by coming up with a few questions to ask before hand.

Avoid asking about the salary. Instead ask about working conditions and specifics of the role. Doing so allows you to demonstrate that you won’t work just anywhere.

Choose the Right Clothes

Regardless of what position you are applying for, you can’t go wrong with a suit. Some people question the suitability of such attire when they are applying to work somewhere with a casual dress code. Ignore such thoughts.

There is no such thing as a casual dress code when it comes to job interviews. When you wear a suit, you are demonstrating that you are both a professional and somebody that genuinely cares about landing the position.

Map Your Route

Finally, we have the small matter of deciding how you’re going to get to the interview. Many people don’t make a trial run and this is why so many people arrive at job interviews late.

When you go somewhere that you haven’t been before, traffic is difficult to predict and wrong turns are easy to make. And just because you know where the building is, that does not mean that you know where the actual interview room is. Always do a trial run.

Peter Johnson is an established career consultant who offers professional assistance to students seeking designer jobs.

Making Your CV Project You