The Art of Superior Communication

Your number one priority when writing a CV and a covering letter is to imagine what the reader wants to know and hear. And what the recruiter wants to hear is about you.

They are not looking for gimmicks and chattiness, they're looking for clarity. That means not listing everything in overwhelming detail but expressing the essence of your themes. It's fine to leave recruiters with further questions to ask at interview, so don't kill the CV stone dead by doing too much.

Buzzwords, used in moderation, are useful signposts that help the reader recognise the complex picture you are painting. But avoid yesterday's buzzwords like proactive and business process re-engineering.

Grammar can have a stunning effect on readers if it is done properly. But throw away the Word grammar checker. CVs don't follow proper English grammar. There are no sentences and no paragraphs, or there shouldn't be. The CV has its own conventions, based on creating impact and saving space, based on making a few words do a great deal of work. Aim to concentrate what you say and then further edit it down to the absolute minimum. Brevity is the soul of wit - it makes you look intelligent.

There are no rules in writing a CV (though cover letters are grammatical and follow fairly precise rules). Start by realising that you are freed from convention. The document you are creating has a series of goals and a number of inputs.

Think about your role as an author and have questions like these in the back of your mind, the kind of questions I use myself when writing a CV for someone professionally:

The Applicant Side Of Things

- How did you approach your role?
- What scenario did you encounter and what did you do about it?
- How were your methods superior to other ways of handling things?
- What legacy did you leave behind when you left that job?
- What more did you go on to achieve in the next job?

The Recruiter Perspective

Your job applications live in a context that goes beyond what you want, what you have done and what you are good at. This is the marketing side of the task and these are the kind of questions to be asking.

What is my next career goal? Am I ready for it? Do I need further training? What issues are involved in making this change?

What do I need to say in order to convince recruiters that I am ready for this particular goal?

How will that sound convincing to the kind of people I expect to read it? What specific qualities and themes need to be prominent in the application?

How will it fit the brief in this industry and at this level of professional role?

The Text Itself

What information can I leave out or just use a trace of?

What information will make me (my client) look stupid if I do include it?

What can be implied over and above the actual facts?

What innovations in CV design and content are likely to hit home in this commercial sector? (for example, in civil engineering, going beyond the traditional list of contracts and getting inside the way a project manager has actually shaped the latest contract, change the methodology, achieved commercial targets, etc.)

There are many ways of embarking upon the process of becoming a superior communicator, but if you start to get a feel for these questions you will start to understand what makes an effective written job application. The other superb thing about being creative in this way is that it helps clarify your career strategy and begins your preparation for performing confidently at interview.

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5 Must-have leadership traits

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Leadership has a lot to do with you and how you relate and react to people who work with you. Here are 5 traits that leaders must have to successfully mentor and manage their teams to deliver results.

"Leadership should be borne out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it." 

- Marian Anderson. 

Respect people working under you. Make them feel worthy of their work by seeking their answers to problems or opinions in official matters. Appreciate their work and boost their confidence. Show interest in their work and maintain a healthy bond.

Inspire your people to work. This is a deciding factor of how efficient your leadership is. You can motivate them by throwing challenges at them and then rewarding them with bonuses and promotions, etc. You can become a role model for your juniors by setting an example with your work and conduct in office. 

Chalk out the process and explain it in plain terms to people under you.Your plan will be successful only if the team understands and relates to it. Give the team direction towards achieving goals. Exercise your leadership effectively for the enhancement of your team’s output. 

Empowerment is the tool to successful delegation. Make your people more accountable by giving them responsibilities. Let them make their own work decisions. It boosts their confidence and makes them better workers in future.

Trust your juniors. Share your goals with your team members and divide responsibility amongst them. Ask them to plan their actions for accomplishment of targets. Communicate clearly to your team to take onus of their work. However, oversee their work and always be in the loop. 

Leadership also has a lot to do with you. Accept all realistic challenges and deliver them on time. This is a valuable lesson which can be passed on to your juniors. Initiate extra initiatives for the enhancement of your work and betterment of your team. Adopt an optimistic approach towards work. 

Steer your way through all challenges in the organisation. Ensure your team is following you closely. Together, use all new prospects to move ahead.

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Email: jobs@aarenconsultants.in Resume or CV with Job Post Title