CV's are called a variety of things (eg, curriculum vitae, resume). There is no universally accepted format. The most important attribute of a successful CV is that it clearly explains to the reader what it is that you can do for them. Your CV should be:
- A well-presented, selling document
- A source of interesting, relevant information
- A script for talking about yourself
The purpose of your CV is not to get you the job. Its purpose is to get you an interview, and after your meeting to remind the person you met with about you. Remember: you are not writing a CV for yourself, you are writing it for the reader. So, as you write your CV, put yourself in the shoes of the intended reader.
This section takes you through the content and detail of effective CVs:
- A standard two-page printed CV
- A one-page summary CV
- An online CV
The decision to recruit is like a buying decision on the part of an employer. This creates a very clear picture of what a CV must include:
It must meet the needs of the target organisation where possible. This means a single generalist CV is unlikely to be sufficient.
It must highlight your achievements and how they relate to the job you are applying for. It must give the reader a clear indication of why you should be considered for this role.
To decide what to include in your CV and where, follow these principles and guidelines:
Generally, the document should contain no more than 2 pages. Sometimes, a one page summary is all that is required.
Your CV should be honest and factual.
The first page should contain enough personal details for a recruitment consultant or potential employer to contact you easily.
Choose a presentation format that allows you to headline key skills, key achievements or key attributes.
Your employment history should commence with your current or most recent job and work backwards.
Achievements should be short, bullet-pointed statements and include your role, the action you took and a comment on the result of your action.
Where information clearly demonstrates your suitability for the vacancy you're applying for, and enhances your chances of being short-listed, include this information near the beginning of the CV.
Leave out information that is irrelevant or negative.
Include details of recent training or skills development events you have attended which could be relevant.
List all your professional memberships and relevant qualifications.
As we work through examples in this section, we will continually refer back to these principles and guidelines.
The most common contents of a CV include:
- Personal Details
- Skills and Career Summary
- Key Achievements
- Qualifications
- Career History
Don't forget: The ultimate test of YOUR CV is whether it meets the needs of the person making the buying decision, and whether YOU feel comfortable with its content and style.
The next few pages will provide a detailed description of how to achieve this.
When you submit a printed CV to a recruiter or a potential employer, it is likely to be the first thing they get to see or read of yours. Therefore, you need to present your CV well and make it user friendly. For example:
Use a good quality paper, typically 100gsm in weight and watermarked. In most cases, be conservative and print your CV in black ink on white paper. Covering letters should use identical stationery.
Lay your CV out neatly
Don't make the margins too deep or too narrow
Resist writing lengthy paragraphs - be concise
Careful use of bold type can be effective
Typefaces such as Times New Roman or Arial are fairly standard
Do not use a type size less than 11pt.
Check for spelling or typographical errors - whoever actually types your CV, errors are YOUR responsibility. Don't rely on a spell checker. If you're not sure about a word, resort to a dictionary. Sloppiness and lack of care could be heavily penalised.
Key Skills/Competencies/Attributes:
Summarise the things about you that are relevant to this role. You can present the information as a list of achievements, a summary of skills, or a list of key competencies (this choice should be made in consultation with your career consultant). Give as much evidence as you can to suggest that you are suited to the career that you are pursuing. A reminder: You will find a list of your skills in the summary pages.
The one-page summary CV may also include one or two of the following sections if you consider they enhance your application.
Showing posts with label guide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guide. Show all posts
Complete Guide on CV Preparation
You're In Charge, Now What? A Leadership Guide for New Supervisors
Congratulations you are the new boss! Building trust and credibility as a leader is like building a house. It begins with a plan, laying a solid foundation and proceeds one step at a time. Whether this is your first supervisory position or you are an experienced manager you should proceed with your transition methodically the first 90 days on the job. How do you quickly establish yourself with those you lead? What do you do first? Here are a few ideas to consider:
Delay making major decisions-Don't allow yourself to be pressured in making major changes or big decisions during the beginning of your transition. Try to take a low-key approach until you are ready for your first group meeting. Gather information, see how things are done and get to know your people before disrupting status quo. Once you gain "acceptance," understand why they do what they do, then your people will more willingly support you, your changes and your leadership style.
Identify the informal leaders-Informal leaders will make you or break you. The first thing I did when taking over a new assignment was to find and try to befriend the informal leaders. Informal leaders are those who control and influence people in your office or organization. In the beginning, they have more power than you do. In some situations, the informal leader is respected by others . . .sometimes they are irritants. Nonetheless, try to make them your allies so they don't sabotage what you are trying to do. If you work in a unionized environment make sure you keep union officials informed and involved as much as possible.
Find the history-Discover what successes your group is proud of. A leader gains respect when taking the time to know what the group has done in the past. Recognizing accomplishments of the past will help build your credibility for future goal setting.
Interview your people-I worked for a leader who personally interviewed everyone in the organization. This is time consuming but paid dividends. It took several weeks, but he immediately established himself, gained the respect of everyone and captured critical information. Since you are new and perceived as neutral, people are more willing to tell you the "truth" about the work environment. Here are questions to ask.
- What can I do to help you accomplish your job?
- What is keeping you from doing your best?
- What makes you feel appreciated?
- What did my predecessor do that we should continue?
- What did my predecessor do that we should stop?
- Are you considering leaving this job for another? Why?
- What do you see as my role in this organization?
- What direction do you think we should go?
Begin problem-solving-With information gained from the interviews begin making changes to some of the common issues/problems affecting your group. This will show you are serious about helping make worklife better.
Conduct a group meeting-Avoid having a group meeting until you have something specific to say and enough background information to speak with authority. At the meeting highlight their past successes, some of the issues or problems affecting the group and what you plan on doing. Talk about some of the changes you are considering and why. Here are some other items to cover in this meeting:
- Your background and experience
- Just enough personal information to show you are human
- Your expectations
- Your pet peeves
- Your leadership style
- How they should approach you with problems
- What to do with new ideas and suggestions
Set Goals-Now that you have gained the respect and trust of your group you are now ready to set goals for the future. There are many ways to set goals, but the main thing is don't do it in the dark. If you followed these steps in this article, goal setting will be a piece of cake. Depending on your style of leadership and experience level will dictate the best way.
A guide to Summer work attire
For those of you who work in a fairly formal office environment the arrival of warm summer weather often creates a style conundrum. Although it may be 30°c outside, wearing shorts and flip flops will not really endear you to your boss or help you on the career ladder. So what’s the best way to keep cool whilst still looking businesslike?
For her
Many women spend the winter months in the corporate uniform of a black suit. Lighten up for summer by switching to suits in light grey, pewter, stone or camel instead. If you have to wear a jacket for work then one with bracelet sleeves is a cooler alternative and looks current. When temperatures soar, be aware of the fabrics of your clothes and how they are cut. Cottons and linens are great options for staying cool but you do need to be prepared to look after them with regular pressing and trips to the dry cleaners to ensure you look pristine. If you’re off to an important presentation or interview and want to make the perfect first impression then consider wearing a light-weight wool suit; it won’t show the creases and will keep its shape all day. Tight fitting clothes will crease more easily in the heat whilst loose-fitted clothes will be more comfortable and elegant.
If you’re not wearing a jacket then your top should always have a sleeve. They can vary in length from cap to ¾ length, but the cardinal rule is that they should never finish at the widest part of your arm. Under no circumstances should you show any hint of your cleavage or midriff. Tights really do look better than bare legs; go for a natural shade in as low a denier as you can afford. If it’s a very hot day and you can’t face tights, then a pair of cotton or linen trousers will help to keep you feeling cool.
Finishing touches will make or break your working wardrobe. Slingbacks, peep-toe and woven leather shoes will offer some ventilation and help to keep your feet cool. A heel, whether it’s a comfortable wedge or stack will also help to lengthen your leg.
For him
When it comes to a summer working wardrobe, men often feel that they get a raw deal. Dark grey, navy and charcoal suits are perfect in the winter but are too heavy for the summer, opt instead for ones in medium grey, pewter or taupe. At all costs avoid the temptation to go for a cream linen suit unless you want to be mistaken for the ‘Man from Del Monte’. When you do make the transition from your winter to summer suits remember to have the ones you’ve been wearing for the past few months dry cleaned (and don’t leave them hanging in the plastic bag).
Under no circumstances should you ever wear a short sleeved shirt under a suit jacket. Roll up your sleeves to just under the elbow instead. Woollen socks should be swapped for cotton ones in the same colour as your trousers or shoes; they should be long enough to ensure that no flesh is on show when you cross your legs.
Of course what you wear will be dictated by where you work. It will also depend on whether you work in a client facing position or if you’re tucked away in an office. If in doubt it’s always best to be slightly over rather than under dressed and don’t be afraid to ask for guidance from your manager either.
For everyone
Consider leaving a small wardrobe of appropriate clothes in the office, while you travel to and from work in a more relaxed style. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck on a broken down bus or train and then having to rush into a meeting when you’re feeling less than pristine. This is also a great way to cope with the summer heat if you work in an air conditioned office where it can be really chilly.
For her
Many women spend the winter months in the corporate uniform of a black suit. Lighten up for summer by switching to suits in light grey, pewter, stone or camel instead. If you have to wear a jacket for work then one with bracelet sleeves is a cooler alternative and looks current. When temperatures soar, be aware of the fabrics of your clothes and how they are cut. Cottons and linens are great options for staying cool but you do need to be prepared to look after them with regular pressing and trips to the dry cleaners to ensure you look pristine. If you’re off to an important presentation or interview and want to make the perfect first impression then consider wearing a light-weight wool suit; it won’t show the creases and will keep its shape all day. Tight fitting clothes will crease more easily in the heat whilst loose-fitted clothes will be more comfortable and elegant.
If you’re not wearing a jacket then your top should always have a sleeve. They can vary in length from cap to ¾ length, but the cardinal rule is that they should never finish at the widest part of your arm. Under no circumstances should you show any hint of your cleavage or midriff. Tights really do look better than bare legs; go for a natural shade in as low a denier as you can afford. If it’s a very hot day and you can’t face tights, then a pair of cotton or linen trousers will help to keep you feeling cool.
Finishing touches will make or break your working wardrobe. Slingbacks, peep-toe and woven leather shoes will offer some ventilation and help to keep your feet cool. A heel, whether it’s a comfortable wedge or stack will also help to lengthen your leg.
For him
When it comes to a summer working wardrobe, men often feel that they get a raw deal. Dark grey, navy and charcoal suits are perfect in the winter but are too heavy for the summer, opt instead for ones in medium grey, pewter or taupe. At all costs avoid the temptation to go for a cream linen suit unless you want to be mistaken for the ‘Man from Del Monte’. When you do make the transition from your winter to summer suits remember to have the ones you’ve been wearing for the past few months dry cleaned (and don’t leave them hanging in the plastic bag).
Under no circumstances should you ever wear a short sleeved shirt under a suit jacket. Roll up your sleeves to just under the elbow instead. Woollen socks should be swapped for cotton ones in the same colour as your trousers or shoes; they should be long enough to ensure that no flesh is on show when you cross your legs.
Of course what you wear will be dictated by where you work. It will also depend on whether you work in a client facing position or if you’re tucked away in an office. If in doubt it’s always best to be slightly over rather than under dressed and don’t be afraid to ask for guidance from your manager either.
For everyone
Consider leaving a small wardrobe of appropriate clothes in the office, while you travel to and from work in a more relaxed style. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck on a broken down bus or train and then having to rush into a meeting when you’re feeling less than pristine. This is also a great way to cope with the summer heat if you work in an air conditioned office where it can be really chilly.
A guide to pensions and investments
A pension is a form of saving for retirement, with some associated tax advantages. When you retire or reach a certain age, a pension scheme pays you a regular income for life. For most companies it’s an obligation to give you access to a pension scheme or at least point you towards a financial advisor who can explain the ins and outs of the thousands of pension options that are available.
How much pension do you need?
The $64,000 question. You can have as big a pension as you can afford, but here are some tips to get a rough idea of how much you will actually need:
It’s difficult to judge what your situation will be if your retirement is a long way away, but if you take your fixed living costs, such as food, council tax and electricity, and add some estimated annual leisure activities, such as holidays, theatre trips and dining out, you should be able to get an estimated monthly expenditure.
Remember that unlike your current situation, by the time you retire you may no longer be paying rent or a mortgage and you will also not have to encounter work related costs, such as commuting expenses and buying work attire.
Once you’ve got an outline figure for your desired retirement income, take it to an independent financial adviser or other pension expert and plan how to provide for it. You could also try one of the many pension calculators available to give you a quick idea.
Remember, the earlier you start a pension, the less you will have to pay each month to reach your target retirement income.
The State Pension
Once upon a time, this was all that was required. Nowadays, its value has slowly eroded to the point where it now barely provides a living income, even with no mortgage or other major costs to pay. Unless you’re happy to spend the rest of your life counting every penny, you will almost certainly need to make additional private provision for your retirement.
The amount of State Pension you do receive will depend on the level of National Insurance contributions you’ve made throughout your working life. Even then, if you haven’t paid NI contributions for enough ‘qualifying years’, you may not get the full amount.
Company pension schemes
Many companies offer their own scheme and you’re advised to sign up to it, especially if you don’t have alternative provision. There are two main types of scheme:
• Salary related pensions - based on your salary and the number of years you are in the scheme. These generally call for higher contributions through the life of the plan.
• Money purchase pensions - based on how much you pay in and how those funds have performed over the life of the scheme. This is usually used to buy an ‘annuity’ or income for life.
Company schemes require you to make a regular contribution based on a percentage of your salary, to which your employer may choose to make an additional payment. It’s likely that you will also be able to make extra voluntary contributions of your own to increase your final pension benefits.
If you pay into a company scheme, your employer pays your contributions before tax has been deducted, which essentially means your tax bill is reduced.
The age when you can actually draw your pension is set out in the terms and conditions of each scheme. Ask your company pension administrator or external financial advisor for the specific details of your pension.
Personal pensions
In addition to conventional pension schemes, where you place your money with a trusted provider and let them do the sums, there are plenty of alternative ways to invest to provide an income for yourself in retirement.
Most of these involve bricks and mortar and can be anything from letting out multiple properties to provide a regular income or trading down to a smaller property to free up funds. The housing market is relatively stable but has peaks and troughs based on many uncontrollable factors.
If you want to get really involved, a Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) plan allows you to work closely with an advisor to where and how to invest your money for the best return.
All investment strategies carry an element of risk, and some can be extremely risky. As a general rule, you should never place a large proportion of your funds with one provider or solution. Always try to spread your exposure to risk and unless you’re an expert in investments and pensions, always seek advice before making any investment decision.
How much pension do you need?
The $64,000 question. You can have as big a pension as you can afford, but here are some tips to get a rough idea of how much you will actually need:
It’s difficult to judge what your situation will be if your retirement is a long way away, but if you take your fixed living costs, such as food, council tax and electricity, and add some estimated annual leisure activities, such as holidays, theatre trips and dining out, you should be able to get an estimated monthly expenditure.
Remember that unlike your current situation, by the time you retire you may no longer be paying rent or a mortgage and you will also not have to encounter work related costs, such as commuting expenses and buying work attire.
Once you’ve got an outline figure for your desired retirement income, take it to an independent financial adviser or other pension expert and plan how to provide for it. You could also try one of the many pension calculators available to give you a quick idea.
Remember, the earlier you start a pension, the less you will have to pay each month to reach your target retirement income.
The State Pension
Once upon a time, this was all that was required. Nowadays, its value has slowly eroded to the point where it now barely provides a living income, even with no mortgage or other major costs to pay. Unless you’re happy to spend the rest of your life counting every penny, you will almost certainly need to make additional private provision for your retirement.
The amount of State Pension you do receive will depend on the level of National Insurance contributions you’ve made throughout your working life. Even then, if you haven’t paid NI contributions for enough ‘qualifying years’, you may not get the full amount.
Company pension schemes
Many companies offer their own scheme and you’re advised to sign up to it, especially if you don’t have alternative provision. There are two main types of scheme:
• Salary related pensions - based on your salary and the number of years you are in the scheme. These generally call for higher contributions through the life of the plan.
• Money purchase pensions - based on how much you pay in and how those funds have performed over the life of the scheme. This is usually used to buy an ‘annuity’ or income for life.
Company schemes require you to make a regular contribution based on a percentage of your salary, to which your employer may choose to make an additional payment. It’s likely that you will also be able to make extra voluntary contributions of your own to increase your final pension benefits.
If you pay into a company scheme, your employer pays your contributions before tax has been deducted, which essentially means your tax bill is reduced.
The age when you can actually draw your pension is set out in the terms and conditions of each scheme. Ask your company pension administrator or external financial advisor for the specific details of your pension.
Personal pensions
In addition to conventional pension schemes, where you place your money with a trusted provider and let them do the sums, there are plenty of alternative ways to invest to provide an income for yourself in retirement.
Most of these involve bricks and mortar and can be anything from letting out multiple properties to provide a regular income or trading down to a smaller property to free up funds. The housing market is relatively stable but has peaks and troughs based on many uncontrollable factors.
If you want to get really involved, a Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) plan allows you to work closely with an advisor to where and how to invest your money for the best return.
All investment strategies carry an element of risk, and some can be extremely risky. As a general rule, you should never place a large proportion of your funds with one provider or solution. Always try to spread your exposure to risk and unless you’re an expert in investments and pensions, always seek advice before making any investment decision.
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