A golden CV Writing Secret: Everywhere online you would find resources and comments talking about drafting a winning Job application, CV writing techniques, resume secrets that work and all other important career advise. The CV Writing topic is always in demand in forums, on job boards among CV and Resume writers and those still comfortable in current employment.
Is all the available advice valuable? Certainly, does the advice given always work, no.
The reason I say this is because many times after all the advice tips and tricks are followed to the latter, six months down the line the Job seeker is still on the market without a single interview offer.
OK, how then should a discerning job seeker approach the Job market in today competitive market? My advice is simple, it has been for years, if you are looking to compose a winning interview generating CV, start with your industry sectors Job Adverts and Job criteria assessment.
What do I mean? Follow these simple yet highly effective CV Writing Rules:
Copy 10 Industry sector Job adverts related to your targeted Job titles, cut and paste the 10 job adverts suited to what you want to do next and analyse them in details.
If the Job titles are the same as your past Job titles analyse the 10 job adverts content and responsibilities against the content and work responsibilities of your most recent CV. For example if some of your sample adverts are vacancies for a "Sales Customer Services Executive" and you were once employed as a Sales Customer Services Officer. Assess your current CV or Resume and compare its content with the content of the sample Job adverts you have.
Hopefully you should see some STRONG similarities in the job adverts duties with your our own past responsibilities.
Do not rush the previous step because what this is telling you is for that Job title, companies will not employ anyone who can not convince them beyond a strong reason of doubt that they can deliver on those duties.
Do they look different? if they do, there is a high possibility that you may not be shortlisted for an interview for these Job adverts.
What is the remedy?, revisit your work responsibilities that you have genuinely undertaken in the last few years perhaps the last 1-3 years, compare the details to the sample Job adverts you have.
If there is not some similarities, re-write your CV application using words and phrases related to those you have in your sample Job adverts.
The main point is the stronger your sentence structure and expressions are to your Job adverts sample, the higher the chance of getting shortlisted for the role.
Recruiters and HR Managers favour CV and Resumes that match the jobs they are short listing for, your CV will be compared against an advert, so provided you have the experience, you want it to shine forth. This is not encouraging you to write sentences and responsibilities that you have not genuinely undertaken, do not do that as you will get caught, but if you have undertaken the roles and work responsibilities let it be very obvious within your CV.
For example if a particular roles wants a candidates that has worked and liaised with clients in New York, if within a past role, you have spoken to clients in New York through emails, conference calls and even face-to-face meetings let this point speak for you upfront and very clear.
You may think CV writing and Resume success depends on selling personal qualities, career ambition, CV layout and up-front profiles, all these are the minor elements of getting an interview offer. The major element is "the closeness to the Job Specification factor" what is in the employers mind is can you deliver on the daily Job responsibilities", from my recruitment experience 90% of hiring managers will not bend on this single criteria. If a solid candidate can prove themselves against the Job daily responsibilities they are in. Other supporting job criteria are secondary.
Focus on key industry skills, terminology and keywords related to your Job Titles, let that shine through your sentences within your CV or Resume. For example if you are an IT programmer in Java, let your technical Java competencies be clear within your CV above everything else, that is what will matter at the end of the day, and will count for 70% of the final decision to see you face-to-face.
Get your CV as close to job adverts as possible in line with your truthful 100% honest career experience.
This is one of the golden secrets to effective CV Writing that enhances a job seekers career prospects.
