8 things to make an impressive CV

This article is an attempt to help the readers design an impressive and user-friendly CV. If you ensure that you include this information in your CV, the chances of it meeting the interviewer's expectations are increased.

~ Begin with name and contact details
Make this information available at the beginning of your CV. This should include your postal address, phone number (preferably mobile number) and e-mail address (only one). If a company wants to call you for an interview or needs to communicate with you for any further information, they will look out for this information. If it is buried somewhere inside the CV it will not only put them off but also reduce their chances of contacting you.

~ Write an appealing career summary
This is your chance to bring forward relevant strengths and skills to the recruiter. Everything in your CV should support your Career Summary. If there's anything that doesn't support your Career Summary, you should reconsider listing it.

You should write your Career Summary around your skills, attitude, knowledge and experience. There are two schools of thought on writing the career statement.

Some people think that it should be a short 30-40 word paragraph while others give it liberty to be covered in 4-5 bulleted points. Whatever you decide on, ensure that everything relevant that you want to sell to the prospective employer is covered here. At the same time, it should not become nauseating.

~ Focus on your work experience, responsibilities and achievements
If you are an experienced candidate, your work experience is your main asset. Include the details of the relevant jobs you have done in the past. You should present your work experience in a chronologically descending order ie the last company first.

This should include the name of the company, your designation and tenure followed by your job responsibilities and achievements. It is always better to present this information in bulleted format rather than a clumsy paragraph. Mention some figures when you talk about your achievements.

For example:
Worked as Business Development Manager for XYZ Company from June 2000 to January 2004.

Job responsibilities:

Setting up 7 franchisees across 4 countries
Maximising the business from existing customers to the tune of $ 200,000
~ Your next asset is your educational qualification
Educational qualifications play an important role in the recruitment of freshers. If you are a fresh candidate, focus your CV on your qualifications and achievements during your student life.

~ Write about your out-of-work achievements, interests and hobbies
These reflect your personality and skills. Present the relevant achievements in the order of priority ie the most important achievement first. Similarly, present your interests as well. Write about the achievements that display a facet of your personality. For example, if you have been the president of your college, do mention it. It shows your leadership skills.

~ Write short sentences with more impactful words
Lengthy CVs put the recruiter off. Keep the sentences short and use words that demonstrate your hold of the situation like managed, arranged, supervised etc.

~ Formal font faces
A font like Verdana-10 should be good for the content while the Name at the top can be written in Verdana-12, with a bold font face.

~ Use the same tense through out the CV.
Changing the tense in every second line leaves the reader confused and annoyed.

How to find job in Hard Times

There are times when it's not a matter of finding the best job, but finding a job period, and finding it fast. Those types of times are upon us, and using the usual means of sending your cover letter and resume out don't work if you need something quickly. So here are some tips on what you can do when you need to land a job like yesterday.

The first secret to finding a job quickly is to understand that starting at the beginning doesn't work, we need to tap into already existing circumstances in order to do it quickly.

One way that works is to look at the networks you already have; whether professional or personal. Many times these networks aren't really tapped that often or even thought of as networks because they may be people you just hang out with in general, or professional ties you connect with to let of some steam, etc.

But when it comes to finding a job quickly, forget about anything but letting people know you're looking for a job and that you're willing to work at just about anything to get it.

Remember, you're trying to get a job in a very difficult market. That requires lowering expectations in order to survive until things turn around.

The key point it to identify networks you already have and don't assume they don't have any value in job hunting. Anyone has the potential to know about a job available somewhere. Just start asking and you'll be surprised at how many opportunities start to turn up.

If you're too fussy at a time like this, then in reality, you're really not trying to get hired quickly, you're acting like we're in a normal hiring environment, which we're not. So you must be flexible in this type of economic situation, and if you're not, you're going to end up having to be one way or the other. Better to do it right away than be brought to the place of having absolutely no option but to take the first thing that comes your way.

How about your neighbors
If you have had some contact with neighbors, they can make an excellent source of information for possible job openings. They also talk to one another a lot, so if you ask one about it, they can spread the word around the neighborhood and you're sure to get a hit quickly.

Local pals
We tend to put our net way too far at times we're looking for jobs, and if we have the time to do that, it works great, but when we need a job quick, local is probably the best place to spread the word.

So any of your friends can be sources for job opportunities, and don't fail to let them know you're looking. Almost all of this is about communication, and the more you communicate locally, the better chances at getting a job quick.

Organizational Ties
Most of us belong to some type of organization or another; whether church or what have you, and there are a lot of people you can let know that you are job hunting, and that can very quickly generate legitimate job possibilities in a hurry.
Just get the word of mouth going and get out of the way.

Former managers or supervisors
Assuming you're on good terms with former bosses, they are a great source for job openings; not only for where they work, but they are always in contact with other businesses and managers that are looking for people. You never know, if you left on good terms with them, they offer you a job then and there.

Let your fingers do the walking
Yes, the yellow pages are still around, and they offer up plenty ideas of jobs you can look for. Remember, local will provide you a job much quicker than national searches, so look through the businesses to find places you can contact immediately.

This one almost always works
I've had to apply this strategy to my job searches in the past when I was getting desperate, and that's to go to a local mall and start applying.

Many times you don't have to go store to store, but can find an answer desk where any store in the mall that is looking for workers has that information available.

While that's what I would try first, I would still try individual stores if there's not much there, as many stores don't immediately post job opportunities, and so you could walk into one without any competition to battle for the job.

This can be one of the fastest ways to get a job if you are getting right down to it.

Online job searches
You would have thought I would have listed this first, but with needing a job quickly, the Internet, in many cases, is much slower to respond, and you may have to go through many hoops to get something.

So because the parameters we're talking about is securing a job quickly, we can't rely on the Internet for that.

Now having said that, I would still put out my application, but I would it in conjunction with my local networks and searches. If you don't you'll find yourself getting deeper in financial trouble waiting for an online opening or response, which probably is the most competitive and time consuming out there.

Follow these numerous strategies and you should be able to get a job quickly and start bringing in some much needed income.

Avoiding Desperation During Job Search

Getting a job during recession is very difficult. As the US dips into 9.5% unemployment rate, more and more individuals are having a hard time getting the attention of few employers who are willing to open their doors to new employees.

The number of unemployed on the street is increasing which means the competition is getting fierce. For that reason, employees are looking for ways to be different from applicants so that they can be considered for the job. A normal resume and cover letter today will never work since everyone else is doing the same.

But the idea of being creative can sometimes go overboard. Some applicants think of very clever tricks just to get noticed. For example, you show up for an interview wearing a bunny costume because it’s nearing Easter (actually a true story). Wearing something odd during job search will definitely be noticed by employers but it will never work to your advantage. In fact, crazy antics just to get noticed will lessen or completely remove your chances of being hired for the job.

Being unique to the point of getting weird during the job process only means that you are desperate for the job. You do these things because you badly needed the job and you will do almost everything just to get noticed.

Giving your possible employers a sign that you are desperate for a job can never boost your chances of employment. While desperation will mean employees could be working harder, they are working for the wrong reason: money. Of course, money is important but employees who are driven primarily by money could be tempted to do things out of the ordinary (illegal) sine they really do not care about productivity or the company but only in earning their payroll.

Avoid being tagged as desperate. In every movement that you make, be sure that you are professional in every way: the way you speak, the way you move and the way you dress will be scrutinized and anything unprofessional will be counted against you.

Desperation is one of the biggest indicators that you are not professional since you are not there to work and be compensated later – you’re only seeking to be compensated no matter what happens to the company. If the company will sense this, they will never hesitate to consider other candidates. There are many applicants who have fallen for this trick only to leave frustrated.

But that does not mean you should never be creative during your application process. There are a lot of ways that you can do to be noticeable without sounding desperate. Always think of being professional and everything that you do.

Your creativity should be based on showing your skills as a professional. There are many avenues that you can show your skills without looking ridiculous. If your goal is just to get noticed then being weird during the application process is recommended but if your goal is to be employed then be creative in showing your skills and abilities regarding your employment.

Job Interview Follow-Up Do's and Don'ts

Remember that your work is not done once you finish the interview. You can't sit back and wait for the job offer, so consider these key rules and strategies for following-up your job interviews.

• Do ask at the end of the interview when the employer expects to make the hiring decision.
  
• Do be proactive and consider follow-up a strategic part of your job search process. Follow-up can give you just the edge you need to get the job offer over others who interviewed for the position.
  
• Do use these follow-up techniques to continue to show your enthusiasm and desire for the position, but don't make it seem as though you are desperate.
  
• Do obtain the correct titles and names of all the people who interviewed you. (Ideally, do get each person's business card.)
  
• Do write individual thank you notes or letters to each person who interviewed you -- within two business days. Each letter can be essentially the same, but try to vary each a bit in case recipients compare notes. Don't ever fail to send a thank you -- even if you are sure the job is not for you. And do write thank you notes after every interview.
  
• Don't worry so much about hand-written versus typed thank you letters, but don't make a mistake by sending it through the wrong medium; make sure you know the best method of reaching the employer, whether by regular mail, email, or fax.
  
• In your thank you letter, do show appreciation for the employer's interest in you and do remind the employer about why you are the perfect person for the position.
• Don't ever have any errors (misspellings or typos) in your thank you letters.
  
• Do alert your references -- if you have not done so already -- that they may be getting a phone call from the employer.
  
• Don't stop job-hunting, even if you feel confident that you will get a job offer. Do continue to interview and attempt to find other opportunities.
  
• Do follow-up with a telephone call to the employer within a week to ten days (or sooner, if the employer had a shorter timetable) to ask about the position. And do continue to build rapport and sell your strengths during the phone call.
  
• Do be patient. The hiring process often takes longer than the employer expects.
  
• Do continue following-up, especially if the employer asks you to. Remember the adage about the squeaky wheel getting the oil. Just don't go overboard and annoy or bother the employer.
  
• Don't place too much importance on one job or one interview; there will be other opportunities for you.
  
• Do use other job offers as leverage in your follow-up -- to get the offer you really want.
  
• Don't burn any bridges if you do not get a job offer. And do try and turn the situation into a positive by bringing the interviewer(s) into your network, possibly even asking them for referrals to other contacts.

How To Answer The Salary Question In A Job Interview

Just by avoiding the exact salary to have already been drawn by you may not remain the secret as during the interview your employer will directly ask for the salary drawn earlier in your current or previous organization, which you’ve got to answer. Presentation of the details or the factual figure of salary is needed to be accomplished in such a way that you should not feel any kind of reparation just after divulging the salary drawn by you earlier. Suppose being competent and experienced one provided you are drawing $20,000 per month for your service in any Info Company as a programmer, and you are asked by another Company to to tell you salary, which can give you $30,000 per month as the salary, which answer would you like give in order to ensure your 100% placement in the that Company.
If you reveal your actual salary you are likely to loss your job, as the company will consider you less efficient and may offer you not more than what you admit to being paid presently. And if you reveal your salary being tantamount to the salary offered by interviewing Company, possibility of yours being given the job increases but on verification of yours salary structure revealed by you earlier as high-salary, your candidature may be quashed.
Reveal the truth throwing sufficient light over the situations warranting you to join the previous job and seek a on-the-spot test to prove your competency, if you think that you can demonstrate your efficiency without any kind friction or obstruction. Salary negotiation starts from yours convincing the employer of your ability. Satisfactory answer, facts and the substantial revelation with confidence of your suitability are the tips to be concentrated at by candidate during the interview. Reveal your salary without any hesitation but throwing exuberant light on different dark sites which you would like to remove by joining the superior Company of you own choice.

Tips to finding a new job

An interview for a job is your showcase for merchandising your talents. During the interview an employer judges your qualifications, appearance, and general fitness for the job opening. It is your opportunity to convince the employer that you can make a real contribution.

Equally important, interview for a job, gives you a chance to appraise the job, the employer, and the firm. It enables you to decide if the job meets your career needs and interests and whether the employer is of the type and caliber you want to work for.

Before each interview, though, you should assume that the job you are applying for is precisely the one you want - because it may be. To present your qualifications most advantageously, you will need to prepare in advance. You should have the needed papers ready and the necessary information about yourself firmly in mind; and you should know how to act at the interview to make it an effective device for selling your skills.

Preparing for the Job interview

Assemble all the papers that you may need. The main item will be your background and work experience inventory. It contains all the facts and figures you could possibly be asked - either in filling in the job application form, or in the job interview. Don't forget to take copies of your resume, even though you may have already submitted one. Take your recent school records and military separation papers. If your work is the sort you can show in an interview, (such as technical drawings, artwork, publications, or procedures), take along a few samples. Be careful not to leave your only copy of something, as it could get lost.

Learn all you can about the company where you are going for an interview - its product or service, standing in the industry, number and kinds of jobs available, and hiring policies.

Know what you have to offer, what education and training you have had, what work you have done, and what you can do. Review your inventory.

Know what kind of job you want and why you want to work for the firm where you are applying.

Bring along the names, addresses, and business affiliations of three persons (not relatives) who are familiar with your work and character. If you are a recent graduate, you can list your teachers. Ask references for permission to use their names.

As you are filling in the job application be aware that it in itself offers an excellent opportunity to convince an employer that you are a valuable person to hire. It is not only a chance to describe your accomplishments but it also shows how clearly you can think and write, and how well you can present important details.

Learn the area salary scale for the type of work you are seeking. If you have the required skill and experience, don't hesitate to state your salary expectations in filling in the application blank. On the other hand, if for any reason you don't want to commit yourself then, simply write "Open" in the space for salary desired. If asked, say you prefer to wait until the job interview to discuss salary. Never take anyone with you to the interview.

Allow as much uninterrupted time for the interview as may be required. (For example, do not park your car in a limited-time space.) Dress conservatively. Avoid either too formal or too casual attire.


You and the interview

Be pleasant and friendly but businesslike.

Let the employer control the interview. Your answers should be frank and brief but complete, without rambling. Avoid dogmatic statements.

Be flexible and willing but give the employer a clear idea of your job preferences.

Stress your qualifications without exaggeration. The employer's questions or statements will indicate the type of person wanted. Use these clues in presenting your qualifications. For example, if you are being interviewed for an engineering position and the employer mentions that the job will require some customer contact work, use this clue to emphasize any work, experience, or courses you have had in this kind of skill.

If you have not sent your resume in advance, present it or your work records, references, personal data, work samples, or other materials to support your statements when the employer requests them.

In discussing your previous jobs and work situations, avoid criticizing former employers or fellow workers.

Don't discuss your personal, domestic, or financial problems unless you are specifically asked. Answer only what relates to the job.

Don’t be in a hurry to ask questions unless the employer invites them. But don't be afraid to ask what you need to know. If the employer offers you a job, be sure you understand exactly what your duties will be. Also find out what opportunities for advancement will be open. A definite understanding about the nature of your job will avoid future disappointment for either you or your employer.

Be prepared to state the salary you want, but not until the employer has introduced the subject. Be realistic in discussing salary. But don't sell yourself short. If the employer does not definitely offer you a job or indicate when you will hear about it, ask when you may call to learn the decision. If the employer asks you to call or return for another interview, make a note of the time, date, and place.

Thank the employer for the interview. If the firm cannot use you, ask about other employers who may need a person with your qualifications.

Testing

Many firms require a psychological test, or a series of such tests, as part of the application procedure. The tests most commonly used are those that indicate intelligence or general aptitude. In addition, some firms use tests that give them information on specific aptitudes, personality traits, and interest patterns.

If you are a recent school graduate, you are probably used to taking tests. But if you have been away from school for some years, you may be apprehensive about the testing process. You may fear that your test scores will not reflect your real ability to do a job. Don't let tests scare you off. None of the commonly used tests require advance preparation; you need not feel concerned over not having "crammed" the night before.

Many tests have time limits. When they do, you will be told how much time you will have. listen carefully to the instructions you receive. If you do not clearly understand what you are expected to do, be sure to ask questions. The time for questions, however, is before the test begins. If the test is timed, seconds lost in asking questions after it starts could seriously affect your score. After your start the test, work steadily and carefully. Do not light a cigarette or do anything else that interrupts your work. In taking most tests, you should not spend too much time on any one question; instead come back to difficult or time-consuming ones after you complete the others.

Once the test is over, do not reproach yourself for not doing better. If the test is well constructed, you probably would make a similar score if you took it again. Remember; too, that employers do not regard your score as an infallible measure of your abilities - but as only one indication of them.

After the Job Interview

Make each interview a learning experience. After one is over, carefully analyze what went on by asking yourself questions such as these:

What points did I make that seemed to interest the employer?
Did I present my qualifications well?
Did I overlook any that are pertinent to the job?
Did I pass up any clues that might indicate the best ways to "sell" myself?
Did I learn all that I needed to know about the job I was trying to get? Or did I forget or hesitate to ask about aspects that are important to me?
Did I talk too much? Did I talk too little?
Was I too tense? Or too relaxed?
Was what I wore appropriate?
Was I too aggressive? Not aggressive enough?
Based on your answers, draw up a list of specific ways you can improve performance in your next interview.

Count on the fact that your skill in this crucial phase of the job search process has been steadily improving.

If you plan carefully and keep up your enthusiasm you will eventually succeed in "merchandising your job talents "- landing a job that uses your abilities and pay you well.

how to tackle a job interview

The best way to avoid the most common and dangerous interview mistakes is to think ahead and decide not to make them...

1. Lying:
Although it’s tempting, it doesn’t work. By all means gloss over the unflattering things. But out-right fibbing NEVER pays.

2. Slating your current company or boss:
Fed up with your current job and would give anything to leave because they’ve treated you badly? Your job interview is NOT the time to seek revenge. Bear in mind that the interviewer will be listening to your answers and thinking about what it would be like to work with you. Ask yourself: do you like working with people who constantly criticise others? Isn't it a bit wearing? The trouble is that the interviewer draws massive conclusions from your answers. So your throwaway comment about your boss or employer may be interpreted to be your "standard" way of thinking. It makes you look bad, not your employer.

3. Being Rude:
If you find you were accidentally rude, then apologise calmly and genuinely. Then leave it behind you and get on with the rest of the interview. If you dwell on it, it will affect your performance. What's "rude"? Well, that depends on your audience. As a rule of thumb, avoid cracking jokes about potentially sensitive topics and beware of being too "pally" with the interviewer: polite and friendly is enough. After all, you're not in the pub with them. So stay professional.

4. Complaining:
Ok, so your train journey might have been a nightmare and maybe you thought the tube would never arrive, or the tailbacks on the motorway were endless. But your interviewer doesn't want to know that! Complaining, even in jest, is not a recommended icebreaker. It may be completely harmless, or it might simply make the interviewer switch off. Don't let complaining set the tone for the interview!

5. Talking about people you don’t get on with at work:
These days, it's common to be asked how you deal with conflict. Companies realise the importance of interpersonal relationships in the working environment. So if they ask you about difficult people or situations, make sure you hold back from character assassination and blaming others for problems because it won't do you any favours! If you accidentally do "break" this rule, apologise and explain what you "really" meant.

6. Not being prepared:
Re-read the relevant version of your CV and the job advert, just before the interview. You’d be surprised how many people can’t remember what they wrote on their CV. And if you remember what type of person the job advert was looking for, it’s easier to demonstrate that you have those qualities.

7. Appearing to be too nervous, or too confident:
If you appear too nervous they'll think you're not confident enough to do the job. However, appearing too confident will make them think you won't fit into the team. If interview nerves are an issue for you, it’s worth getting practical help from a professional, such as an interview coach.

8. Making a weak first impression:
Unfortunately, no matter how hard the interviewer tries, a lot of "don't want to hire them" decisions are made in the first few minutes of contact. If you make a strong first impression, the interviewer will be more inclined to overlook “imperfections” in your answers.

9. Not having researched the company:
As a general rule, the more famous the brand, the more they will expect you to have done your homework. Researching the company shows you’re serious about the job. Example from a real interview for a major food brand: Candidate: "Hello Mr. Interviewer. Yes, I'd love to work for your company. I think your brand is great and I really believe I could make a contribution to your marketing strategy." Interviewer: "So what do you think about our current merchandising, compared to our competition?" Candidate: "Oh... Errr.... Well, I haven't had time to check it out, really." Likelihood of getting the job? Low.

10. Putting your foot in it and not noticing:
Yes, we know, you didn't mean to put your foot in it. But it doesn't really matter what you intended. What counts is how the other person reacts. So what can you do? Be prepared to simply say "sorry, that's not what I meant!" This requires you to actually be paying attention to the interviewer, rather than your own thoughts and feelings. Once you've apologised, leave it there, take a deep breath to help you relax and move on with the job interview.