Busy, busy, busy!

I've been so busy with work recently that I haven't managed to blog regularly. Just to recap, most of my customer are Senior Managers to C-level Executives in international Telecoms and Technology.  My three services are:

  

1/ Executive CV-writing; convincing CVs that generate interviews.

2/ Individually-tailored CV Marketing Campaigns; a unique senior job-hunting service package.

3/ DJMRO Career Boost; a unique senior job-hunting service package with intensive interview workshops.

See www.djmro.com for details - the CV-marketing and Career Boost services are designed to find you a new role and have great success rates.

I am also working on a new interview workshop service - this will have a unique twist - watch this space for news!  

How to write a CV / resume that works

Many people approach writing a CV with real trepidation and I can understand why, it is easy to make mistakes and there are many potential pitfalls.

Firstly, it’s important to define what a CV is for. The purpose of a CV is to represent the job-seeker to a potential employer with a view to securing an interview. That’s it. A CV is not an exhaustive list or complete history, it is a sales document designed to get the job-seeker in front of the potential employer. It is a personal branding statement with a clear objective – to secure an interview.

There are some common mistakes that the novice CV-writer makes. These include issues around CV length, honesty, inappropriate use of humour, inclusion of unnecessary details (date-of-birth, marital status), overuse of jargon and acronyms, use of clichés, opting for a hard to understand skills-based CV, over elaborate formatting, poor design decisions and spelling errors. I will discuss these problems in detail in future blog posts. Other issues include not tailoring the CV to each application. This is another subject that I will return to in later blog posts.

Here’s how I recommend one should write a CV.

Length: two pages is preferred for most professionals some way into their career. This is not a hard and fast rule and three pages is not a disaster but recruiters who work for end-employers and agencies will read a CV in seconds rather than minutes. The CV must be easy to read and brief.

Format: keep it simple; avoid unusual typefaces and too much formatting or the design and layout will detract from the message.

Profiles: I like to write a two or three paragraph profile at the top of page one. This is one of the key parts of the CV. You should see the opening lines of the profile as synonymous with an elevator speech – this part summarizes your professional experience and what you can bring to the table in a few lines. The recruiter should be able to establish what you can offer in seconds.

Achievements: these should follow the profile and are a list of three to five professional achievements from recent roles. They may include awards. If possible they should be supported by hard data; money generated or saved, time saved by process improvements and so on. You may prefer to work this section into the work experience (below). 

Then write up work experience in reverse chronological order. Keep it brief. Use bullet points and focus on the use of positive action words and searchable keywords. Focus on what you achieved rather than your responsibilities.

Other sections will include education/professional qualifications, personal contact details and possibly systems and technical knowledge where appropriate.

There are many issues to consider when writing a CV and that’s why many people call on a professional CV-writer to help them with this crucial document. My Career Advice company DJMRO offers senior, professional CV-writing services for executive job-seekers.

See my LinkedIn profile and www.djmro.com for more info or email me at info@djmro.com My CV-writing service is priced at £165 (UK) - a small price to pay for a document that will help you get interviews.

How to find a new role

Looking for a new role?  Then make sure you use all of the main channels to market to maximize your chances.

1/  Job applications:  search the job boards and publications for your sector. Amend your CV if required to fit the role better. Send a short covering email. Keep it simple. Remember: tell employers how your skills/experience can help them and not what the role could do for you.

2/  Your personal network: ex-colleagues, business partners, friends and family.  As far as confidentiality allows, tell them you are looking. Seek advice. Pull in favours. Network.

3/  Social Media:  make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date. Include a picture. Get recommendations and endorsements. Get active in groups. Post material in your areas of expertise. Make new connections. Ask for advice. Reach out to people.

4/  Direct approaches to employers: find the companies you want to work for in the sectors and geographies that interest you and email them. Try and find the right contacts via LinkedIn or on their websites.  Keep your email simple. Tell them what you can offer.

5/  Headhunters/recruiters: find the  right ones and get in touch.  Talk to many not few.

Good luck!