Tips for a Better Career

We are all young, we all need jobs and we are all running from one interview to another… So here are the tips I have gathered from career workshops, etc. Hoping you will find the perfect job and soon!

CV/Resume

Should be brief & clear –No MORE than 3 pages! Clarity is very important, bigger fonts (12) are better, keep in mind that many HR people are middle aged and need reading glasses.

To make a difference include things like:
               Charity/volunteer work
               Group activities
               Certificates & experiences

Learn the rules! If you are applying for a job in Australia do NOT include personal information like; a picture, date-of-birth, nationality, etc. Your resume would be thrown away because if they hire you they could be charged with discrimination. But if you are applying for a job in Europe you most likely have to include personal info & a picture.

Keep in mind they want ‘better’ not ‘more’. Try to include a range of things rather than repeating similar experiences.

Teamwork and communication skills are very important, try to include things that would highlight these skills (like former group activities or skills like team sports, etc.).

ACCESSORIES

A CV/Resume could have accessories like a portfolio or personal website, etc. depending on what line of work you are doing and your interests/skills.

First thing to remember is to have a style. Try to design your CV and all your accessories accordingly. Keep in mind they are parts of a whole, when they come together they should make sense. When choosing a style remember that your CV & all its accessories are a reflection of you. Try to choose a style that suits you best –in terms of colour, lines, images, etc.

Mentioning the accessories in a CV is tricky; you have to place them strategically. For e.g.: If you mention photography as a skill, you may say –photos/images can be found at mr/ms.example.com or simply mark photography with a ‘*’ sign and include ‘photos/images can be found at Mr/ms.example.com’ at the end of your CV. Important thing is to always mention accessories accordingly, do not put them out there on their own.

Other accessories could be:
               Blogs –in relation to your work
               Relevant professional Facebook (or other social media) pages that you are managing.
               Your Linked in account

Accessories should be used to build a network. These are different tools for you to communicate with different audiences as well as a tool for employers to know you better. They are perfect to show what kind of a person you are –what you like/dislike, how you communicate, etc.

To personalize your accessories you might want to design a logo! This is a good idea to reflect your professional character and it links to your creativity.

All your accessories should include your CV/Resume but could also have a profile which could include a picture of you and would give more detail about your personal life and who you are.

COVER LETTER

Should be bright and enthusiastic.

Keep it ONE Page and address every criteria on the work description.

Always start with a sentence to show how much you would like the job –I am delighted to apply for the position….

Have proof –my experience at my latest job demonstrates that I am a team player and my recommendation letter/resume (link them together) backs up my points…

Try to write in a conversational way but avoid being too casual. Think about it like you are discussing the topics during your job interview.

INTERVIEWS

Before the Interview
Every little thing makes a difference, even how you answer the phone! If you have recently applied for a job always pick up the phone from an unknown number in a quiet environment, with a smooth but clear-strong tone of voice and politeness.

Do your research! –make sure you understand the company you will most likely to work in. BUT do not prepare fake/plastic answers to questions. Be prepared but spontaneous this will reflect your creativity.

Know yourself! Exercise your strengths and weaknesses at home and remember your weaknesses are your strengths in disguise like – “oh! I am such a perfectionist”

DO NOT LIE –not in your CV/Resume, not if you need to change your interview appointment, etc.

Dress to impress! Remember first impressions are very important and the way you dress also boosts up your level of confidence.

Print out your CV/Resume and all its accessories and your cover letter, etc. Bring it with you in a plain, one (pastel) coloured file.

Be on time! Arrive early to find a bathroom; check yourself in the mirror, centre yourself and focus!

During the Interview
Smile/be positive and energetic! Remember you want this job but not desperately! This is the part of presenting yourself; be careful with your body language –how you sit, look, etc. Do not rush, keep calm!

Don’t talk too fast or too loud. Talk in a smooth, confidence voice. Pause shortly between sentences to allow yourself to think!

Make eye contact.

Be prepared to demonstrate your Leadership, Teamwork, Delegation, Persuasiveness and Negotiation skills.

Leadership; give examples about how to keep people motivated and how you set up goals for a team.

Teamwork; give examples of how did you benefit a team you were in.

Delegation; describe the approach you would take if you were to delegate tasks.

Persuasiveness; describe a situation in which you had to persuade people and include the outcome as well.

Negotiation; give an example of how you compromised and what were the outcomes for both parties.

After the Interview
Ask relevant questions –demonstrate you have done your research. These questions will also show the employer how interested you are. Do NOT ask about holidays, fees, etc.

Keep in mind you will be working there for long term so if you don’t like the person who interviewed you there is a good chance you may not like working there. –Trust yourself, if you think it’s not for you, walk away!