candidates

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." -Carl

cv tips

"You get one opportunity to make a first impression – Make it last !"

The purpose of the CV is to provide the reader with sufficient personal & professional information so they want to meet you to discuss the position. When the reader is finished they should have a good feel for what you as an individual could bring to the role.

If you feel something is worth discussing at interview it should at least be mentioned on the CV.

What should be in it?

• Relevant, accurate information.
• Accurate dates from school to college to each role you have held.
• If there are gaps explain them – E.G. 2007-2008 travelling.

How should it be displayed?

There are many different suggested layouts candidates should use for their CV. This is the case but not all methods are suitable to the information you have to communicate.

• Keep it well spaced so it is easy to read.
• Use bullet points to highlight the information but be aware that over using bullet points can counteract their effect.
• A suggestion is to keep the first page to personal data, profile, education, and current role.
• The second page should be for additional work experience, interests / hobbies and references available on request. If required it is acceptable to use a third page however the ideal length would be two.
• Do not omit important information in order for it to fit on two pages.

Suggested layout

• Personal Data – Name, Address, Contact details etc.
• Profile / career objective – a short descriptive about what you have done and what you are looking for.
• Education – Where studied, dates and qualification
• Current employment – Company, Date, Role. Good idea to include a one line explanation of what the company do. This is where you can consider including the bullet points broken into 2 sections for each role: Duties / Responsibilities and Achievements. 4 – 5 points for each.
• Then onto next employment or relevant information.
• References available on request.

interview tips

"The interview process is one of the most nerve wrecking and stress inducing situations to be experienced, especially if the role you are interviewing for happens to be your dream job!!!"

We believe there are plenty of things for you to do in advance of an interview to help your preparation and therefore your performance in these situations.

Preparation

• Establish who the company is that you are interviewing with – what do they do and who are their competitors.
• Research, research, research! – It is no longer acceptable to just look a company up on the internet – this is too easy! What are your competitors doing which may make them stronger than you in the eyes of the interviewers. The more research you do the more interest in the role you appear to have.
• What are the main duties of the role & what experience is required to carry out the functions.
• Establish what duties on the job description you have direct experience with and identify examples that you can use during the interview.
• Know your CV inside out. Know the roles you held and when you held them. Know & be able to articulate the responsibilities you had.
• Be in a position to give examples of your successes. These can be both personal & professional and are a great method of giving credibility to your claimed strengths.
• Appearance is a major factor in the decision process so make sure your dress code is appropriate to the role you are interviewing for. If unsure go with the safe option – Formal.
• Shoes polished and suit pressed.

The Interview

• NEVER arrive on time!!! Be 5 minutes early but no more.
• Know the names and titles of the individuals you are meeting – who would you be reporting to?
• Take your time when considering your answers. Don’t just jump in when you think you have the answer to the question. Have you heard & understood it all?? If not ask them to repeat or explain.
• Answer the question asked and when finished – STOP!
• If you feel there are things you would like to discuss and the time is right try and bring certain facts into the conversation such as: experience relevant to the role with examples or to highlight your strengths.
• Towards the end of the interview be sure and thank them for the time and reiterate your interest in the role. Do they have any further questions or is there anything they would like you to go over again?
• At this point you may be asked if you have any questions. We strongly advise candidates not to ask about salary at 1st interview unless the interviewer introduces it. It is healthy & natural for you to have other questions – clarification of reporting manager or is there anything you would like to see me work on should I be offered a 2nd interview?

Post Interview

• Do not be concerned about how long an interview lasts.
• Take some notes to remind yourself of topics covered that you should review before any potential 2nd interview.
• Follow up within a reasonable time.