Professional History. Employers aren’t interested in being provided a job description. They want to have an outline of your role and level of responsibility but are more focused on the results you are able to achieve and how your work style will suit their company. Using metrics where available and appropriate to demonstrate success can add instant impact to your CV.

Industry or company specific terms. Try not to overuse industry jargon if you are looking to transfer into a new industry. It can be hard work deciphering your CV for someone who has a basic understanding of your previous roles, but has to guess at what industry specific terms mean. Similarly try to avoid using company specific terms and acronyms. While you may be used to calling your team the “CSRT” internally, you may be better off just calling it what it is. It can always help to get a friend, who doesn’t work in the same company or industry, to look over your CV to make sure all of the terms used are clear and logical.

Match the language of the job description. This is an easy way to show your alignment to the company values and how well you will fit into an existing team. Recruiters and employers often scan document searching for key phrases or company buzz words they have used in preparing the job description or vacancy advertisement.

Keep it relevant. If you have qualifications or experience that are not relevant for the position keep the information you provide as simple and concise as possible. You want the employer to read all of the information you provide so don’t clutter your CV with unrelated information.

Make it appealing. For your CV and application to stand out in the pile make sure it is appealing and professional to look at. Chose a professional and clear font, limit or exclude images where possible, and ensure the layout has enough white space to prevent it looking text heavy and cluttered. Also remember to ensure that the flow of information is in a logical format.

You only get one first impression. For a CV service that gets results review our CV and cover letter writing services or contact us for a free, no obligation review of your CV. www.cvnow.co.nz

The post Key Points for an effective CV appeared first on CV Now.

With most job applications you require a covering letter along with your CV. The covering letter is generally read first, and this is the first impression you get to make – so it needs to count!

While your CV provides a record of your professional history, qualifications, skills and abilities, your covering letter is a chance to make a solid first impression and outline reasons why you are applying for the job.

Some good points to remember when writing a covering letter is that it is a professional document, and should be treated with the same level of care and accuracy as your CV.

So what do you need to consider when writing a covering letter?

The font, style, and language used should match your CV to provide a cohesive approach.

Make sure you include your current contact information. You would be surprised how many people don’t include a contact phone number or email address with their application.
When you address your letter, do so according to the job advertisement. If there is no name given use your initiative to phone the company and ask who the application should be addressed to.

Just as with your CV, your letter needs to be tailored to each application. The base of the information may be the same, but through tailoring the letter for each specific position you can display your enthusiasm for the role and the company you are applying to work with.

We recommend that your covering letter should normally not exceed one page. This keeps it readable and should ‘hook’ the reader into wanting to find more information, directing them to your CV. This will ensure that your CV makes the first cut in the shortlisting process, and your CV is thoroughly read to confirm your suitability for the position.

If there is an application reference in the advertisement, this should be included.

Briefly outline the reason for your letter and provide an overview of your skills, experience, knowledge and education that make you a match for the position.

Don’t forget to include some of your soft skills, personal traits, and excitement and enthusiasm about securing this position and working for this company.

Don’t forget to refer the reader to your CV to expand on any information in more detail, and offer to be contacted at any time to discuss your application.

Remember – your covering letter is just as vital as your CV in helping you to secure an interview! For a CV service that gets results review our CV and cover letter writing services or contact us for a free, no obligation review of your CV. www.cvnow.co.nz

The post How your CV and Cover Letter work together as a team appeared first on CV Now.

This is a question we are often asked and it isn’t quite as easy to answer as you may think. There are many facets to a successful CV and a bit too much to fit in a short blog entry, but here is the first of a few CV tips and format ideas; simple CV changes that make a difference when you are writing your CV for the NZ or global job market.

When you have a paragraph or block of text in your CV it is important to ‘justify’ the text. This simple formatting change alters the length of the line and the spacing between characters to align the text with the left and the right margin. The justify button on most programs looks something like this:

This is what a block of text looks like if it is not justified and only aligned with the left margin:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean purus orci, interdum consectetur ac adum, sollicitudin a metus. Sed eu diam elementum, lobortis justo eu, viverra sem. Fusce tempus est quis purus condimentum, in sodales ante dapibus. Sed quis lacinia et libero. Pellentesque interdum ullamcorper libero a scelerisque.

And here is the same text justified:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean purus orci, interdum at consectetur ac, sollicitudin a metus. Sed eu diam elementum, lobortis justo eu, viverra sem. Fusce tempus est quis purus condimentum, in sodales ante dapibus. Sed quis lacinia libero. Pellentesque interdum ullamcorper libero a scelerisque.

 This is subtle change to your CV formatting but justified text makes the document look professional, more inviting to read and only takes a few minutes of your time.

If you need more in-depth CV help, then please browse our range of professional CV services at www.cvnow.co.nz

The post CV Tips and Advice appeared first on CV Now.

Not including your name, or your contact details on your CV – Yes, it does happen and is normally an oversight because the person writing the CV is in a rush and has been thinking more about the finer details than the basics. There are other instances where another person’s name has been used as the file name of the CV.

Forgetting to update your cover letter – Many applicants submit a cover letter that enquires about different positions or different positions with different companies than what was intended. Always check that you have included the correct cover letter with the correct content.

Your CV is too long – A great CV does not necessarily need to be five, six or seven pages; more content does not necessarily mean better results. Remember that a longer CV discourages the recruiter from reading every page. A sad fact, but unfortunately true. The recommended length for most CV’s is 2-4 pages.

Using your friends as your referee – It seemed like a great idea at the time. Until both of you applied to the same company for the same job and devalued the employer to employee relationship.

Not updating your referee/s – If you gained permission to use one of your contacts for a professional reference six months ago it does not mean that they will a) remember b) are prepared c) will want to help you out this time. It is vital that you keep in touch with your referee’s – they are your lifeline and can make the difference.

Lying – If you cheat on your CV there is always a chance that you will be caught out. Once you have submitted your CV there is a strong likelihood that it will be circulated to more than one decision maker; they may even know you or have worked with you in the past. Never inflate your sales results, your responsibilities or your job titles.

Make sure you don’t make these simple CV mistakes. For a CV service that gets results review our CV and cover letter writing services or contact us for a free, no obligation review of your CV. www.cvnow.co.nz

The post CV Mistakes appeared first on CV Now.

Here are some tips for the older job seeker that would like to write an ‘age proofed’ CV.

1) If you are experienced in the industry you are seeking employment, consider limiting that experience to the previous 15 or so years. Omit the earlier jobs from your CV, or detail them in a different section without dates.
2) Be cautious when detailing your years of experience. Having 35 years of experience will flag you as being ‘older’.
3) Certainly include all the details of your college, tertiary, or other professional development qualifications, but do not include the dates.
4) Take your time (it isn’t as easy as most think) and write a CV that is specific to the industry you are applying for. Highlight your experience, but make sure it is relevant.
5) Detail all the latest technology and software you are familiar. You need to highlight the fact you are ‘up to date’. Leave out any obsolete technology.
6) Ensure you have your CV in electronic form. Preferably as a MSWord document and PDF. Email it to yourself so you can see if the formatting is correct. Many employers require you to submit your CV via electronic means.

If you need more help, then consider using a professional CV writing service. www.cvnow.co.nz can assist you with writing a professional and modern CV.

The post The ‘Mature’ Job Seeker appeared first on CV Now.