CV Tips - What Did You Actually Do?

Here at the Expect Talent HQ, we receive hundreds of CV’s every month. Most of the time we are left asking ourselves this question: 

WHAT DID YOU ACTUALLY DO?

Most CV’s are a list of dates along with a job description, or list of responsibilities. That tells us nothing about what you actually did!  This is a common mistake by candidates, and one which, if you can get right, you stand a good chance of securing an interview.  You have less than 10 seconds to impress with your CV as many hiring managers and HR departments will receive hundreds of applications for just one role. 

We are currently working for a large Cork based multinational client in Cork, and we hired over 300 people for them in just 12 weeks, however we received in excess of 4500 CV's for these positions. 

So what can you do to increase your chances of success?

Rather than list your responsibilities, start by listing your key achievements. Think about what you personally achieved that delivered a great result for the business or for one of your customers? Thinking about your CV this way turns a boring responsibility into something that a client or potential employer might actually want in their business!

Example 1:

TURN THIS... "Responsible for Collections on outstanding accounts"

INTO THIS... "Significantly improved bottom line by securing an additional €200,000 in outstanding monies through effective cash collection."

Example 2:

TURN THIS: "Responsible for Customer Service"

INTO THIS: "Increased customer satisfaction levels by 30%, by regularly going above and beyond, which helped the company to retain its biggest client and win new business."

Example 3:

TURN THIS: "Responsible for Admin Procedures.

INTO THIS: "Significantly enhanced internal reporting and admin procedures which saved the team 26 days per annum in un-necessary workload. My ideas for improvements are regularly implemented by senior management."

Every element of your CV should be aimed at securing you an interview.  Your CV is a sales document designed to show off your talents!  It should not just be a chronological history of all the places where you have worked.

If you want a CV professionally written, or you feel you would benefit from careers advice you can now contact our careers team for a free consultation with Patrick Mercie and Expect Careers.  Email sam@expect.ie for more details.

New Year... Expect Careers...

Happy New Year to everyone. I can just tell that 2011 is going to absolutely rock! 

Here at Expect Talent we are focusing more and more on our customers, and in the recruitment world that is both Candidates and Clients.  In this competitive jobs market, having an outstanding CV and the confidence to nail an interview is absolutely critical to your success. So as part of the 2011 offering may I introduce to you...

Expect Careers will focus entirely on Candidates, covering services such as professional CV writing, interview techniques and career coaching.  This new arm of the business will help any candidate to stand out from the crowd with a brilliant CV, and will help them to secure that dream job with the best advice on how to shine at interview. 

Think about this... When you need to get your boiler fixed, you call a professional.  When your car breaks down, you call a professional.  When you want a new haircut, you don't leave it to chance, you call a professional!  Your CV and career is no different - why try and do it yourself when the professional touch will always deliver a better result.  Professional CV's that stand out can make all the difference between securing that interview or not.  Whether you are job-seeking for the first time in years, or fresh out of college Expect Careers can help you or someone you know.

Patrick Mercie, will be a kay part of the Expect Careers team, and he brings wealth of knowledge and experience in helping job-seekers to achieve success.  His coaching style is interactive, motivational, energetic and non-judgemental. 

Patrick has an infectious personality and is completely focused on positivity and getting results for every person he works with.  Patrick will be contributing to the blog to help all candidates with hints and tips that will brighten any jobsearch so watch out for his words of wisdom in the months to come.

There is still more to come for this year, but for now may I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a prosperous, happy and healthy 2011!  It's going to be a great year... 

Interview the Interviewer; Great questions to ask...

An interview is a two-way process, and as a candidate it is always tricky, especially at the end, when the interviewer has asked all of their questions, and now turns to you and says "Is there anything you'd like to ask me?".  Your preparation before you walk into an interview, could be the difference between you getting hired or not.  

My advice is to write a list of at least 10 questions, and expect that ALL of your questions will be answered, before you get a chance to ask them.   There is no greater turn-off as an interviewer than a candidate who says "No. I think you've answered all my questions." This shows a lack of curiosity, and lack of interest in the job. 

Here are a few questions to add in that you could ask at an Interview:-

- What are some of the skills and abilities necessary for someone to succeed in this job?
- Why do you like working here?  What is really fantastic about this company? 
- Who will review my performance and how often? 
- Tell me about the best member of the current team and what makes them successful?
- Could you describe your company culture & the type of employee who fits well with it?
- How much opportunity will I be given for personal development and upskilling?

Make sure that you demonstrate interest in the answers, rather than just rattling off a list for the sake of having questions.  Even though some of your questions may be answered during the process, you can always ask the interviewer to expand on an area that came up during the interview, and having some like the above ready for when you get to interview the interviewer.    

It is also useful to know what kind of questions to avoid, these include:- 

- How much will I get paid and what additional benefits do you offer?
- Why did the last person leave?
- How quickly will I get promoted?
- What are the working hours, and how much holiday will I get?

These are all great turn-offs for your interviewer, leave the questions related to benefits, salary and contract to the employer to bring up. Your motivation for the job will be poorly demonstrated by asking questions like this.  Also, make sure that you don't ask questions that could easily be answered from the company's website.  This demonstrates a lack of research, and again a lack of interest in the position.

Remember, you have to make the right choice about the company you work for, in the same way that the interviewer has to make the right choice when hiring, so getting a really clear idea about what will be expected and why they are an employer of choice is an important part of the interview process.