Tailoring your CV What you need to know

Tailoring your CV What you need to know by rosiereed OK, so you’ve created a great CV… That’s it, right? Wrong. Your CV isn’t carved in stone. It should be growing and changing, both with your development, and with the roles you are applying for. This means tailoring it to a vacancy is absolutely vital if you want to show employers you’re the best candidate, and ultimately get the job you want. To help you understand the importance of tailoring your CV, here’s everything you need to know, and how you can use it to stand out courtesy of James Reeds new book, The 7 Second CV: How to Land the Interview:Why should I tailor my CV? Tailoring your CV is absolutely vital if you want to stand out to recruiters. Not only does it show you’re interested in their job, it also enables you to represent your skills and experience in a way that proves your suitability to the role. This means they don’t have to do any heavy lifting to figure out whether you’d be a good candidate. Instead, you’ve done the work fo r them.Tailoring your CV also gives you the opportunity to impress at the interview. As interviewers use your CV to give them a steer on what questions to ask, a tailored CV will mean they’re focusing on the right elements of your experience. What should I consider when tailoring my CV?OK, so you know why you need to tailor your CV. But before you start, here are a few things you should consider:  It’s a little more work to tailor your CV. Ensure you’re giving yourself enough time to apply, and aren’t rushing the process. It’s much more effective to spend more time and effort on a few applications, than it is to send out fifty without much thought.It won’t always be possible to tailor your CV. Whilst you should try to tailor your CV every time you apply for a job, the process may vary depending on the situation. For example, if you’re at a conference, job fair, or you’re applying speculatively, it might not be possible to tailor it completely. You might tailor it le ss if you’re in the later stages of your career. Some recruiters think that a tailored CV isn’t as necessary, as long as you have relevant experience in the sector you’re applying to.You’ll probably have more than one CV. Tailoring your CV can mean that you have a number of different versions, specific to a sector or job type (that you adapt slightly for each job). This makes checking you’re sending the right one, and knowing which one to refer to at an interview, is vital. What parts of my CV do I need to tailor? You don’t need to tailor every single element of your CV. Just the sections that best sell your skills to the job you’re applying for.As a guideline, here are some key sections you might want to tailor: Personal statementWork historySkills Work-related qualifications and training How to tailor a CV Do your research. Research the company and the job, and find out exactly what they’re looking for in a candidate. Company websites, social media pages, blog post s, and employer review sites are a great place to start. Once you’ve learnt about their values, goals, tone, company culture, current projects and product releases, you’ll be able to adapt your CV accordingly, as well as utilise all-important conversation starters if you’re invited to an interview. Use the job description. When it comes to tailoring your CV, the job description is your best friend. Use it to inform what you include in your CV, highlighting the words and phrases that the recruiter marks as  important. Whatever duties, skills, and experience are mentioned the most are what you should highlight in your own experience. And always make sure you’re backing up your skills with real-life examples. Prioritise your skills. Once you’ve figured out what the employer is looking for, you should be able to prioritise your skills according to their needs. You should also order it in a way that highlights your suitability including your most important qualities first. Cr eating a key skills section under your personal statement is a great way to show how your skills match the employer’s key requirements with one quick glance.  Connect the dots. If you’re struggling to find out which parts of your experience the recruiter will value most, try putting them down on paper. By making a list of the job requirements, alongside a list of your own skills and experience, you’ll be able to figure out how and if they match. Simply draw a line from each requirement to one or more of the skills that demonstrate them. Whichever skills have the most lines are the ones you should highlight in your CV. Tailoring CV examples Tailoring your CV isn’t just about parroting the job advert. Sure, you need to show your skills match what they’re looking for but it takes more to prove it, not to mention stand out from the crowd. This is where you have to get personal. For each requirement, reference a real-life example that demonstrates your ability. Think results and achievements. After all, how else will you show you’re different from hundreds of other applicants with the same skills you have? Here are a few examples of how you can quantify your skills when tailoring your CV:  They want someone who’s ‘innovative’. Think about a time that you’ve come up with a new idea, for example: ‘Suggested a new team structure to manager, which reduced staff turnover’ or ‘Increased sales by 6% when I reorganised the store layout more efficiently’.They want a ‘self-starter’. Highlight the times you’ve motivated yourself to achieve something of value without being asked, or when you’ve worked well on your own, for example: ‘Offered to contribute to the organisational newsletter’ or ‘Created a marketing plan for a product launch without being asked.’They want a ‘team player’. Point out the occasions when you’ve worked well with other people to achieve a worthwhile result, for example: ‘Worked with IT department to create voucher scanning system which increased sales by 12 per cent’ or ‘Collaborated with finance team to set budgets for the next year.’They want a ‘leader’. You don’t have to have been in a senior position to have demonstrated leadership skills, but you do need to prove you’ve given instructions, inspired people, or taught others something new, for example: ‘Inducted two new assistants into the department’ or ‘Led a hiking team up a mountain in the company charity walk, inspiring them to carry on in rain and snow’.Final thoughts Tailoring your CV for every job you apply for may feel like a time-consuming task; but trust us, it’s worth it. The person looking at your CV wants to know that you’re a plausible fit for the role, and that you’re passionate about fulfilling it. Not only will tailoring your CV enhance your suitability, it’ll also demonstrate your interest in the role and company. This means you’re more likely to get shortlisted, and ultima tely secure the job you want. Let’s face it, it’s much better than blending in. Need more CV advice?It takes an employer just seven seconds to save or reject a job applicant’s CV. This means creating a succinct CV is absolutely vital if you want to land that all-important interview.To find out how to make your CV stand out from the crowd, buy  James Reed’s new book:  The 7 Second CV: How to Land the Interview.Still searching for your perfect position?  View  all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the CVs

If the Shoe Fits

If the Shoe Fits Proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life. In the early 1990’s, I worked for a private nonprofit that administered a battery of aptitude assessments to people and then made career recommendations based on the outcomes. The battery of assessments was developed over decades based on research by Johnson O’Connor, who started as an engineer for General Electric in Lynn, Massachusetts in the 1920’s. Aptitudes are natural talents, special abilities for doing, or learning to do, certain kinds of things. Manual dexterity, musical ability, spatial visualization, and memory for numbers are examples of the aptitudes that the organization tests today in eleven facilities located all over the country. I really enjoyed the job and I learned a tremendous amount about aptitudes, careers, and job satisfaction, and the position inspired my interest in career coaching. I had a terrific director at the Boston facility, and part of the wisdom he imparted was about reading people’s shoes. Seriously. Each morning, my director Robert would greet the clients in the waiting room of the Beacon Street brownstone where we worked. He’d sweep through the room, confirm names and appointments, and never fail to notice everyone’s footwear. Robert was a sharp dresser himself, but his interest went beyond fashion. He’d assign staff clients based on shoe “fit” so to speak, and shoes were often the deciding factor about how a person would receive the news we were going to deliver. It sounds wacky, but it worked. Now there is data to indicate that Robert was simply ahead of his time. According to a Yahoo! news article, researchers at the University of Kansas say that people can accurately judge 90 percent of a strangers personality simply by looking at the persons shoes. The article says that researched made judgments “based on the style, cost, color and condition of someones shoes.” In the study, students examined photos of 208 different pairs of shoes worn by study participants. Volunteers in the study were photographed in their most commonly worn shoes, and then filled out a personality questionnaire. My assumption is that the University of Kansas researchers were men; women have known all their lives that you can tell something about people by their shoes and how well they’re kept up. Age and vanity engage in mortal combat as women age and try to feel sexy in comfortable shoes. Geography matters, too; when I lived in Boston I carried my high heeled shoes in a tote and wore sensible flats to navigate the treacherous cobblestone streets and winter snow. The desperate run to safety in New York on 9/11/2001 convinced thousands of women to switch to reasonable shoes in case another disaster ever struck. I was reminded of that as I watched a woman struggle across a Jacksonville street at lunchtime, tottering and perspiring in a pair of red six-inch heels that were a sprained ankle just waiting to happen. I value my mobility more than fashion; my heels are moderate and provide more support than stilettoes. I couldn’t imagine not being able to move quickly or confidently through the office or not being able to walk a block or two from a parking spot to an event. I am also unwilling to wear ugly shoes. Luckily, there are options that are cute and practical. For those of you who are skeptical about the validity of shoes and personality links, here’s a closing anecdote from my days in Boston with Robert. At the end of a two and a half day assessment and career coaching session with a client, Robert actually mentioned his shoe reading theory to her. She was intrigued, and she immediately challenged him to “read her shoes” and tell her what her true career choice should be. Robert took a long look and finally turned to her and told her it was impossible to know her from the shoes she was wearing. “Those aren’t your shoes,” he said with finality. He meant to imply that her shoes did not reflect her personality as he’d gotten to know her. But her delighted disbelief took him by surprise; she’d borrowed the shoes that morning from her sister.

How to Build Brand Awareness with #MyStartupStory Challenge

How to Build Brand Awareness with #MyStartupStory Challenge Today on the podcast we are going to talk about brand awareness. This topic is very timely because coming up starting November 6th we are going to have our 2017 #MyStartupStory. What is this #MyStartupStory? This is a 7-day business growth writing prompts to help you create your brand, write your website, grow your confidence, and attract more clients. So you could build a business that makes a difference in the world. I want you to join this movement. You can signup at www.corporaterescueplan.com/story. What will you get? Daily worksheets An invite to join our Facebook group for accountability and support as we move through this exciting challenge. How to Build Brand Awareness: #MyStartupStory Challenge Announcement Because of the online noise that there is today, its very important that you start communicating your brand story online. You want to make sure that your content is really true to youits personal, meaningful, and authentic. To do that, we create your brand awareness and startup story online.  I did my first #mystartupstory back in November 2016. We only hold #MyStartupStory live once a year. No matter what phase you are in your business, the #MyStartupStory challenge will help you get clear in your mission, help you attract the right clients so you can stand out in your industry. And best of all, its free! [RELATED: My Startup Story: The Moment That Changed Everything] The 7-Day  #MyStartupStory  Challenge Day 1: Talk about where you create,  where you work right now and what is the location. Day 2: Share why your business started. What made you want to start your business? What inspires you? What was that moment that you decided to commit to your business no matter what? Day 3: Tell the social media world what your vision is for your business. Day 4: Communicate what your roadblocks  are and what are your startup challenges have been. Day 5: Share a typical day of your life. Day 6: Tell us your mission. Day 7: Share your WHY. Why do you work? What motivates you to start your business? I hope you will join us!

Personal Branding Interview Rahaf Harfoush - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Interview Rahaf Harfoush - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke to Rahaf Harfoush, who is a social media strategist, author of Yes We Did, research coordinator for Wikinomics and a contributor on Grown Up Digital. She supported the Obama campaign with regards to social media. In this interview, Rahaf talks about the common mistakes businesses make when it comes to branding and social media, how to conquer the fear most companies have with regards to social media, and more. In your opinion, what are the most common mistakes businesses and organizations make when it comes to social media and branding? The most common mistake I see are businesses who think they need to be doing every new thing. They are all over the place simply because they feel like they should be without necessarily considering how much value it’s adding to their overall strategic objectives. Your best bet is to really sit down and think your strategy through. Where are your consumers naturally congregating online? What are they doing there? How would you like to engage with them? These thoughts have to be carefully considered before entering this space, otherwise you end up wasting valuable time and money, not to mention potentially irritating potential customers as well. Many large companies hesitate to engage their audience online, fearing it will backfire. How do you help them move past that fear and see the value in engagement? Fear is a natural reaction. We are in a space where information travels so fast and companies no longer have the same type of control that they did with other mediums. The easiest way to show the value of these tools is to show these companies that conversations are already happening about their brand, products and competitors whether they are involved in the dialogue or not. In my opinion, it is better to be involved and know what is being said about you, then to be caught unaware! The trick is to take each comment as a learning opportunity, be ready to hear things that might be difficult and to show a willingness to want to improve your service offerings. The conversation is already taking place, will you risk not being involved? Are there companies that CANNOT benefit from using social media? I’m sure there are. Social Media is just an evolution of an existing set of marketing tools. If for whatever reason your audience is not online, maybe SMS, direct mailing campaigns and traditional media outlets might be a better solution. While I believe that every company should have SOME type of online presence it’s up to each individual company to find the right balance that allows them to be visible and accessible to their clients. You recently attended a conference in Switzerland â€" what are some personal branding and social media trends that are emerging in Europe? People are turning more towards social media, however Forrester research reported that Europeans trust blogs and online sources far less than their North American neighbors. It will be interesting to see how these different cultures will impact the evolution of online relationships. This is still such a new field that we are still only just beginning to grasp its potential. How do you predict future generations will be impacted by the increasing popularity of social networking, location-based networking, etc.? I think your grandchildren will know you far better then you know your own grandparents. We have created such a rich history of digital footprints that the way we are changing our definition of “identity” to encompass a much broader spectrum of digital tools. What will be interesting is to see how the legislation evolves particularly around the areas of privacy, data ownership and online accountability. I was quite concerned with Italy’s recent conviction of Google executives for Googles hosting of an inappropriate video. It will be interesting to see how these laws will impact our rights as online citizens. Rahaf Harfoush is a social media strategist on the rise. Her clients include InnoSpa-Unilever, British Telecom Wholesale, and the Web Foundation. She speaks to corporate and non-profit groups on the increasing use and vital importance of online technologies and the powerful ideas of community that animate them. She recently accepted the position of Associate Director of the Global Redesign Initiative at the World Economic Forum, in Geneva. In this role, she will co-lead the development of the Forums online community platform. Prior to this, Harfoush spent three months with the Obama New Media team in Chicago. An active member of Torontos technology community, she is involved with associations like The Movement, an organization of people committed to collaborating on projects for social good, and The Overlap, a community that combines cross-disciplinary expertise to tackle the challenges of sustainable innovation. Harfoush is the author of Yes We Did, a book about the grassroots gro undswell inspired by the Obama campaign. She is the Research Coordinator to the critically acclaimed Wikinomics and a contributor on Grown Up Digital.

9 Audacious Career Enhancing Strategies for the Gen Xers in 2018 [Guest Post] - Career Pivot

9 Audacious Career Enhancing Strategies for the Gen Xers in 2018 [Guest Post] - Career Pivot 9Audacious Career Enhancing Strategies Creating opportunities is the new job search for everyone in 2018. In 2017, you were offered sage advice (https://careerpivot.com/2017/10-career-experts-share-2017-baby-boomer-predictions/) about networking, entrepreneurship, and remote working. Some of you started using the strategies suggested but don’t forgetâ€" none of these are magic potions. Consider it like laundry: Wash, Rinse, and Repeat for it to work. The same expectations will be what I suggest for 2018. All of these strategies are building blocks. However, once you have become comfortable with doing the same things and yielding no results, it’s time to do something different. I encourage you to think bolder, smarter, and bigger. Criticism is inevitable. Tough love is a possibility and you should welcome it. Feedback separates the weeds from the chaff. Your feelings will be hurt at least once. You know it’s time because all of us had the “… it’s never been done this way…” conversation with ourselves. I remember having a conversation with a training colleague a few years ago about job-advice giving. She was giving the same old advice from 1999. Her opinions did not optimally serve our clients. When I mentioned my ideas to our program manager without mentioning hers, I was offered to co-facilitate a job search strategy session with all trainers. At that point, I become one of two primary resources for our group. Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, if you’re not willing to burn down the old barn to see the sky â€" stop â€" and go here. Here are my suggested strategies for bold and audacious careerists to try in 2018: Listen to the most recent episode Use the handbill No, I’m not talking about invoicing! The handbill is a marketing document you can use to bring with you to networking events setting you apart from the other attendees. If you could fit a resume on your business card highlighting your strengths, unique value proposition, and functional experience, it can serve as a compelling introduction. Some will have personal business cards, but you have a short story conversation starter with the handbill. Next level tip: Make your handbill available on LinkedIn in an article, maybe in a jpg. File to post a picture. Then build a story summarizing your experiences and share it on all of your social networks. You can also strategically send it as part of your email signature with specific correspondences. Next level advanced:Have a mobile version of your handbill ready on your phone. It’s easy to attach to a text or send via Bluetooth. Use video as a news reporter In 2018, like 2017, you are the media. You can report on different conferences and networking events (you may need to get permission if it’s private event). Show your network and the world how you’re engaging new ideas and creating useful strategies. You can teach an audience something in a minute or less once or twice a week, and upload it within minutes. LinkedIn has made it easy for you to reach your professional network with its new streaming feature. It’s possible to achieve hundreds or thousands of views by using your smartphone as a filming device and provide value. Next level tip: Streaming services like Smiletime and Zoom apps feature multiple interfaces at once for you to interview other people in numerous locations. If your industry contacts are on all social networks, it will be easy to include them. The most useful benefit is deepening your relationships with people who can spread the word about what you’re doing. Next level advanced:Create a YouTube channel and stream your event, meeting, speech, or recording to your channel. You can learn how to do that here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipefykOnTyE). It takes less than an hour to create a YouTube channel for yourself. Once you do, it will increase your visibility on Google. Join an industry-related non-profit advisory board One of my personal friends says (a non-profit board chairman) your network expands ten times than just being a volunteer. Big or small, mentioning you’re on the board extends your brand and exposes you to new contacts. For Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, your 15 or more years of experience screams credibility. Even in a small, non-profit organization, your influence on the board is significant. Next level tip: Join the boards where you can quickly meet a need. You can engage other advisors who will assist you at the beginning then also in months passing. Board members and chairpersons are always enthusiastic when new advisors hit the ground running. Next level advanced: Most non-profit organizations love media coverage. If you don’t have media contacts, then find ways to get on podcasts to be interviewed. There are always new podcasters looking for guests to talk about their passions or projects (non-profit niche podcast). After your interview, share it with your networks. Most podcasters will give you the embed code (ask nicely) for you to put on your non-profit site as well. None of the above strategies afford you a passive way to ignite your career. Start slow and build momentum during the process. Not only will you start creating a robust online presence, but you will meet new people who can impact your career for the long term. Even if you’re just considering other career options, you’ll increase the relevancy of your professional contacts and add Google juice to your name. Mark Anthony Dyson, MAEd/AET Award-winningcareer advice blogpodcast! ?Hacking and reimagining an easier job search process for you! Skype id: Mark.Anthony.Dyson Phone:708.365.9822 Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

A Common Weakness That Holds Back Careers

A Common Weakness That Holds Back Careers I just taught an online master class for Ivy Exec on “Break Free of the Mid-Career Slump”. Not only was it great fun (that’s what happens when you’ve got over 200 super engaged people online!), there were some interesting insights into what people are experiencing at that tricky middle point in their careers. One particular item stood out and I thought you might find it interesting as well. We did a poll during the session and asked people to identify their strongest and weakest capability from a list of five, each of which are important to develop and demonstrate, no matter where you work. Create new business â€" are you a “rainmaker”? See new opportunities â€" are you a strategic thinker? Drive change and get different results â€" can you lead and deliver change? Build and maintain a team â€" can you lead people and create high performing teams? Manage key stakeholders â€" can you build collaborative relationships and coalitions? What’s your guess as to the area that people found most challenging? Drum roll please… The Capability That People Find Most Challenging As it turns out, “Creating new business” was rated the most challenging for the group by far â€" only 10% listed it as their strongest capability, and 40% said it is their weakest one. Coming from a highly commercial sector (investment banking), I found this fascinating. Even from an early career stage, it was clear that bringing in business, or “making money for the firm” (in the best possible way, of course) was the key success factor for all of us. And you were expected to at least show strong indications that you could deliver commercially if you wanted to progress. As J.P. Morgan himself said back in the day, we were supposed to do, “First class business in a first class way”. For most of my career, the primary way was to build great client relationships and expand the footprint of the firm, from which new business could flow. In my staff roles, it was about helping others to serve clients and win new business. Since most people on the call were not investment bankers, upon reflection I can understand why this capability might be challenging for those in mid-career. Frankly, it was a challenge for those of us who made it a priority! As the saying goes, business doesn’t “grow on trees”. The reality is that no matter where you work, creating new business is important to your advancement, including in non-profit, higher education and government sectors. You might need to frame the definition of “new business” differently, but the organization is still counting on you to create the “good stuff” that sustains it. Think of creating new business as bringing in the blood supply that feeds the whole body, or figuring out how to bring water to the crops so they can thrive. You can bet that the organization will value you more if they know you can bring home the proverbial bacon. If you learn to master this art of creating new business, you can pretty much write your own ticket. 3 Questions to Help You Create New Business So, here are three questions to help you figure out a way to create new business and make a commercial contribution. Are you ready to activate your creative juices? 1. What’s the lifeblood of your organization? What’s truly valued by the top decision-makers and how do they measure the “bottom line”? For most organizations, it’s money. When I left investment banking and spent time working with non-profits and higher education, I was surprised to find that they were even more focused on money than the commercial enterprises. That’s because without money, it’s hard to sustainably “do good”. Everyone needs to be able to support themselves â€" even Mother Theresa. If you can figure out a way to bring new money into the organization in the service of good deeds and hopefully even great deeds, then you will be adding great value. But money isn’t the only thing, and there are plenty of other dimensions that are important to every organization as well: for example, delivering on the promise to clients, building brand and reputation, creating employee and client success, providing the most innovative product or service. It’s up to you to figure out what matters. Whatever dimension(s) you focus on, remember that the closer you stay to the “lifeblood” of the organization, the more impact you will be able to make. 2. What are the strengths that you bring to your market and how can you use that to contribute to the “bottom line”? The strengths that you, your group and your firm possess are the “assets” you have at your disposal. Think about how you can leverage these for the benefit of you, your group, your firm and your clients. When you focus on your strengths â€" the things that you uniquely bring â€" you are able to make greater impact while enjoying the process as well. So how could you apply these to generate new business? Here are a few categories of contribution to consider: Revenue â€" how could you add to the “top line” of the organization? Costs â€" how could you reduce costs, and therefore help the “bottom line” profitability? Volume â€" is there a way to increase the amount of business you do, which can drive both revenue and cost? Market share â€" are you in a lower margin business but one where you can substantially improve penetration and therefore the share you enjoy of the business? Ideas/Content â€" how could you help the organization become recognized as a thought leader in the field? 3. Who could you help or serve, whether existing customers/clients or new ones, and how can you do this more effectively? When you help expand the footprint of clients and bring new relationships into the organization, it allows you to serve more people and expand your influence while also contributing to the bottom line. Think about new markets, whether geographic or demographic. And new ways to serve your customers, such as digitally, or through affiliates and partners. What do the latest trends and themes mean for the way you and your competitors can reach and help your end users? In the end, it’s all about finding your unique competitive advantage. If you can find the blend between your strengths, the major trends and your clients’ needs, then you likely will have found a way to create new business. So, what does it take to create new business in your sector and how could you go out and do that? And what other advice or questions would you add?

When Its Not Hard (thats what she said)

An Exciting Afternoon / An Announcement / The Kindness of Strangers / When Its Not Hard (thats what she said) I had such a day on Monday, I just had to share. If you indulge me for these 8.5 minutes, I promise you the biggest cry youve seen yet. Oh yes. It is coming. Thats what she said. Again. And heres the link to the Etsy article I spoke about. As if that wasnt exciting enough. Egads.