Looking for a employment is a sales job.  It’s all about marketing your CV to potential employers, looking for opportunities, building your brand.  Whether you fancy yourself as a sales rep or not- tough- now is the time to learn how to sell.

And the first thing that you have to do, is get your brochure (CV) professionally and appropriately drawn up!

If you decide that you are a secretary and would happily be a secretary, but would equally like the idea of getting into Events/ PRO or Sales Coordination position, because you have already done a bit of this, then you need to have a cv that sells you for each line of work.   Similarly, you may be a draughtsman who is keen to also try mechanical engineering or technical sales.

The first page of your CV will remain the same for all the jobs you apply for.  This will contain your personal information, contact details and ideally a professional photograph of you.

The second page will contain your computer skills and education.  Here you will list the skills most relevant to the job you are apply for first, and in more detail than the less relevant qualifications.  It’s often a matter of just switching the order around.  But the person reading your CV will assign the most importance to the skills they read first and that dominates the page.  For example- you are a draughtsman applying for a technical sales position as well.  When you apply for the draughtsman jobs, the Dale Carnegie course is not really that relevant and would be at the bottom of the skills section, if there at all.  But if you are applying for a technical sales job, putting this first, immediately gives the impression you have people skills.

The next section is the career history.  Always start with the most recent job first, and put dates and duties.  But the duties that are relevant to the position you are applying for, should appear first, and in more detail.  A good example is that you are an Office Administrator/ General Accounts Clerk.  You want to apply for a debtor’s position.  You need to take your debtors duties and put them as the first duties under that place of employment.  You may have just written “Debtors” as one of many points.  Now you need to elaborate.  What is the size of your debtor’s book and how many accounts do you handle?  Do you do invoicing and statements? Do you phone for money? Do you allocate payments off the bank statement? Do you deal with debtors queries?  If the first 5 points listed under duties are debtors, even though after that are a bunch of other unrelated duties, you have still made the impression that you are a debtor’s clerk!

Finally, if you don’t have a lot of skills and experience in the area that you are applying, but it is your passion and you know a lot about it through your hobbies and research, then add this in.  If at all possible, include it under the career section and give examples of your work.  Maybe you designed a website in your own time to market your wife’s business?  Or you do your husbands bookkeeping in the evenings?  Or you won a quilting competition and you want to get into the textile industry.

When I look at your CV, and you are applying for a particular position, your CV needs to give the overall impression that you are suitable for that position.

But… never lie and misrepresent yourself.  You can promote and emphasise why you are suitable, but don’t ever lie.  One lie will discredit your whole CV.

Finally, The Golden Rule:- “If it’s not on your CV, you never did it.”

GETTING FEEDBACK ON YOUR APPLICATIONS

Not getting feedback when you apply for jobs can be so frustrating and demotivating!  But, instead of being powerless in the job seeking process, why not  be more proactive with your communication and take control of the feedback process as much as you can?  Here are a few tips that may help you take control of the situation:-

The ability to communicate effectively and professionally at all levels, is a skills that all businesses seek.  It’s one of the first things that is assessed in interviews. You can be a genius, but if you can’t communicate, no one will ever know!  How you communicate before you even get the interview, and during the interview and shortlisting process, can make all the difference at the end of the day!

Listening & Interpreting Information
Being a good listener is one of the best ways to be a good communicator. No one likes communicating with someone who only cares about putting in her two cents, and does not take the time to listen to the other person.

Sometimes, recruiters put specific requirements on how to apply for a vacancy.  There are many reasons why they will do this, but failure to follow the instructions, will ensure that you start the process on a negative note.  If the application asks for CV’s to be emailed, faxed or posted- use this means to deliver your application.  And if they ask for a covering letter or supporting documentation (or none at all) – listen to the instructions.  If you are not communicating in the way they want, they may reject your application, without you even knowing, and this is the reason you are not being contacted for interviews.

Keep it short and to the point!
Good communication means saying just enough – don’t say too little or talk too much. Try to convey your message in as few words as possible. Say what you want clearly and directly, whether you’re speaking to someone in person, on the phone, or via email. If you ramble on, your listener will either tune you out or will be unsure of exactly what you want. Think about what you want to say before you say it; this will help you to avoid talking excessively and/or confusing your audience. Often people talk themselves out of a job. Nerves kick in and they start talking and just can’t stop and end up telling way more than they should.  Keep it short and sweet, and remember this is a professional exchange, not a friendly chat!

Friendliness
People like happy, friendly people. The effort it takes to smile, be friendly and patient; will be the best investment you can make when looking for a job. I know that you will get frustrated and irritated with the process, everyone does, but avoid making a phone call when you are in a negative mood, and check the tone of your email.

Be aware that when you get negative, stand your ground and confront a potential employer or recruiter, you may make your point, but chances are you will not get the job.  Always be assertive in a constructive, positive manner!

Picking the Right Medium
An important communication skill is to simply know what form of communication to use.

Initially, always follow the medium that the advert asks for the application.  This shows that you respect their process and can follow instruction.  If it is not stated, always apply in writing, via email.  Attached your CV and anything that is requested, but at the initial stage, avoid attaching lots of supporting documents.  Try and make the recruiter’s job as simple as possible.

From this point, you need to get the balance right- when it is appropriate to continue on email, phone or maybe even pop in to see the recruiter.  Too many phone calls or an unsolicited visit, may be inappropriate, but there is a lot to be said for picking up the phone.  (But never let anyone else phone on your behalf!!)

Feedback
And the most important bit of advice from this newsletter- ASK FOR FEEDBACK! As demotivating as it may be, it is a reality that you are one of hundreds of people applying for a position, and there is often just one person going through the CV’s and the process. If you want feedback you need to pick up the phone or send an email.  Not only will this give you constructive feedback on where your CV or skills may be lacking, but it is an opportunity to build relationships with the recruiter.  Knowledge is power, and knowing why you have not been short listed, can be extremely motivating (as strange as that may seem!).  If you have not passed the email stage of applying, then forward your original application, and ask for feedback (don’t make the recruiter go looking for your application).  If you have been in for a personal interview, then pick up the phone and start building relationships.

Relationships are a two way street, so don’t apply for a job and then wait to get a phone call.  Be proactive, and drive the process!  Start interacting with your recruiter, and I promise, you will be at the top of their minds next time a job comes in, and they will start communicating back!

1. What will your CV look like when printed in black and white? Will it still be eye catching and easy to read?  Few companies will go to the cost of printing it in colour when reviewing it.
2. If you are applying for jobs on line or via email- is your email address on your CV? If you are applying from Gumtree, Indeed and various other platforms, your application will not come from your personal email address, but from the portal address, so how will they be able to reply?
3. If the best you can do is send an outdated, scribbled on, scanned CV, then you need to ask yourself: ”Am I serious about looking for a job?” Your CV is your first impression, and an indication of the best work you can produce, and the pride you take in your work.
4. Don’t put generic comments in your covering email, such as “Application for before mentioned position” and then don’t mention what position it is. Or say “I have always wanted to work for your company” and send it to an employment agency, for a job with their clients.  It makes you application insincere from the outset.
5. Make sure that your residential area is always up to date. One of the biggest reasons you will not be short listed, is if your CV indicates you live too far from the position (even if you have since relocated).
6. Two page CV’s were fashionable in the days of fax machines. Today, you are emailing, and companies are “searching” your CV for key words.  If the key words are not there, you are not going to be short listed.  A 3-5 page CV is more than acceptable.
7. Don’t waste one of your 3-5 pages on a cover page, with just your name typed on it- save this for when you deliver a printed copy.
8. Don’t get so creative with the layout, that your skills and experience are missing or hard to find.
9. If you want to make it personal, add a photo, not clipart. (But don’t take a selfie in a public bathroom or with your cycling helmet on!)
10. Keep it to the point and factual. Save the essays and long stories for the interview.
11. Start with your most recent job first.
12. Make sure that you put dates worked at previous companies on your CV
13. If you don’t know what to say your reason for leaving is, leave it off. Putting “Personal issues”, “Horrible work environment”, “Company involved in unethical business practice”, “Dismissed” or “Discrimination”- says more about how fussy, difficult, disloyal and potentially hard to manage you potentially are, than anything about the company.  Save it for the interview when you have a change to explain yourself and put it in context.
14. Make sure you list all your computer skills on your CV.
15. The Golden Rule when drawing up a CV- “If it’s not on your CV, you never did it!!”

1. Smile.  On the phone, when typing your emails, and when you arrive at the interview.  People like happy people.
2. If you are phoning to book an interview or ask for an email address, have a pen and paper handy BEFORE you make the call.
3. Treat EVERY interview like it is the most important interview ever, or you will not get to the next round of interviews.
4. When you send an email from your phone, don’t forget that it will be read on a computer.
5. Your CV is an indication of the pride you take in your work and should be the best piece of work you produce.  If you cannot take the time to type, proofread and save it, what will you produce when you get the job?
6. No recruiter has ever short listed someone for an interview purely based on their hobbies… Recruiters are interested in your skills and experience.  Focus your CV on what you have to offer.
7. Showing off your WordArt and ClipArt skills on your CV will probably not impress anyone.
8. Answering “Not Applicable” (n/a) to a relevant question, or deleting it, will not go unnoticed.
9. Everyone says that they are a fast learner.
10. When asked about salary, answer with Gross or Cost to Company, not what arrives in your bank account at the end of the month.
11. No one cares what salary you need to live the lifestyle you want.  They care about what your skills and experience are worth, and what their budget allows them to pay.
12. Good old-fashioned manners count for a lot.
13. First impressions are made the minute the interviewer sees you (and whoever you bring along to the interview) and last long after you have left.  This means that the loud music, smoking in the parking lot, kids crying in the car, and playing on your cell phone in reception remain fast in the recruiter’s mind.
14. If you smell strongly of cigarette smoke (because you had a quick one before the interview or your driver did), no one will believe that you are a ‘social smoker’.
15. Never arrive more than 15 minutes early for an interview.
16. Shake hands firmly and make eye contact.
17. Dress to impress.  Jeans, shorts, slops and evening attire are not appropriate.  This is the best you will ever dress if you get the job, because you are supposed to be trying to impress.
18. Don’t forget that you are in a job interview! Not a therapy session, not a date, not a chat with a friend…
19. Switch your cell phone OFF.  Your phone vibrating in your bag or on the table is just as bad as if it rang.
20. Save any controversial topics (criminal or ITC records, dismissals, holiday or study commitments) to the end of the interview, after you have “sold yourself” for the job.  Don’t close the door before its even open by leading with the negative.
21. Do not focus on the reasons that have driven you to look for a job. Rather focus on your skills, achievements and what you have to offer the company. You will only be employed on the latter.
22. Your lies will always come out in the end. Always.
23.  Looking for a job is a “stats game”.  The more you apply, the more chances you have of getting an interview.  The more interviews you attend, the more chance you have of getting an offer of employment.  Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, and don’t expect to get the first job you apply for.
24. Unsuccessful applications can be positive, in that they provide an opportunity for growth. If you ask for feedback, use it.  Sometimes things happen for a reason!
25. If it seems too good to be true… it generally is.
26. Walking out on a company without notice, in order to be available immediately, is an indication of how you will treat the company interviewing you when it is time for you to leave them.
27. Put your most recent job first on your CV.
28. If you want feedback, ask for it.
29. If you want to be remembered, remind people that you are still looking.
30. Landing that dream job, is your dream!  Act like it and own it!  You can’t apply for a job or go for an interview, and then expect someone else to care more about your dream than you do.

The Job Market has changed almost as much as the media has, in the last twenty years.  Twenty years ago (if you were looking for a job then, or your parents who are helping you look for a job today, were), the internet was not a factor.  CV’s were two pages long because they were faxed, positions were advertised in special sections of the newspaper on a Wednesday and Sunday, and you applied for a job on a Monday morning telephonically.

There have been amazing growth in the recruitment process over the past twenty years, some positive and some negative, so I thought that I would highlight a few things that you may want to consider when starting your job search.  Sometimes we have to move with the times, but sometimes it is also important to not forget the basics.

1. 2 Page CV’s are out of fashion!

2 Page CV’s come from the days when you faxed your CV.  It’s a long time since I received a faxed CV … we don’t even own one at RESOURCE recruitment anymore.  Today, short listing candidates comes from searching for key words.  Whether I am on an Internet Job Portal, MS Office or a data base management system, I just have to type in words like “Syspro” and “Matric” and all the applicants without these words, will disappear!  If those key words are not on your CV, in theory you do not have the skills, and your application will not show in the search.  You do not want to confuse the reader with pages of information, irrelevant hobbies and achievements, and long “stories”; but you do want to include as much information as possible, in concise, point form.  You will find more detail on preparing a CV on our website www.2r.co.za

TIP: When applying for a job, look at the job description or advert, and make sure that all “key words” in the advert, are in your CV, if you have the skills.  I.e. If they are wanting someone who has worked on an ISO Environment, and you have, then make sure that “ISO” appears in your CV.

2. Use the Internet… all of it.

Google is amazing.  Do a search and heaps of opportunities come up.  It’s tempting to get caught up on the first website or job portal, and then focus all of your time and efforts there.  Set yourself a goal to spend a certain amount of time each day or week on the internet, trying different searches and registering on different sights.  The more people who have your CV, the faster you will find a new job.

TIP: If everyone else is focusing on the first page of results on their Google search, there will be a lot less competition for the jobs on the second and third pages!

3. Use Social Media… but be careful.

Have you ever run a search on the internet for your name?  Like or not, you will probably come up.  I would say that about 75% of my clients run a Face Book Search on applicants before interviewing or employing them.  International companies check CV’s against LinkedIn Profiles.  Make sure that your profiles are up to date, and your privacy settings are implemented so that prospective employers only see what you want them to.

4. Employment Relations are about relationships.

It is important to follow the recruitment process by emailing your CV if requested, or applying on line.  But the second the recruiter starts communicating with you, pick up the phone.  Do it yourself- don’t get your wife or boyfriend to do it.  It’s easier and safer to hide behind your emails, but picking up the phone starts a relationship and speeds up the recruitment process.  Make the effort.

TIP: When you pick up the phone- have a pen and paper handy.  You are anticipating an interview and you need to take down the address!!

5. Network

Looking for a job is not about what you know, it’s about who you know, and who knows you.  If you are not employed, start temping.  It’s a great way to extend your professional network.  Join social and community functions/ groups, and make a point of introducing yourself.  Join Social Media Groups and Whatsapp Forums.  It’s often scary to put yourself out there, but the more people who know you are looking for a job, the more people there will be to help you get a job!