Expert Panelists are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within the areas of Business, Mindset, Leadership, Lifestyle, and Sustainability. Members of The Brainz Magazine community of experts will share their best tips, advice, ideas, and hacks on different topics.
1. Be yourself
There are so many pre-set models of CV, do not copy-paste the same old style. Find something that represents you, record a video instead of a presentation letter. If you prefer a presentation letter tell something different and great about you. Always remember to smile and be yourself in an interview – what is special about you that makes you the right person for that position. This is key.
2. Customize your resume
There are two easy things people can do to have their cv and resume stand out from others. Because people are reading resumes on a screen, customize your resume so that you demonstrate your fit for a role no later than one page down. Few people read much further than that. The second is to use color on category headings like experience, education, etc. The eye goes right to the categories because it draws attention in a sea of black and white.
3. Transferable skills impact your job search
In order to facilitate any transition to a new role, your CV should contain transferable skills and measurable key accomplishments. If your skills and knowledge are valuable to only one employer or company, then you need to redefine your skills. Define your transferable skills that may be applied to another job. Understand how each allows you to do your job better. Read the job description and identify which of your transferable skills apply. Tailor your CV and Cover letter for each position you seek. Do not blindly apply for 20 applications per day on Indeed or Career Portals, but rather focus on each application and strategically tailor your professional documents for it.
4. Consider your "why"
Before jumping to the CV, consider your "why". Why are you looking for a new job and why at this time? This will help inform and guide your pursuits. As you construct your cover letter recognize that this is an opportunity to market your accomplishments in narrative form. Jot down at least 10 wins that you are actually excited about in your career to date. This will not only help you communicate your strengths but also prepare you for 1-on-1 interviews.
5. Write your CV for the audience, not you!
Your CV will be read by various contacts in a business all looking for different information. Write your CV for the audience, not you! Talent Acquisition will be looking for keywords to compare against the job spec and the hiring manager will be thinking about what's in hiring this person for me. Use stats to demonstrate what you've saved/ increased/ grown/ reduced/ created/ implemented in the business.
