How CV walk-through can be a winner
Q: At the start of the interview, they asked me to “walk us through your CV”. I probably rambled on. It’s not today or yesterday that I started in the workplace. Eventually they cut me short before I’d even got to my current role. I realised then I’d probably made a hash of it. The […]
How do I start to discover – and write – my strengths for a CV?
Q: Everything I read and watch about career progression tells me I need to know my strengths. I understand that this is true – but I’ve no idea how to go about it. Where does one start when it comes to articulating your own strengths for a CV. I started and ran a business for […]
How to give your CV a contemporary feel
Q. I haven’t written a CV in 32 years, would you believe, for the simple reason that I haven’t needed one? I got a job immediately after leaving school and, as far as I can recall, my CV back then was a simple one-page affair. I stayed within the same company for 17 years and […]
Hidden CV jewels
Q: Any unlikely piece of information I should have on my CV? (CD). A: This is an excellent question. Many people make poor use of their volunteering experience, believing that their CV should only contain professional career events. What you do in your spare time says a lot about you. I’ve heard senior HR personnel […]
Getting ready for life after college
Q: I’m in college. I’ll graduate next year and need to start thinking about life after college – what should I do immediately after graduation to advance my career? (IK). A: I will throw this question back at you: what should you do now?” As I said in a recent column, “the time to fatten […]
Sprucing up your CV after 20 years
Q: I’m updating my CV for the first time in 20 years – for my last three jobs, I was head-hunted within my sector (sales). Now I’ve seen a job I’d like to chase, and I need a CV. I’ve a few questions that perhaps you can answer? (KK, email). A: We’re happy to try. […]
How to make the most of second college chance
Q: I started a college degree, but I was young and foolish, and the course didn’t suit me. I lumbered along for a year and a half before cutting my (well, my parents’) losses. The following year I started again and this time I enjoyed the course much more and saw it through to completion, […]
Cover letter still has a role to play – even by email
Q: What is a cover letter? Why would I need one – is it not just an old-fashioned idea at this stage? (KB, email) A: Yes, you will need a cover letter quite a lot and it is not an old-fashioned idea. It is necessary to include a customised cover letter with many CVs you submit […]
Key points when tweaking your CV for different scenarios
Q: I am an undergraduate looking for a job. I need to write a CV now. However, I intend to return to post-graduate studies next year. Is it possible to write one CV now that will suit both scenarios? (AC, email). A: You do not actually say what you want the CV for at the […]
Three skills to add to your post-pandemic CV
Q: With the year coming to an end, I would like to update my CV for next year. I understand there have been a lot of changes in the market due to the pandemic. I am wondering what else is now expected from candidates, and how any new skills I have acquired might be included in my […]