15Octproject@projectArticles by Lima Sehgal, Resume Writing, Resume Writing Tips, Resumesolutions

WHAT YOUR CV SHOULD CONTAIN & LOOK LIKE IN 2022

Jobseekers must ensure that their CV is constantly updated as per emerging market trends and standards and should effectively say to recruiters/ hiring managers -“Hey, I am the best candidate for the job“. Here is what your CV should broadly contain and look like in 2022 to ensure that it gets you noticed by recruiters:

OVERVIEW/ SUMMARY

Your CV must begin with a synopsis of a) who you are, b) how much experience you have and c) what sort of work you are primarily handling.
This should come right on top – it is a glimpse of what your CV contains. The recruiter should read the overview and say – “This candidate fits the profile”.
Do NOT include a career objective – it has fallen out of use. Including one reflects poorly on your ability to understand job-market trends.
Tailor your overview/summary according to the vacancy you are applying to as much as possible.
Understand what the role entails – and ensure you emphasize those attributes that show that you will fit the role.

JOB SECTION

Your CV must contain a brief history of your employment in reverse chronological order.
Avoid listing routine job functions in too much detail.
Focus of the functions you have handled that match the job that you are currently applying for.
Don’t let you CV exceed 3 pages. It should ideally be two pages.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Routine job responsibilities you manage are not what employers look for. The employer wants to know what you accomplished. Employers like to see quantifiable achievements on resumes – use facts and numbers to show how you positively contributed to a company.
Don’t list all your achievements together – each job mentioned in your experience section should also have a corresponding achievements section showing what you achieved at that particular job.

DESIGN

Your CV should be simple and sober.
Don’t use more than one colour (other than black and white) on your CV. The colour you use should not be too loud and bright.
Make sure the formatting is consistent.
Do not try to insert fancy designs and graphics which distracts attention from the text.
Decide what you wish to show in your resume and find a brief way to say it. Use brief sentences that describe your roles and responsibilities. Lengthy sentences are boring to read and the recruiters may lose interest or patience while reading it.
Simple language is easier for the recruiters to comprehend – fancy words which force the recruiter to reach for a dictionary are not going to take your candidature very far.
Minimize the use of industry specific jargon that a recruiter may not be familiar with.
Use a simple font such as Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri. These are fonts that are available on most computers, so are easy to open. Also they look near and tidy.
Use a font size that’s readable – 10 to 12 points works best. Use bold and italics only to highlight job titles.

CONTACT DETAILS

Your CV must list your phone number and e-mail details at the very top. This allows recruiters to contact you easily if they think you are right for the job.
Your Address and your LinkedIn can be listed at the bottom of your CV.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Don’t include marital status, exact place of residence, photograph, hobbies and religion . It might lead to unconscious discrimination – and it is unnecessary for the hiring process.

FORMAT – USE PDF

Save your resume as a PDF, so you won’t have to worry about the formatting of your word documents getting distorted or the recruiter seeing blanks.
Unless the employer requires a different format, send a PDF so your resume opens exactly as you want it to look – on any system.

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If you want to know the strengths and weaknesses of your CV you can send it to me for a FREE professional evaluation and feedback to my email Id: limasehgal@gmail.com

Also feel free to FOLLOW me on Linkedin now (and let me know so I can follow you back!) to my join network and also for regular CV tips, vacancies, interview guidelines, and advice on how to conduct a successful job search.

Don’t forget to hit the “LIKE” button and also “SHARE” this article so others can benefit!!!! #resumetips #jobhunt #hired #cvtips

11Novproject@projectResume Writing, Resume Writing Tips, Resumesolutions

Looking for a Job? Make sure your resume is ahead of the curve! GET A FREE PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION OF YOUR CV NOW

To know how effective your CV is and what changes you need to make Mail it to limasehgal@gmail.com and I will give you feedback on how to optimize it

If you want regular updates and tips on how to perfect your CV and improve your job search Please follow me on LinkedIn – and let me know so I can follow you back: https://www.linkedin.com/in/limasehgal/

23Octproject@projectResume Writing, Resume Writing Tips, Resumesolutions

Looking for a Job? Make sure your resume is ahead of the curve! GET A FREE PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION OF YOUR CV NOW

To know how effective your CV is and what changes you need to make Mail it to limasehgal@gmail.com and I will give you feedback on how to optimize it

20Octproject@projectResume Writing, Resume Writing Tipsresume advice, resume tips, Resume Writing

Lima’s Resume Tips – Recap # 207

Quantify all the achievements on your CV

Give actual facts and figures

Not vague and generalized statements

02Julproject@projectResume Writing, Resume Writing Tips

5 Hidden Defects That You Must Remove From Your CV

The job seeker today has the advantage of easy access to information and advice on how to make a good CV. This however only covers basics and obvious mistakes to watch out for.

What job seekers also have to do is to watch out for is the little errors that creep into a CV and can cause it to get rejected. Here are 5 hidden flaws on your CV that must be identified and removed immediately:-

Defect 1: Not showing that you are fit for the next level of seniority.

Whenever you search for a job, you are looking for a better job, more responsibilities with a better salary – but does your CV show that you deserve it?

You must express and word your achievements in the current role to prove to recruiters that you are capable of handling a more complex role with more responsibilities.

You can show this by highlighting your ability to handle a certain volume of work or your ability to manage resources and people.

For example- saying that you managed a sales team and sales operations does not project anything. But saying that you manage a team of 10 sales executives and 30 channel sales partners will show your leadership and managerial abilities.

Defect 2: Revealing personal information that may be misinterpreted

Be careful about giving personal data that can lead a recruiter to arrive at the wrong conclusions. This is because certain facts may make recruiters think that the candidate is a potential problem case.

For Example, giving details about your marital status, kids and dependents may give recruiters the feeling you maybe unwilling to relocate or that your work may suffer due to frequent family demands.

Also, personal data may open you up to unconscious biases which the recruiters may have. Instead, keep your CV focused on your professional skills and achievements – not your personal or family life.

Defect 3: Labeling yourself by stating the kind of job and position you are seeking.

Avoid putting an objective or mentioning what kind of job or position you want on your CV. It is dangerous. A recruiter or a hiring manager will tend to look at specific factors for short listing. If your objective does not match their requirements, you will get rejected.

Give a short summary of your experience instead on the top of your CV highlighting your professional profile.

Defect 4: Including justifications and explanations on the CV

Do not give unnecessary justifications and explanations on your CV.

For Example saying, “I have a gap because I was on maternity leave”, “I got retrenched”, “The company closed down”, “I got a much better job offer”, “I took a sabbatical” – is not necessary. It points to a problem in your career record.

Avoid doing this as it shifts the focus unnecessarily. A working professional does not need to make excuses or justify anything.

Focus instead on strengthening your current job and the one previous to that. Companies will hire you if you are useful to them, not just on the basis of a great continuity record.

Defect 5: Listing Too Many Achievements

Job seekers tend to make never ending lists of achievements that span their career.

This is counter-productive. Listing too many achievements distracts from your core message and strengths. Recruiters will get bored and skip through the section. Instead, focus on your most important achievements only.

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It is the small defects and bugs that we overlook in our CV that can cause serious harm.

If you want to know the strengths and weaknesses of your CV, you can email your CV for a professional feedback and evaluation, absolutely without any cost involved, to my email: limasehgal@gmail.com

Also feel free to follow me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/limasehgal/ for regular CV tips, vacancies, interview tips and advice on how to conduct a successful job search (and let me know so I can follow you back)

Looking for vacancies? Go to our jobs section at www.jobnetonline.com/jobs for more

30Sepproject@projectJob Hunting Tips, Resume Writing, Resume Writing Tipsresume, resume advice, resume tips, Resume Writing

The Winning Sales Pitch! – How to Create An Effective Sales Resumé

Finding a suitable candidate for a sales position is a tough job! Ask any hiring manager and you will get the same feedback. “We get a lot of applications but taking a decision on a candidate’s potential for revenue generation is very difficult.”

Here is a list of essentials that every sales professional must show on their resume. The following is a perspective from a hiring and employer’s point of view.

1) Consistency In Revenue Generation.

Consistency in revenue generation is very important for all companies.The common mistake that most job seekers make is that they think that highlighting their key achievements or brilliant breakthroughs only is good enough. It is not enough.

Your CV must also communicate your ability to consistently bring in revenue for the company and contribute towards the growth of the company.

Let’s say you signed a million dollar contract or got a high value sale. That shows that you are competent and successful. But the question that arises is whether that is a fluke or can you do it again and again and again?

# The most effective way to show consistency in revenue generation is through your achievements in all the companies you have worked for. Your current job is important but to show consistency you need to show your achievements and contributions in all the posts you held from the beginning of your career till now.

2) Specialization Of Product Or Services

Sales and marketing is a highly specialized function. Whether you are a junior person or at a senior management level, your knowledge of the market and the product is important to a company. This helps in reducing the training period and also ensures that you have the potential to reduce the gestation period to produce results that everyone has when they join a new company.

The truth is that most companies are usually very clear about what they want – They want to know what your expertise and contacts are.

Most job seekers presume that the ability to successfully sell a product is all that’s important and if they manage to show that then a company will believe you have the ability to sell anything. This is not true. Success in sales has a basis in your experience in handling a product, territory or clientele. This is your background and specialization and this is what one looks for while screening a CV.

# Make sure you are very clear about showing your specialization.

You can show it in the following ways:

I) Product

The products that you have managed are very important. Most job seekers make the mistake of generalizing too much. For example, saying you sell generators is not enough, they come with various capacities which also determines the end user- Eg. household, cement plant or airfield.

Or for example only mentioning that you sell insurance is vague because insurance is also of various types. Do not make the person who is reading your CV have to guess the nature of the job you were performing. Spell it out and clearly explain what products you have handled.

I have also noticed that often very senior professionals make the mistake of presuming that because they are so senior and have good experience, that they need not spell out the product – since they only need to handle a managerial function of directing a sales team, and that their job is directing and not frontline selling. This is counterproductive as hiring managers will most definitely want senior managers with relevant work experience.

Look at it like this. If I am a hiring manager then I will be looking for specific experience with a specific product. So if my company is selling paints to builders and construction companies then I would prefer someone who has done this job over someone who is selling telecom services to builders and construction companies. I would also reject the CV if it just says I sell paints because I cannot figure out if you are doing direct sales to builders or just to your dealer network and stockists.

And never presume that just because the company you are working for is famous that everyone can guess the product you handle. ITC is into FMCG, hotels, paperboards,packaging, agro-business & information technology. So if your CV says I am working for ITC, I still don’t know what you are selling. If your CV says I am working for Rolls Royce without mentioning that you sell Aero Engines, I might think that you are selling motor cars because that is what I know. Be clear and specific about information. Nobody will do an internet search or call you to ask.

II) Sales Channels.

If you are selling a product then a company wants to know to whom you sell it to? Most job seekers never bother to explain this.

For example FMCG, automobiles, paint, financial services, IT products, security equipment, all have specific channels of sale either through dealer networks, retail outlets, direct sales, networking…

If you say you are the General Manager Sales or a Sales Executive then I would like to know what channel of sales you can develop for my company. This is your real expertise and it also reflects your contacts. If you have experience in selling property, thermal power plants, insurance or toothpaste then how you developed, managed and generated revenue out of the sales channel is extremely important.

Also show what you have developed. For example- I developed a network of stockists in Europe to sell Herbal shampoos. Or I developed contacts in the Ministry of Power / Energy to sell high voltage power transmission products. Or I sold health insurance to the existing account holders of our bank.

What must show clearly in your CV is your knowledge, experience and success in the relevant sales and marketing channel.

III) Territory

What you sell and where you sell it is the core of any sales and marketing resume, however junior or senior you are in your job.

Did you manage sales in a particular city, region, country, and continent? Be specific about showing this. It is highly important.

If I am looking for a Territory Manager for a particular region and you have handled that region only then you may be suitable. If I want a Country Head in Europe and you have only worked in African markets then you are definitely not suitable.

But if you do not mention anything in the hope that the company will be confused enough to call you for an interview, it will not work. They will just move on to the next CV.

3) Achievements:

Many job-seekers tend to isolate their achievements and put them in a list on top of the resume. You must ensure your achievements are listed along side your experience as well, so that it gives hiring managers a complete picture.

When you show achievements on your CV, you have to be specific to the role that you handled for that particular job to which the achievement belongs.

For example: You say you successfully sold – 2 million dollars of soap in Japan or India through distributors, That’s good – but if you add the fact that you did this for a new brand of luxury soap that the company launched, it improves the perspective and adds to the achievement. Or if you are selling services for bridge construction specify the kind of bridge- over swimming pools, lakes or seas? And tell them where you sold it and what revenue generation was achieved. Achievements are about the real work that you have done.

Achievements have to presented in a factual manner. For example: By how much did you increase revenue? How did your marketing strategy make an impact on the company you worked for? Quantify your achievements, include detailed facts and figures.

And remember that self praise is your opinion about yourself. It does not impress any one. Your CV clearly needs to prove how and why your are the best choice for the company.

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Please remember that Sales positions have a lot competition. This is also a function that is quantifiable, so it has to be performance driven. Delivery, performance and revenue generation is very crucial to an organization. Your CV must be able to show these aspects.

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Is your resume showing your expertise as a sales professional? Send your resume for a FREE professional evaluation and feedback now to limasehgal@gmail.com and get tips on how to improve your CV.

Also feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/limasehgal?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile for regular CV tips, vacancies, interview tips and advice on how to conduct a successful job search.

Lima Sehgal is a Publisher, Author, Career and Resume Development Specialist.

Other Contact details include: skype: lima.sehgal Or WhatsApp: 0091- 8130680957

30Sepproject@projectArticles by Lima Sehgal, Job Hunting Tips, Resume Writing, Resume Writing Tipsresume, resume advice, resume tips, Resume Writing

7 Things Recruiters MUST See On Your CV

Most of us have gone through the heartbreak of getting rejected for a job opening that we felt we were ideally tailor-made for. This may be because your CV failed to reflect the qualities that hiring managers hunt for.

That is why it is very important to identify what companies are looking for in a potential candidate. If you want to succeed at getting shortlisted for interviews, you have to see your CV not from your own perspective but from an employer’s perspective.

Here are 7 things recruiters MUST see on your CV and how you can succeed at showing it to them.

1) Suitability

You need to be a good match for the job posting to get shortlisted. Your CV must show that you have work experience which relates to the job for which you are applying. What companies are searching for is this – Can you produce the required results for the post you are being hired for?

Unless your CV points in this direction quickly and accurately, the person who is shortlisting will skip your CV and go to the next CV in the pile.

Your suitability can be shown through your work experience and achievements. Your CV must show your knowledge, understanding and hardcore experience in producing results in the shortest possible time.

# To help a recruiter notice your suitability quickly, show it right on top.

Make a short overview/ summary right on top of your CV with 3 to 5 bullet points expressing how many years of experience you have, your designation and your core expertise.

Once they glimpse your suitability it helps them connect with you and encourages them to read your CV further.

2) Real Experience

Experience is about the functions you have handled in your job during your career. However, job seekers fail to show this effectively and tend to give a detailed report on every single thing they do. Hiring managers find this utterly boring to read and they usually skip it. This is a crucial aspect of the CV, and must be effectively shown.

To show your experience more effectively, stop giving obvious job descriptions. For example: “I am a sales person and I sell” OR “I am an accountant, I do accounting” OR “I am an architect, I design buildings”– along with all the jargon that goes with it. None of these statements say anything about what makes you good at your work or what makes you perfect for the job.

What you really need to do is to show how your experience qualifies you for the job. Talk about your real accomplishments!

Instead of saying, I am a civil engineer, give details of what you have actually built – “a 2 km long bridge across the river OR “a township spread over 400 acres” OR “A school building in the neighborhood”. If you are a sales executive, “I sold 1 million worth of products in 1 year” is better than “I handled sales and marketing.”

# Talk about what you have delivered. Giving relevant facts will also help in making each company / employment on your CV different, more informative and interesting to read.

3) Achievements

However good you are at your work, it does not matter unless you show you are able to produce results and achieve the company’s goals and targets.

Saying “I am good” does not matter – that’s your opinion. You have to prove why you are good.

A lot of job seekers only give a list of awards, achievements and appreciations from the company. For Example- “Got Best Salesman reward and won a trip to Honolulu” OR “I was given a letter of appreciation & increment for introducing cost saving methods”.

A better way to convey your achievements is to say “Won trip to Honolulu because I sold XXXX worth of products, more than anybody else”.

Remember, achievements also include those aspects of doing a job well for which you may not have got a special recognition. For example – “Over the past 5 years in the company as a safety officer there were no accidents” OR “I met the sales target year on year” OR “I achieved a 98.9% success rate – of patients not dying after a surgery performed by me…”

# Achievements have to show how you contributed to a company goal by doing your job well or excellently. But you may or may not get a reward or appreciation for it. Simply doing a job well can also be shown as an achievement. But this must be shown in a brief and precise manner.

4) Creativity

Companies want people who can use their brains to find solutions and make contributions that benefit them. Creativity is a real asset for all employers. They are looking for people who can add surplus to the job.

So as a job seeker you must make sure that your achievements also reflect your creativity.

For example, increasing sales in your supermarket outlets by 50% each year is a good achievement – introducing uniforms for staff in your store to make them identifiable by customers shows creativity – both are good points to use. But the second achievement highlights creativity.

You can show creativity on your CV by highlighting instances where your ideas have benefited the company. For example, you have achievements that make you a good HR manager, but introducing bio-metrics or computerization is creative. Or, as a warehouse manager, you have great achievements but the fact you decided to implement a bar code system to replace manual checking in your warehouse is creative.

Even if your job is mechanical and routine, creativity can be shown. Did you find a way to do the same work in an improved manner? Creativity does not have to be a profound idea – Just one that leads to improvements.

# Being creative must also show in your achievements.

Did you think of any new ideas that resulted in reduced costs, improved processes, nurtured growth, solved problems, saved time, increased revenue?

Show it clearly on your CV.

5) Skills and Competencies

It was a good idea once upon a time to give a great list of skills – But today doing so will lead to recruiters skipping this section.

If you have a specific technical skill – like software or use of a machine or instrument –list it.

But if you are planning on listing general skills like SCM or design or sales – it’s passé. It’s redundant for an accountant to say I know accounts, trial balance preparation or bank reconciliation. Or, if you are an IT professional, it’s silly to you are an expert in MS Office, when even a school kid is an expert. If you decide to mention or list your skills then make sure it is specific to the requirements of the job applied for.

Avoid saying general things like strong negotiation skills, team player, hardworking, keen learner, self-starter … really, it’s a waste…Instead of saying that you are a team player, talk about how you handled a team of people and successfully launched a new product or achieved a deadline. It becomes real then.

# Direct attention to specific skills that are important to the employer. This may include a technology platform, a software, a methodology or a specific knowledge that is important for the post, and leave out generalities.

Or if you can show something specific for example a language, familiarity with a territory and country or a specific qualification that you think would be advantageous to the employer – show that.

6) Good Communication

Good communication skills are a basic requirement for all jobs. So, your CV must show how good a communicator you are – both verbal as well as written.

# A well written resume with good language, no grammatical errors with clear thinking and presentation reflects a person with good communication, language and written skills.

7) Confidence

You have to project yourself as a confident person and your CV is a direct platform for showing your confidence.

There are many ways to project confidence. Your expertise and success must be clear – and visible. A poorly made CV shows low self-esteem and reflects poorly on your presentation skills and professionalism. Are you proud of your CV?

Also make sure your LinkedIn profile and your CV are updated and well presented. You must look smart & professional everywhere and all the time. No one wants to hire someone who can’t take the trouble of creating a good CV.

# Confidence is an intangible quality that shows because of a smart CV. Make sure you show it.

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To know what your CV reflects to recruiters and hiring managers — get a FREE EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK of your CV, by mailing your CV to limasehgal@gmail.com and get tips and advice on how you can improve the impact of your CV and boost your job search.

Looking for vacancies? Go to our jobs section at www.jobnetonline.com/jobs for more

30Sepproject@projectArticles by Lima Sehgal, Job Hunting Tips, Resume Writing, Resume Writing Tipsresume, resume advice, resume tips, Resume Writing

7 Things You Should NEVER Include On Your CV

Job seekers tend to focus on what to include on their resume, but it is equally important to know what NOT to include on your resume.

What information to include is in your hands, but remember that even small mistakes can backfire and reflect badly on you and in turn hurt your chances of getting shortlisted.

Here are a list of things that you should NOT include on your CV.

1) Personal Information; What to include and what to exclude:

The basics of personal information that you have to include are Name, Address, Email, and Mobile. This information is necessary for a person to contact you. Make sure that all contact details are current and in working condition.

– Address
Your address has to be a place where you can be reached.

#Avoid giving an address of some remote location even if it is your permanent address. If you have no permanent address or you are changing locations frequently, do not list it. You can give an email ID instead.

– Email IDs
Your email ID must be in working condition and you should frequently check it.

You can include up to 2 email id’s on your CV. Just ensure you do not include your current company ID on your CV.

# Do not include email IDs that are descriptive – like sexysanjoo, chooserekha , Manjeetforsuccess – Please choose a mature email ID for your job hunt- the best ones are simple with just combinations around your name.

– Links.
You should include links and details of your Linkedin profile, Skype and website, and to your portfolio.

# What not to include are links that make a person move out of your CV and into your company or college website or to other places on the internet.

– Photographs.
Your photograph needs to show you with a frontal view, in formal attire and a smile. There should be a clear background behind you. Prepare 2 versions of your CV –with and without a photograph.

# Avoid sending your CV with a photograph, unless it has been asked for. Someone may reject you for no reasonable fault but just because of how you look. Also remember, photographs are graphic files and are heavy to email, which can lead to technical difficulties in opening your CV or email.

2) Do NOT include statements of self praise and emphasis:

Many job seekers tend to put in declaratory statements in their “Objective”.
Here are some examples:

Objective: “Talented, multifunctional visionary seeks …”
– “Looking for middle or senior position with an organization where I can contribute…”
– “Award winning national sales manager looking for a challenging work environment… “

No company or recruiter is interested in what you want and what you are trying to say so vehemently. They are interested in only what they want.

# Cut it out- Create a short summary instead- just 2 to 4 points maximum telling them what your expertise is, so that your value to them is clear from the start.

3) Do NOT include explanations for job changes in your CV.

Many job seekers find it necessary to explain why they left a company in the past.
For example-“Left company because – I had a baby, had an accident, left to avoid relocation, got retrenched, company closed down, left because of no growth prospects, daddy got posted abroad” – The reasons are varied.

This is highly avoidable because the explanations you give can have different interpretations for different hiring managers. Lets take the example given above to get an idea on how others may view it.

Example: She had a baby last year so she has to cope with a 1 year old kid’s problems- She would be taking leave whenever the kid falls sick. Oh he had an accident? Maybe he is a rash driver or is he hiding a disability related issue? She left because daddy got posted out? So next time daddy get another posting she will quit. Got retrenched, company closed down, left because of no growth prospects ? Hey this may be a person with a problem – probably someone who gets shunted our easily – Maybe because he is dispensable?

#Do not give reasons for leaving a company on your CV. The reasons can be misinterpreted. You can give an explanation for a job change when you are called in for an interview instead.

4) Do NOT include your salary details.

Job seekers tend to mention their current salary details or give their CTC ( Cost To company ) figures in their CV. They mention it either with their current job, or give salary figures for all the jobs that they have worked in.

Including salary details on your CV is a fundamental blunder. This is because companies have different structures for salary preparation. And if you don’t fit into their structure you may get rejected. They may also reject you because you are over their budget.

By including it, you are creating a reason for rejection without getting a fair chance to be called for an interview where you get a chance to negotiate or compromise.

# Never include your salary details on your CV. Give yourself the chance to discuss and negotiate your salary requirement during the interview.

5) Do NOT include references, unless specifically asked:

There was a time when references were a necessary part of a CV. Job seekers used to go through a lot of trouble getting references from impressive contacts.

Today , there is no need to give references on your CV. If you are a job seeker, employers know that you can produce references. So you do not have to say – “References on request”.

In today’s environment a reference check happens to be the employer’s privilege. Every company has their own requirement- It could be talking to your client, your boss, other ex- employers, your colleagues. So if you are selected for a position, they will probably ask you for a specific kind of reference.

# Avoid putting references on your CV when there is no need for it. It makes your CV unnecessarily long. You can produce them when specifically asked to do so.

6) Do NOT include family details.

Job seekers tend to include information about their marital status, kids, employment details of spouse/ father ,religion.

This kind information creates impressions about you that you have no control over. Suppose a company is not keen to hire a person who is married, why take the chance of getting rejected without a fair chance? Personal data is not compulsory to show. People are keen to know what you can contribute to their organization. So stick to showing your expertise rather than your personal life.

And never mention your religion on your CV. This is often a ground for prejudice and getting rejected.

# Avoid giving personal information on your CV.

7) Do NOT include a conclusion statement at the end of the CV.

Remove the oath bearing statement at the end of your CV that says- I declare that all information is true and updated to the best of my ability – along with a date and signature. It is understood that you shouldn’t lie. Also, it is a CV not an affidavit.

# There is no need for it at all. It is redundant and it just occupies space.

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Stay clear and concise on what you want to show on your resume. There is so much competition out there, you cannot afford to make mistakes in what you communicate to others through your CV.

For a FREE EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK on errors and mistakes on your CV, mail your CV to limasehgal@gmail.com and get tips and advice on how you can improve the impact of your CV and boost your job search.

Looking for vacancies? Go to our jobs section at www.jobnetonline.com/jobs for more

30Sepproject@projectArticles by Lima Sehgal, Job Hunting Tips, Resume Writing, Resume Writing Tips

5 Ways To Effectively Show Your Expertise On Your CV.

There are too many experts telling us what to do and not do with our CV. Most of us become quite brainwashed or too afraid to use our own common sense in deciding what to do for improving our CV.

If you have work experience then you have a great and valuable asset that can be of benefit to your future employer. Your CV has to make others see this fact.

So keep the following points in mind to create an effective CV.

1) The Resume Summary is crucial.

What is a summary? Right on top of the CV there has to be a summary. A summary is a brief headline on who you are, what you are good at and why you can be good at a certain type of job in your field. The purpose of a summary is to help the person who views your resume to connect with you.

It helps the viewer spot the relevant. For Eg. Civil Engineer with 14 years of experience in heading projects for developing residential townships. Eg. Sales Executive with experience in business development in projects and channel sales development in the paint industry

Most people make the mistake of treating a resume summary as a platform for emphasis, delivery, advertising and selling oneself. The purpose is different. It is a psychological angle. You have to be subtle and tempt them to read your CV.

What is it aimed to do? It has to lead the person viewing it in a direction. It must show why you are a good choice.

This is what a summary should be. A summary should be a brief. Never more than 3 to 4 points that state who you are, at what level you are and a few points on what you have contributed in your trade, profession or industry. But this is not a place for bragging. It must be factual.

# It must have a single focus which is directed to the post you are applying for. If you have done different things that you are good at or have good experience in different fields the person reading it will either get confused or not be able to connect with it. It must show your suitability and relevance for a post and must have a single focus or specialization.

2) Focus on your expertise.

What does expertise mean? Expertise is about what you have acquired during your working with various organizations. You have worked at a profession and acquired skills and you have become good at doing certain things that have added value to the company, that is your expertise.

Every company is looking for expertise, the value you can bring to the job and the company. A successful CV communicates your expertise, what you can offer to the company as a professional.

#To communicate your expertise.
1. Be specific about your work function, and what you have done in the companies you have worked in.
2. Communicate exactly what you implemented that benefited the operations, service, sales or whatever you were /are handling.

3) Highlight your achievements

Most professionals find it difficult to define their achievements. But everyone has achievements that come as a natural course of doing a job well. Remember if you did not do the job well the company would have sacked you.

You have to define your own achievements. This is because even when you do the routine aspects of your job well like being accurate in maintaining books of accounts, routine preventive maintenance of machinery or handling the administration of an office where all systems are in place or working as a security guard at a bank with a gun and never ever getting a chance to shoot the bad guys- You are still doing a job well but in your mind you do not define it as such.

Many of your achievements do not find a place in the resume because job seekers think that an achievement is only about doing something great for which you are recognized and for which you get appreciation or awards. So add whatever you have implemented in your routine job functions as well, which have benefited the company

#Your bragging rights are yours in your CV. But be sure to explain the achievement in a factual manner.

4) Show your work experience with precision.

Most job seekers believe that a CV must be a historical record about themselves. They tend to describe what they have done in each of the companies that they have worked in. This often results in a lot of reading material without a sharp focus and expertise tends to get lost as hidden data in all that reading material.

Job descriptions tend to be common for a profession so you do not need to spell it out in great detail. Avoid lengthy descriptions about your roles and keep it short and factual. Work experience has to be well presented for each company.

#Remember that it is important to change the content of your job description for each of the companies you have worked for. You have to show different angles. Never give a common list of functions applying to all the companies you worked in.

5) Be factual and crisp about your information.

Avoid giving boring descriptions. Give facts and figures instead. Many jobseekers feel that using flowery or emphatic verbs show that you are dynamic. A person who is trying to get to the point of finding your expertise through the shortest possible route is not going to be impressed with verbosity.

Hiring managers and placement consultants are experienced in handling massive volumes of CVs at the screening level. They are experts in giving a quick reading with a sharp focus on looking out for expertise that connects to what they need. So your CV must direct them to information that will show them why you are good at your job so that they can take a decision on you being a good choice.

#Crisp, short and precise sentences are easy to understand, so focus on keeping it simple while showing your expertise.
A resume well laid out in design makes reading easy. This is a very important factor because it makes the recruiters’ job easier.

Remember a good CV will be as good as how accurately and effectively you can show why you are a good choice. The job market is a competitive place. You may be extremely good at your job or have wonderful achievements but your CV must communicate this to others to be effective. =======================================================A majority of professionals who are very good at their jobs do not express it effectively or clearly! To know if your CV is effective and highlights your skills and expertise, send it for a FREE evaluation and feedback to : limasehgal@gmail.com

30Sepproject@projectArticles by Lima Sehgal, Job Hunting Tips, Resume Writing, Resume Writing Tipsinterview, interview tips

7 Secrets For Succeeding At Job Interviews

Most of us are a little apprehensive and nervous about attending interviews. It could be because we really need to get that job for better prospects or simply because it is our dream company which we wish to join. The interview result will show us what our job-market worth is, which is also a scary prospect.

It would help to remind yourself about why you have been called for an interview in the first place. It is because the basics about you is alright. If you were unfit on the basis of your CV then they would not have called you. The interviewer wants to know first – hand if you can do the job and fit into the organization.

I have been on both sides of the interview table and I think the solution lies in understanding what has to be conveyed and communicated, and I can assure you that there is no magic pill for that.

Here are 7 essentials for succeeding at job interviews.

1) Don’t neglect the basics

– Dress in appropriate attire and be well groomed. When in doubt go for formal attire acceptable in that country or city.

– Be on time. It is obvious, but it is also amazing how last minute hitches get you late- Check the route, allow for traffic and make sure that you are early enough to catch your breath and relax for 15 minutes before the interview.

– Creating the first impression starts even before the interview. So be pleasant to everyone- the receptionist, the junior kid who is coordinating, the assistant of the interviewer, or someone offering you a drink. And never sit at the reception of an office and converse continuously on your mobile phone. Most people consider it bad manners.

– Relax – it creates good body language. Desperation, nervousness and tension show. Consciously try to relax. Do some deep breathing. And make sure your hands are not sweaty because a handshake with a sweaty palm puts people off.

– Keep your documents organized. Carry several copies of your CV. Keep your cell phone switched off. When you are called, enter confidently, smile and wish everyone present giving full eye contact.

Remember the person on the other side of the table is a human being not a warrior you have to defeat. So be respectful, courteous. Smile, be nice but be formal.

2) Do your homework to know & show your interest in the company

The best way to convey that you are interested in the company and job is to do your homework. Research the company thoroughly before an interview. By doing this, you will be able to answer well when interviewers ask you questions like: What do you know about our company? What are our products? Who are our competitors? How can you add value to our company?

You can ask a few questions at the interview but never ask about the basics of the company’s activities and products/ services. Also go through the job requirement you are applying for. Do not demand a full briefing at the interview.

# Do your homework- Research the company on Google. Check out their website. Hunt for their latest press releases. Check out their social media presence. Research on Linkedin by searching the profiles of other employees working there.

3) Focus on communication not performance

An interview is a communication between people not a judgment call on your brilliant interview performance.

Remember you are not delivering a recital about how great you are. You have to convey through your conversation and discussion why you would be suitable for the post, what you can contribute and why you fit in.

# Listen and respond. If someone asks you a question, stick to answering it rather than delivering a sales pitch on your greatness.

4) Discussing holidays and work timings is avoidable

Most people universally believe that a candidate who is a stickler for holidays and work timings is not flexible and is self centered. This is because companies want to believe that a candidate is coming with the promise of delivery. Even if the cost is unreasonable- like working on all holidays, company before family or being available on beck and call at all times.

# Avoid discussing holidays and timings at an interview. Focus on other things like the job you have to handle.

5) Salary Negotiation

How much should you expect? This is a tough question.

Never talk about salary unless it is brought up by the interviewer. It is avoidable to discuss salary at an early stage before impressions are made and you get some idea from the interviewer on what the company has in mind.

Do you have the correct inputs on what the company is offering? Do you know the structure of the perks and benefits the company has? Does the company have fixed grades? These are aspects that can be researched before an interview or one can simply reach this point towards the end of an interview when both parties are ready and interested. That is when you can probe for this kind of information.

Not negotiating at all may not be advisable as it can show desperation but aggressive hard line negotiation is also not advisable.

# Don’t commit. Saying you expect a jump over you present salary- like 20- 30% is okay or it can be more if you are sure that your market value supports it. Say that you would like to know what the company has in mind. You cannot negotiate unless you know at what level the negotiation starts. A benchmark has to be established. Don’t presume anything. You may even get a good deal without bargaining.

6) Be alert and attentive

Listen carefully to what is being said and asked. If you are thinking while someone is talking to you then you are not really listening. This is not good because then you are not going to be accurate in your response.

You will be asked questions about yourself, your achievements, your shortcomings, how your involvement saved or made the company money, reduced expenses, solved problems, saved time, etc. Be prepared to talk and answer.

# Keep a sharp focus. Give direct answers. You can ask questions if you want, but keep it very brief.

7) End the interview well and send a follow up mail.

It is the interviewer who decides when the interview is over. Make your exit well. Thank the interviewer and for the opportunity and time spent with you.

#Follow up after your interview. You can send a mail including the following points:

– Thank the interviewer . If there were more people present then mention them in the note. Remind the interviewer why you would be useful to the organization. Give a brief summary of how your skills and experience fit into the role they are looking to fill.

– Remind them about you. Try to be specific. You can quote a specific aspect that you discussed in the interview. It may help to them to remember you in case they have been meeting several candidates.

– If there is any new information that you missed during the interview you can cover it briefly in your mail.

– Your follow up email should be kept brief and only cover the essential information. Your mail should act as merely a reminder and be sent within 24 hours of the interview.

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So go ahead – Listen attentively, talk and answer keeping these 7 points in mind. If you come across as a good, genuine person who can work well and deliver, then – “You have got the Job!”

If you need any advice regarding interviews, please feel free to contact me at limasehgal@gmail.com and I will gladly answer your questions.

If you need help getting to the interview stage, send your CV to limasehgal@gmail.com for a FREE evaluation and tips on how to create your CV perfectly in order to get noticed in the job market.