1 |
Your CV |
| 2 | Types of Interview |
There is no such thing as a perfect CV. As long as you are guided by common sense, and the four golden rules below, you have total freedom to create the sort of CV that meets your needs. A CV is a useful thing to have when you want to apply quickly to an advertisement, when you want to apply speculatively to employers or when you want a calling card to thrust into someone's hand at a careers fair. So it pays to give it some thought.
It's got to look good
Go for decent quality A4 paper, a modern typeface, attractive layout. Plenty of white space makes people want to read it. Densely packed, unparagraphed text does the opposite. Avoid coloured paper as this makes your CV hard to photocopy but pale cream would be acceptable.
It should be targeted
There's no such thing as an all-purpose CV: no matter how well presented, if it sounds like a circular, it will be treated like one (i.e. binned). Think of the kind of job(s) you are applying for and emphasise the relevant parts of your life experience, knowledge and skills that make you suitable. A CV for a banking job will look different from one for a social work position. Each application merits an individual and fresh approach.
Use the space sensibly
Allocate space in strict accordance with the importance of the information. Your degree, for example, should receive more coverage then your A-levels. Don't bury the best parts of your CV by hiding them at the bottom of the page or in the middle of a lengthy paragraph. Decide what's important, and give it some prominence.
Always send it with a covering letter
Your covering letter is your opportunity to add a human touch to the application. Draw the reader's attention to the best bits of your CV. Show your enthusiasm, interest and suitability. Try, wherever possible, to target the covering letter too. A standard letter is so easy to spot. On the following pages are examples of three different CV formats and a covering letter. Please read them carefully and digest the messages they contain. Resist any temptation to copy these or other peoples' CVs. Your aim should be to create a CV that will work for you, and you will find this will work better anyway.
Download the full article:
|
Interviews now come in different formats and as well as the traditional form there are three you need to take particular care with:
Informal interviews
The most misleading words in the interview game are, "Just come in for a friendly chat", "It will be totally informal", "Simply a chance to get to know each other". Be on your guard, because even if the interviewer genuinely believes that it is informal, he or she is nevertheless assessing your suitability for the job. Remember that the person interviewing is not your friend, is not a career adviser and is looking for somebody to add value to his or her organisation. Although you yourself should act in a relaxed and informal way, the general rules about interviews still apply and you should prepare your answers in the usual way.
Structured interviews
Some companies, notably Bass and British Telecom, feel that the traditional interview is haphazard and unscientific and can only be objective if a structured approach is taken. In structured interviews all candidates are asked the same questions and are asked to give examples as evidence of the skills they claim to have. Such questions as, "Give me an example of when you received positive feedback from a customer," are common. This direct approach can be a little off-putting but it certainly goes some way to making sure that equal opportunity issues are addressed. Again, the normal rules apply and you need to be well-prepared.
Telephone interviews
These are very common in the sales sector and have spread to a wide variety of employers as they become more customer-focussed. Telephone interviews are seen as a cost-effective way of screening out unsuitable candidates. You should be prepared for some questions even when you phone for an application form. Some companies will not send you an application form if you do not succeed at this stage.
Although the rules for successful interviews are the same as for face-to-face interviews, the lack of eye contact means that your tone of voice is very important. A monotonous drone would be disastrous and you should remember to smile as this communicates to the interviewer.
Although interviews of whatever kind have been shown to be rather hit-and-miss affairs, being far less objective than was previously assumed, they are still an essential part of the selection process. You need to know how to handle them. Although practice is the best teacher, this booklet will help you to avoid the major pitfalls
Download the full article:
|
