Five lines that are killing your CV

Five lines that are killing your CV by Amber Rolfe Struggling to set your CV apart?With a number of jobs seemingly requiring similar skillsets, CVs can often end up looking like virtual replicas of one another, making the hiring process more difficult (and more irritating) for recruiters. And much of it simply comes down to an overreliance on the same old stock phrases.To help you ditch the clichés, here are five lines you should steer clear of when you’re writing your CV:1. ‘Although I don’t have much experience in…’Hiring managers aren’t immediately attracted to candidates that constantly apologise.Not only does it show a lack of confidence in your ability to do the job at hand, it also emphasises your shortcomings instead of focusing on what skills you actually do have.If it’s a skill or qualification that is essential for the job you’re applying for, apologising isn’t going to persuade the employer to consider you, and if it’s not 100% necessary, why mention it?Either way, you’re unli kely to ever come out in a positive light after your admission. In fact, if you doubt yourself, the employer will probably doubt you too.Remember: think about what you can offer in a role, not what you can’t.What you should do: Focus on what skills and experience you have that make you a good fit, and draw attention to those instead. Be positive, confident, and sure of your abilities and recruiters will be too.  2.  â€˜I’m great at multi-tasking’Let’s face it, multi-tasking is important for almost every role.Unfortunately, this has led to a phrase which has been so overused in CVs, that it’s probably lost all meaning to employers.We’re not saying that the ability to multi-task isn’t a valuable attribute. However, simply including that you’re good at it provides very little value to recruiters. You actually need to back it up.Think of relevant examples of when you’ve put your multi-tasking skills to the test, and how they’ve been employed to benefit the business. It’s all about how you say it â€" not just about what you say.What you should do: Talk about any tasks you’ve done that exemplify your multitasking skills, and use them to quantify your claims (i.e. how you managed multiple tasks to achieve a successful outcome â€" and what the outcome actually was). This way, you’re avoiding the clichéd phrase that almost everyone has in their CV, and replacing it with a tangible example that makes your CV unique.3. ‘I’m a team player, who also works well alone’Chances are, you’ll be good in a group and working individually. Most people are.However, the real problem with this phrase isn’t the fact that it’s notoriously overused, it’s that it doesn’t really say a lot.To an employer, saying you’re ‘a team player, who also works well alone’ just looks like a slightly lazy way of trying to cover all bases, because you feel that maybe, one of them might be a necessary requirement. Essentially, it’s the CV equivalent of sit ting on the fence.So, instead of including both, why not focus on the one the role requires the most? If you’re going to be working in a team, then focus on that. And if it involves working independently, utilise those skills instead.Simple.What you should do: To avoid recruiters skimming over this point, make it mean more. Demonstrate a time where you’ve proved your success of working in a team, or how you’ve completed tasks independently. It’ll sound much better than the generic wording, not to mention represent your skills more accurately.4. ‘I’m a perfectionist’Whether you use this phrase on its own, or couple it with its even more irritating prefix ‘my biggest weakness is…’, this point simply has no place in your CV.Even if you genuinely are a perfectionist, this over-exaggerated character-defining phrase often translates as: ‘I’m really picky over minor details’.In reality, nothing is perfect especially in the workplace. If an employer reads about yo ur obsession with perfection in your CV, they may be left wondering how you’d really react when things don’t go to plan.Either that, or you’re trying to pretend you have no real weaknesses, other than your pursuit of greatness. Which, unfortunately, is something recruiters can spot a mile off.There aren’t a lot of positive outcomes.What you should do: Be honest. If you give recruiters enough of your skills, achievements, and experience, they’ll be able to make an informed decision on what you’re really like. And never, ever bring up weaknesses on your CV. Save that for the interview  5.  â€˜I’m a people person’Although this attribute is incredibly important for a number of jobs (particularly customer facing ones), it’s a bad idea to include it in your CV.As with most clichéd phrases, it doesn’t have much meaning. Doesn’t everyone have the ability to speak to other humans, at least to some extent?Additionally, it’s likely that your CV will be sent to someone in HR, and members of this industry notoriously dislike this phrase â€" so not only will you be using an overused line, you’ll also risk mildly irritating the person with the power to move your application further.Without any context or elaboration, this is essentially just a fancy use of alliteration â€" and one that your CV could definitely do without.What you should do: Don’t be afraid to demonstrate your ‘people skills’, but display them in a way that effectively describes your communication skills, customer service experience, and affability, all at the same time. Proven instances and examples of successful interactions and good relationships with colleagues or customers will always work in your favour.Free CV review  Need more CV advice?It takes an employer just seven seconds to save or reject a job applicant’s CV. This means creating a succinct CV is absolutely vital if you want to land that all-important interview. To find out how to make your CV stand out from the crowd, buy James Reed’s new book: The 7 Second CV: How to Land the Interview.Still searching for your perfect position?  View all of our current vacancies nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the CVs Featuresfeatures

How to Approach the Job Search - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Approach the Job Search - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career At times, I am amazed at people in transition who approach the job search the way we used to in the past. Looking for a job nowadays puts job seekers into extremely tough competitions unlike those of the past, and job seekers who do not both understand and apply the rules of the game will be waiting a long time for anything good to happen to them. Everything starts with your résumé. The résumé is, however, only marketing collateral and not a legal document even though many still think it is the latter. The résumé is tantamount to an entry ticket. It rarely provides information about personality traits but, rather, contains a list of skills and accomplishments. Many people today still take responsibility for writing their own résumés, often receiving help from others who may be quasi qualified by virtue of being executives or being in the human resources field. What a mistake! In my opinion, producing an outstanding résuméâ€"one that really stands out, hands down, and that is attractive, appealing, and intriguing and has the right keywords for Internet queriesâ€"is not to be approached like a hobby. This is the job of a certified professional résumé writer with years of experience and expertise. Once that’s done, the résumé provides sufficient material to create an equally effective LinkedIn profile. Don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re one and the same. A résumé should be tailored and tweaked specifically for the particular position one is applying for; the LinkedIn profile is more generic and should have the right keywords so that the profile gets found. If your LinkedIn profile doesn’t get found, you are irrelevant and nonexistent to prospective employers and job recruiters. The computer software that does candidate searches is rigid, exacting, and unforgiving. So, once you’re armed with the right tools and the right knowledge to compete, you’ll notice that instead of your having to call people, they’ll start calling you! Be aware that for recruiters, job candidates are merely inventory to be sold. Recruiters are not typically open for chitchat, because time is money. They need to quickly evaluate your candidacy in light of the position they’re trying to fill. And your good communication and interviewing skills are essential at this point: Do you know what you’re selling? Can you clearly and succinctly recite success stories from your past? Can you convince the person at the other end of the telephone line or the other side of the interviewing desk that you’re the ideal candidate for the position that needs to be filled? Good! Keep practicing, because practice makes perfect. Good luck to you.

Personal Branding Interview Judy Martin - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Interview Judy Martin - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke with Judy Martin, who is an Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist and has just launched her new blog today called Work Life Nation.   We talk about issues in the workplace that youre probably already familiar with, as well as her experiences using the different communication channels, such as radio and TV.   Then we debunk the myth of work/life balance, which I certainly dont believe in and finish up by talking about how startup companies should be building their company culture. If you could name the single most annoying thing about the workplace what would it be? The most annoying thing about the workplace is the fear-based mentality that if you dont overwork to the point of burnout you wont succeed. And while there is good reason to fall into that thought pattern by default due to the sluggish economy, its just not good for business. The poor economic data and soaring jobless numbers fuels the fear. And that then permeates the workplace leading rank and file into poor morale and an unproductive abyss. Such negative thinking weighs heavy on workers and can become an instrument of leverage for employers. Im not suggesting that all employers would use this leverage as a manipulative tool, but its reasonable to assume that no matter the sector all businesses have to do more with less. The pressure is on. While some companies are examining their work life culture and implementing work life balance or flexible initiatives in an effort to produce more productive employees, many remain in the fear-based mentality which has workers on edge concerned about boosting production in order to save their jobs. Can you tell my readers what its like being on TV or on the radio? How do people get those opportunities and what are the dynamics? Ive been working in TV news for nearly 20 years and in national radio for half of that time. The broadcast element to reporting adds a dimension and pressure of outward performance. Along with the process of breaking news, doing research, and interviews broadcast news comes with deadlines which in the past rivaled that of print and the web. In our current digital age however while there are deadlines in broadcast news, the urgency of on-line news trumps just about everything. Whoever has it first brings it to the world period As for anyone looking to get into broadcast news at this point my advice would be two fold: Know everything you can about the web, podcasting and video on the web. Have a niche and stay laser focused on it. Theres nothing new out there but there is a unique way to say it and a unique lens from which to say it as an expert in your field. You produce a podcast series and blog, after using traditional media to get your message across for years. What do you feel the difference is and what are the pros and cons of the various mediums? My podcasts and blog are generated by moi. I do have a radio engineer who i work with for the WorkLife Nation podcasts, but they are not typically straight interviews. My podcasts are more in depth as I present them as news features that you would hear on National Public Radio. Straight interviews are great and easier to do, but my news background often pushes me to want to deliver something tighter than a 5- minute interview. Im not knocking it its just my style of doing things. Currently, the WorkLife Nation podcast is available on the Public Radio Exchange, but because of the current economic climate and elections, I headed back to the TV newsroom as an anchor. So Im continuing as an anchor, but am now concentrating now more on the podcasts and in fact video podcasting moving forward. As for traditional media vs the blogosphere, Im a news person at heart just the facts so blogging was a brand new medium for me and thought pattern. I started blogging nearly three years ago with the WorkLife Monitor, which is now relaunching as WorkLife Nation. Even in my blogging however, I will generally call on my news background in my writing. What is your take on work/life balance? Do you believe in it? This is a loaded question. My belief is that work life balance is a journey not a destination. I prefer to look at it as work life integration. Thats why I came up with WorkLife Nation. I believe that we have entered a time in history in which, for many reasons, we have merged our working and living experience. There is a blur between the two worlds because we live in a 24/7 world which has become increasingly interconnected due to the internet and the melding of our global culture. The world is truly flat. There are a number of reasons for the merging of these worlds: We live in a 24/7 always-on environment. More people are working from home at odder hours to accommodate our global marketplace. People are working longer hours bordering on burnout to keep the boss happy, so the line between your out-time and where your in-time starts with your family is hard to differentiate. Were seeing more entrepreneurs and boomers interested in a more purposeful career than ever before- as people want to align their core human values with their work life. They are rewiring their careers in droves. Ultimately, the merge of the working and living experience takes thought, and requires time to figure out. As i mentioned, it is not a destination, it is a journey. Its a simple reality, if not attended to us humans will burn out. As former Secretary of State Colin Powell said on CNN last week about the incredible challenges our new president faces, hell have to, Deal with the crisis of the day, but not get consumed by it. If you just launched a start-up company, what would you build in the culture from the beginning? Im bias because of my interest in work life initiatives so thats the lens through which I speak and write. Its about navigating sensory overload while cultivating resilience toward better productivity. But to me its a mind set. I have to go back to my original premise for starting WorkLife Nation success, serenity and significance 24/7. Id design a culture that embraces the following ideas which to me exalts the human experience instead of squashing it. We are too distracted with info-overload and it can keep us from being human. Success: Redefining success by aligning an employees core values with their individual meaning and purpose at work. This might be looked upon as impractical, but that definition of success would be created and managed by the employee within the parameters of their position. Serenity: Cultivating resilience so an employees unique restorative skills can be revealed to navigate sensory stimulation and foster creativity. That might mean daily exercise, meditation or weekly team contemplative meetings in simplicity. Significance: Allowing workers to use their unique gifts to make a significant contribution to the world or company. Weve just witnessed great change here in America and its clear that were living in a world which is craving a collective up-tick in consciousness and sustainable behavior. Judy Martin is an Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist. She has emerged as a reporter and public speaker who gives an objective voice to social concerns, business news and the delicate balance of living and working with purpose, in an era of great uncertainty and chaos. Judy is a national radio contributor whose work has been heard on NPR News, The World, BBC Radio 3, The World Vision Report and The Marketplace Morning Report, where she spent nearly four years in the New York City Bureau. Judy also continues her affiliation with the News 12 Television Networks as an anchor/reporter. Judy has covered some of the greatest tragedies in recent history, including: the 9/11 Terror Attacks, Hurricane Andrew, and the 1989 Avianca Plane Crash.

5 Ways to Separate Yourself as a Job Seeker

5 Ways to Separate Yourself as a Job Seeker I was going through my LinkedIn Applications folder the other day and saw all of the applications sitting there. They were all for the same job so maybe seeing the same line of words repeated 50+ times in that folder made me think of it, but as a job seeker you need to separate yourself from the herd. In true head hunting it is all about finding the perfect candidate. But as much as every recruiter would like to tell you they are a modern day detective when it comes to finding people, the truth is a majority of positions will get filled through online applications. As a candidate you click apply and off goes your resume. Sure you are probably thinking you will be working for that company in 2 weeks, but so are hundreds of other candidates. It is on you to stand out to the hiring managers/recruiters who are doing the hiring. As one recruiter who I managed early on in my career once said; it is the pink envelope theory (place a pink envelope in a stack of white ones, and it will stand out). Below are 5 ways I highlight how you can be that pink envelope: 1) Read the job description in full  detail: This one seems pretty basic but it is probably the most overlooked. If a job says it requires 10 years of experience and a technical degree and you are junior level, chances are you won’t be getting a call anytime too soon. If you have to talk yourself into why you can look past the requirements, I can guarantee you that you will have little to no success talking the recruiter into your candidacy. 2) Reach out to the recruiter: Depending who you talk to this could be a no-no. But they aren’t writing this article, I am. And I can tell you this much; the candidates who message me directly about their resume will always get a longer or second look at their resume versus the candidates who don’t. We live in a very well connected world. You do not have to be a super spy to find the contact information of the person you are looking for. A quick search on Google, LinkedIn or Data.com will get you what you are looking for. With hundreds of resume’s it is easy to skip past one that is worth a second look. Reaching out directly to the person will get you that look. **Disclaimer** this does not guarantee an interview. Even after a second look, if you are not qualified I can do nothing for you. 3) Show off your work: Remember in 10th grade algebra when the teacher wouldn’t accept your final paper unless you show off your work? Well that doesn’t apply to just getting your high school degree. Let’s say I am hiring you to be my marketing manager or web developer. These positions have tangible results attached to them. In the case of the marketing manager it is to develop new marketing material for the company. For the web developer it is to give off a better web presence. In that case show your work to the prospective employer. Maybe send them a link to the website you created, or mail them some marketing material you made. As the saying goes, put your money where your mouth is. If you truly are as great at your job as you tell me than show me. I will be that much more inclined to speak to someone who has what I am looking for. For example when I was interviewing for my current job I showed my prospective employer all of the blogging I had been doing as it pertains to recruiting. I wanted them to know I just don’t recruit from 9-5, but it is something I am passionate about. 4) Do your research: By: Jisc Once your resume is selected for a phone or onsite interview the selection process doesn’t stop there. You may have made it past the hundreds of other applicants, but there is still competition for the position. If all things are considered equal, as a recruiter, I am always impressed with candidates who genuinely know information on my company. For example, this is no secret, but my company is planning on expanding into Korea. At the time this news was not all that public and I was interviewing a candidate who knew that and shared the information with me. It impressed me because it meant the candidate actually did their homework and really researched out company. They didn’t just come in regurgitating our “About Us” page on our website. It showed me the candidate was genuinely interested in being hired with my company and not just looking for another job. 5) Have an  interest in what the company does: I understand bills need to be paid and if you are out of work you will take any job that comes along. Please also understand that for most positions that doesn’t cut it. A company is not there to just help you get by. They are hiring you because you possess skills that will help them further their business. Which in turn will help you advance your career, a win for all. So when a recruiter or hiring manager asks you for your motivation to take the job, “more money” or “I need a job” does not cut it. The company wants to hire someone who has a genuine interest in their chosen career path and also the company who is hiring. For me taking the position I have now intrigued me because it was a global organization which would give me the exposure I had always been looking for. It was because I had a genuine interest in their business that I was positioned as a better candidate to propel their organization forward because I was engaged beyond just paying the bills. They weren’t looking for someone to just take up space. Take a little extra effort in your career path and you will be on the road to success. Unless you specialize in a field that .00001% of the general population knows about, there is going to be competition out there for the same job. And while you think your skills are exactly what the company is looking for, there are hundreds of other people who feel the same way.

College Students Guide to Resume Writing

College Student's Guide to Resume WritingIf you are a college student in search of ways to increase your chances of getting a job and what you really need is to resume writing. There are a lot of opportunities that await you that would like to hire people like you, but unfortunately only a few companies are actually doing that. And you want to be one of them!Resume writing is the method by which one can get the attention of the employer. It can be used for job interviews, job applications and as an objective of your future business. For many college students, it is the most important part of their career. You need to make sure that you are getting the best help that you can get in this regard.There are thousands of companies who offer very high quality resume writing, but not all of them have the same criteria. You may be very good at writing a resume, but you may not know what the requirements are for the job. It is therefore important that you use some tips so that you will be able to complete the job and get the desired results.If you do not have an idea about what to put on your resume, then you should check out the Internet and see if there are any websites that will help you write a resume. There are sites that allow you to choose your writing style and submit your resume to a number of different companies. You will get the feedback from them and you will be able to assess your level of ability to write resumes.Now that you have an idea of what you should include in your resume, you should ensure that you stay within the parameters. Remember that each resume should be unique, because you are applying for one specific job, so it is necessary that your resume reflects this. Also, avoid using your college experience as it might be judged against a current resume, and therefore you should avoid it.Remember also that resumes are only for a limited period of time and therefore you need to make sure that you are following up the requirements, so that you will no t be ignored. A job interview is only for a few days so you should ensure that you submit your resume ahead of time. This will help you be given an interview as early as possible.There are several other tips that you should keep in mind when you write a resume, as well. For instance, you need to ensure that your resume has all the necessary information about you, including your contact details. This will enable you to send a resume to any company that you want, provided you are satisfied with the response. Also, you should be clear about what the main purpose of your resume is.Being a college student can be a challenge but you should also know that it is a chance to start a new life. But as you become a professional, resume writing will play a greater role in your life. So make sure that you are ready to face the world with all its challenges and try to apply these simple tips to make sure that you are equipped with the skills that you need for your career.

Summary Sunday The Language of Job Search

Summary Sunday The Language of Job Search This weeks summary contains articles to help you better understand the language of job search. Job seekers say and do things differently when they are in job search mode. But they really should  use the same logic they use in their work lives. Youll find out exactly what to say when requesting informational meetings, how to interview with someone who is younger, learn about LinkedIn tips recruiters use and more! Plus,  two new updates to technology you should know about. NETWORKING Email Informational Interview Requests (with Samples) by Susan P. Joyce | Job-Hunt.org This starts out with some basic etiquette for networking meetings. Then there are four examples of email messages you can adapt and use to reach out to people. If you struggle to put together an email, these will certainly help. NEW TECHNOLOGY LinkedIn Launches its Own Variation of Live-Streaming Called LinkedIn Live by Andrew Hutchinson | Social Media Today Video is truly king! Facebook, Instagram and others have embraced sharing live video and now LinkedIn is jumping in! Did you know: according to internal LinkedIn data,  LinkedIn users are  20x more likely  to share a video on the platform than any other type of post. Live video is not the same as recorded video, it allows users to interact during the broadcast. But if you havent tried using video yet, now would be the time. Skype Can Now Blur Your Background So You Dont Have to Frantically Tidy Your Room by  Victoria Song | Gizmodo If you use Skype, youll be happy to read about this new feature that works on your  laptop or desktop version! INTERVIEWING The Little Known Secret to Interviewing Successfully with Younger Managers by Lisa Rangel | Chameleon Resumes If youre on the older side of the spectrum and find yourself interviewing with younger managers, you really need to read what Lisa has to say! THINK LIKE A RECRUITER Using LinkedIn Recruiter: 7 Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of It by Bruce Anderson | LinkedIns Talent Blog These tips will help you understand the time-saving techniques in house recruiters can use when using LinkedIn Recruiter package to search for new talent. Think about what YOU will do differently on LinkedIn based on this information. CAREER NYT’s David Gelles on loving your work, hating your work, and working with those you love by David Gelles | LinkedIn In this summary article, Davide Gelles references workplace trends and experts who dole out advice on how to succeed! IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Three Preventable Communication Mishaps Job Seekers Make Start Your Career Planning Now

I am completely stunned by the Woohoo Partner program - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

I am completely stunned by the Woohoo Partner program - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Just got an email from our new Woohoo Partner in Canada, Danielle, who wrote that: I have been immersed in the Woohoo Partner Curriculum. It?s fantastic!! I am completely stunned by the quantity and quality of material you?ve prepared. Thanks, Danielle :) If you might like to partner with us, read more?here. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related