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1. Job Search Advice
From Mike Wills
Marcia,
I'd like to share with you some very good advice that I received on job hunting. First of all, understand the purpose of a CV which is not to get a job but to get an interview. The purpose of a CV from an employer's point of view is to help them eliminate unsuitable candidates so don't put in more than is needed and try to whet their appetite for an interview. Appended at the end of this listing are some CV Do's and Don'ts - not all of which are intuitive. Try checking out your clients' CVs against them.
Next, your clients should select two or three of their contacts who you can also count as friends and arrange a meeting so that they can give some careers advice and advice on the CV. People like being asked advice, but they should never be put on the spot by being asked for a job or being asked whether they have any vacancies. Towards the end of the meeting thank them for their advice and ask them if they know a couple of people who have particular knowledge in the fields that they recommended.
Now contact these people and say that the previous contact (use their name) recommended them as a good source of advice and could a meeting be arranged with them. Again, don't ask for a job, but ask for the names of two further contacts.
Keep on repeating this process and your clients will never run out of contacts and an expanding network of people will know that they are in the job market.
I also publish a weekly careers advice.
CV DO's and Don'ts
- At least 80gsm, preferably 100gsm, paper
- A4, stiff-backed, envelope
- Don't use Curriculum Vitae as a title
- Name, bold, top-centre
- Address, including post code
- Phone number(s) including dialling code
- No more than three sides of A4
- Ensure it is easy to photocopy
- Don't send a photograph
- Use a word processor
- Do not emphasise age, marital status, number of children, nationality etc.
- Date of birth - not age
- Don't sell experience in terms of time
- Project a youthful self-image
- Don't put your salary on a CV
- 'Full' not 'Clean' driving licence - and only if necessary
- Modify job titles to assist clarity
- Don't give the impression of being a 'quitter'
- Don't apologise for failed, self-employment
- Leave out interests unless relevant
- Include only relevant training courses - don't appear to be a perpetual student
- Give only title and employer for early jobs
- Dates on right hand side
- Use years, not months
- Choose a style that is compatible with your profession
- Don't use 'I want'; 'I'm looking for'.
- Use present tense
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