Some employers actively look for reasons not to employ you. It is easier to find flaws in a person and decide which candidates have the least, rather than compare their skills and achievements. This is why it is important to show them only weaknesses you want them to see.

In CV writing it is important to understand what will be considered to be a weakness in the job you are applying for. One job's weakness is another job's strength. A weakness or a perceived weakness by a recruiter can have a huge impact on your chance to be called for an interview.

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It has never been easier to get free CV templates and samples that you can download or use from the Internet. Hundreds of websites offer free CV templates but many job seekers that have used them were disappointed with the lack of positive responses from the potential employers.

These samples or templates normally look alike, which makes it difficult for recruiters to distinguish between the candidates. The original CV stands out among the thousands of preformatted CVs.

Disadvantages

Considering the fact that your CV is your introduction or even distant answer to possible interview questions, then you should try to stand out. Most of the preformatted CVs don't offer you this opportunity.

You can use a sample if you only use the basic outline and advice, but you must be creative and changes fonts, colors and where needed, make changes to the lay-out to fit your application.

When can you use free CV templates?
Use the samples or templates when you have just graduated or don't have experience in job searching. You can even use the templates when you have written several resumes without success. The samples should be used to get an understanding of what recruiters look for, the type of information that should be includes and excluded, as well as proper style and format guidelines. Create your own CV after you have practiced with some of the free CV templates.

Advantages

• It provides you insight to what tools and writing styles the other work seekers will use; thus the standard. Always aim higher than the standard.
• It provides an outline of the format so that the recruiter can find the relevant information at a glance.
• It can be used as a guideline to what information is needed and what the current trend in job applications is.

The recruiter will judge you on the appearance of you CV. If it lacks signs of originality and creative thinking, you may not get the interview even when you are the best candidate for the job.

Most recruiters have piles of CVs to evaluate and have limited time for the assessment. They normally scan through the stack of résumés or CVs and throw out anything that is not interesting enough. Only the shortlist bunch gets a second look. The whole process is based on the content, format, lay-out and originality. It is thus worth the effort to be original.

The three stages of selection can be summarized in the following way:

The first glance

A recruiter will glance at the first page of each CV and if it seems worth keeping, he will also have a quick look at the second page. The longest CVs normally end up in the bin unless a full history of the candidate is required. The CV must be three or less pages. CVs without an introduction or quick summary of the candidate and the skills or relevant qualifications also get a place in the trash can. Long descriptive paragraphs and sentences earmark the CV for the bin. Poor formatting and grammar mistakes are also frowned upon. After the first glance there are usually only a third of the CVs left.

The second glance

If your CV made it to this point, you already have a 30% chance of getting to the interview. The recruiter has another look at each CV to establish whether the applicant's skills, qualifications, career history and motivation match the job requirements. The recruiter must be able to identify this from the first page of the resume or CV.

The in-depth look

The remaining CV's are scanned and then matched with all the criteria. The CV's are not thrown out any longer but the best possible candidates are picked.

The final examination

It is only at this stage that the recruiter examines the content from the rest of the CV in more detail and is looking for those skills, signs of innovative thinking, leadership, trustworthiness, and specific achievements that make the candidate right for the specific job.

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Normally the first mistake in writing a CV stems from the lack of experience in selling yourself on paper. Job seekers constantly focus on their previous duties and their future expectations. The recruiter has to sift through pages of non-relevant biographical data to find some indication of why the particular candidate is the ideal person for the job. The difference between getting an interview and an extremely long job search lies in the content, lay-out, and professionalism portrayed through the CV.

• Examples, templates, guidelines and advice on good CV writing and cover letters.
• Guidance on interviews
• Career advice
• International job resources
• Information on how to post a CV online
• Specific types of CVs such as the chronological, targeted, functional or combination types
• Assistance with weaknesses
  

Resume writing for different countries and business cultures

Most recruiters won't give a second glance at a CV with spelling mistakes, cluttered pages and irrelevant information. The team at CvTips.com teaches candidates the secrets of good CV writing, avoiding mistakes, and assists in customizing the CV to be relevant for the current global business environment.

The CV is by and large the only document a recruiter has to evaluate the job candidate before the interview. It should thus distinguish you from other candidates. A person may fail to get the interview because the CV said more about what the company can do for the worker, than what the candidate can contribute to the enterprise. The CV should reflect your biggest accomplishments and must be concise enough to glance through and get a good impression of your abilities. Too long CV's don't get read and vague and general descriptions will not suffice.

Employers and providers are looking for the following:

• Transferable skills and job proficiency that comes from experience
• Tactical and strategic planning capabilities
• Resourcefulness and analytical thinking skills
• Good verbal, and writing communication skills
• The ability to manage and delegate tasks
• Reliability and trustworthiness
• Originality and determination to succeed
• Leadership qualities

Companies are no longer desperate to find the right employees since the demand for jobs far outweigh the supply. Whereas job seekers could afford to provide general CVs in the past, they now have to write targeted CV's. The functional CV is more effective than a long formal job description. The American type resume is now more popular than a three or four page CV of a few years ago. Recruiters in the digital economy have limited time and thus only scan through the information. Bulleted lists of achievements and possible contributions to the company make it easier to select the right candidate.

The CV of today must have an introduction in the form of a summary of how the candidate can add value to the company. The document should also end in a sketch of the candidate's skills, achievements, assets, and experience.

The Internet has opened a new recruitment style and the possibility to hire people from around the globe; making the CV even more important as the first impression tool. We can expect an increase in Internet recruitment and as such more emphasis will be placed on shorter and e-mail or online friendly resumes.

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Many times organizations will ask for a one-page summary CV. This means that they need to know only the matter which is strictly relevant to the job they are offering and hence you need to keep this in mind when you write your CV. The one page summary CV is a perfect letter of introduction when large companies invite for recruitment. In this case a great number of CVs will be received and the person who will need to short-list the CVs will have very little time to peruse the resume - sometimes as little as 6 seconds only. In this case, a brief and to-the-point one page summary resume would be ideal.

Many times organizations will ask for a one-page summary CV. This means that they need to know only the matter which is strictly relevant to the job they are offering and hence you need to keep this in mind when you write your CV. The one page summary CV is a perfect letter of introduction when large companies invite for recruitment. In this case a great number of CVs will be received and the person who will need to short-list the CVs will have very little time to peruse the resume - sometimes as little as 6 seconds only. In this case, a brief and to-the-point one page summary resume would be ideal.

A one-page summary CV will also be a good idea when you are sending a speculative request for a job, i.e. when you apply to a company for any suitable opening. A brief cover letter explaining you plus points and preferences followed by a summary CV would gain you enough curiosity to be called for an interview, if vacancies exist.

What should be included in the one-page summary CV?

• 1. Educational qualification (with the highest degree mentioned first) - written in tabular form to take the least space without compromising on information
• 2. Experience (in reverse chronology) highlighting those aspects which are the best match for the job you are applying
• 3. Important and job-pertaining extra skills (technical or soft skills or both) - mention here only those skills which can add value to your CV and not everything you did from college till date
• 4. Personal details (remember to include only those particulars which are strictly necessary)

Keep in mind that when you are required to write a one-page summary resume - it should be just that, i.e. a summary. Not only it should be as brief as possible, it should also be as perfectly matched as possible to be effective. In order to write this successfully, first make a list of all the qualities and skills you possess on a piece of paper. Also draw up a list of what skills/ qualities the job for which you are applying would need. Identify those skills which are the closest matches and cut out the rest.

Concentrate to cover the best part of the paper with your educational qualifications, skills and experience, keeping the least space for the personal details which should be limited to the must-have-information level only.

Whether you need to submit a one-page resume or a two-page CV, always ensure that it has a cover letter which:

• 1. is addressed to the right person (by name and/or designation)
• 2. has a subject line where the post applied for is clearly mentioned (in case it is a speculative CV, then indicate your preference such as marketing department, or backend office, or R&D department, etc)
• 3. is types in the same type set as the CV
• 4. gives a brief introduction to self and explains the reasons why you are applying for the job
• 5. is friendly and invites attention to the CV
• 6. expresses clearly a sincere wish to join the company in a suitable capacity

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Your CV is the only thing that the employer has in hand that will give hime an impression about you. Hence, everything in a CV - the paper, the presentation, the language, and the overall looks - describes you.

• 1. The paper you use for the CV should be of a decent quality; while you should not really count your pennies when you purchase the paper, you should not go overboard either. Too shabby or too gaudy papers will have the same result - impression of bad taste
• 2. Use only blue or black ink for printing your CV; never use red to highlight and though there are no rules against using other colors, it does not leave a good impression if the CV is sent in green, violet or any other fancy colors; for highlighting, use bold face. However, if you are applying for an copy writer job, or a TV advertising job or anything creative, the more artistic you do your CV the better, because it will showcase your talent along with your qualifications
• 3. The cover letter should match the CV paper and letters type-set
• 4. Do not use typeset smaller than 11 pts because it makes it difficult to read; use Arial, Times New Roman as font. Do not use handwriting or any artistic fonts for the CV
• 5. The standard margins for the CV should be 1 in on all sides; in case you need you may reduce the side margins to maximum 0.5; ensure that the typed matter is in the center of the page
• 6. Check for typographical errors manually, as many times automatic spell checks create major howlers; if you want to use a new word use a dictionary, but avoid as much as possible to use words that you are not sure about; you may not get the right connotation as the reader will know that you are not familiar with the word
• 7. What the CV should include depends very much upon what the job entails. The following are some of the must-include contents:

• a. Start with a two-three sentence overview (your skills, your exceptional qualities, future plans and hopes) which will egg the employer read on
• b. Educational qualifications
• c. Additional training (technical training or soft skills)
• d. Work experience (in reverse chronology, with the last job you had, mentioned first)
• e. Additional responsibilities (outside your designation and/or job description - if pertaining to the job applied)
• f. Job specific skills which you possess (only if pertaining to the job)
• g. Personal details (name, sex, address, phone numbers, email id, date of birth, marital status, and so on)
• h. Interests (be brief here, unless it is something that will enhance the skills required by the job)
• i. References are most of the times a guarantee you offer that what you say stands true; provide two (and inform the people you name as references about it) or inform that you will provide if asked

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There are many ways to write a CV correctly and what is the information that should go in it. The following guidelines will give you a good idea of what you should do to create a winning CV.

• 1. Some times the region or the country or even the company has a prescribed order of presentation. Ensure you have the right style of presentation, because if they are used to see the CVs in some order and they get it in another, they will not have the patience or time to reorganize their thoughts to follow your style of presentation, and your CV will be summarily rejected.
• 2. Treat your CV as an advertisement for yourself. Why should the employer choose you? Put this question to yourself and write the CV in such a way that answer should be evident. (For example the employer wants a good PR Manager, what skills would be attractive, what qualifications would be attractive, what achievements would be most impressive for this profile, what traits would be best for this job, etc all these should be highlighted and clearly evident in your CV).
• 3. Be as much to-the-point as possible; the employer would have to go through some hundred CVs in one hour, or some times even less than that - hence the time for perusing one CV would be about 5-6 seconds. In 6 seconds the employer should get the relevant information from your CV so he/she can decide whether you are suitable or not. Your CV will have only 6 seconds to make an impression.
• 4. Before you send your application (CV) to the job, ask a senior person or colleague preferably in the same line in which you are applying, to go through your CV in 10 seconds and get their feedback; do they see you as a suitable candidate? If it is not obvious to them, your CV may not be written as efficiently as you would have wanted it to be. Redo it incorporating the critiques received.
• 5. To make your CV completely tailor-made for the job (and enhance your chance as the best match) you need to:
• a. Research about the job in general (what it involves as responsibility, qualifications, growth, and goals)
• b. Research about the company (its goals, its products, its financial get-up, its past success, its future plans)
• c. Research about the description of the job in the present company (from present employees, ex-employees, direct approach or the Internet)
• d. A good source for all the above are the company's own public report, news and website in the past 1-2 years
• 6. If you have publications, a long list of training programs attended, out-of-the-way job descriptions that would impress the employer for the present job, and the like annex the details to the CV.

You will know your CV is a winner, if it matches the requirements almost to the T or it gives it a little extra in terms of qualifications or experience or traits.

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The bottom line for you to write a CV is to get the job you are applying for, which makes this document a very important one. Hence, a good CV will never be generalized like an all-purpose application. It would be rather very target specific written specially with that organization in mind, matching your best talents and qualification with the particular job's requirement. In other words, the CV should make it obvious to the prospective employer that you are the right candidate for the job. Remember that your CV is actually a key to the interview. Unless the reader feels interested enough from reading your CV, your key will not work; and unless you reach the interview stage, you cannot hope to get the job.

Hence, the CV should be written from the point of view of the reader. Also be aware that the prospective employer may get hundreds of applications hence the ones which are best organized and brief will hold his/her attention. Keep the following guidelines in your mind when you write your CV:

• The CV should be accurate and correct
• Your contact information should be clearly visible on the first page of the CV
• Your CV should be typed in a easy-to-follow format, i.e. the headlines should be indented and highlighted so as to catch the attention of the reader easily (this is very helpful when a person wants to get a fast look at your CV)
• The best way to write about your experience, is to write is backwards, i.e. the last job you had first and then the rest backwards chronologically
• Though sometimes your achievements need to be elaborated to bring out the best fit, preferably they should be listed in a bullet point format. The bullet points should act as headlines in case you need expansion
• Have a 'why do I feel I am suitable right candidate for the job' headline on the very first page, where you can give summarize the relevant information for the benefit of the employer
• If you have had any skills development training, or additional hands-on experience be sure to include it in your CV
• Your qualification should be presented clearly and concisely starting with the highest degree and working backwards
• Give two unrelated references (when you do inform the person thus names so they would be prepared if the prospective employer contacts them) or mention that references would be provided if required
• Do not forget to write your areas of personal interest, such as hobbies
• In case you know other languages, and/or have additional skills which do not fall in the purview of the job your are applying for, write them under 'other information'; the more you knowledge you have the more valuable you will look - even if it does not have direct bearing on the present job

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The basic function of a CV is to present relevant information about yourself to the prospective employer. Though the definition sounds simple, there are a lot of angles to the presentation of a CV or curriculum vitae or biodata as is commonly known, which mostly depends upon what type of a job you are applying for. However, whatever be the type of the CV, the basics would remain constant. A good CV:

A good CV should :

• Be preceded by a neat cover letter which is addressed by name or authority (designation) to the person who is in charge of recruiting or the chief of the organization (be careful here that you have right name, it is spelled right, and has the right and exact designation); the cover letter should summarize in two-five lines why you think you would be fit for the job showcasing your best talents to match the requirements of the job (and add a little extra)
• Represent accurately all the relevant to the job information (personal and professional)
• Be crisp and highly informative (make sure you do not have any long winding sentences while describing experience and other traits)
• Be written well to make an interesting reading for the prospective employer, highlighting you best achievements (avoid tabulated form unless the information requires it, such as your education)
• Highlight your match to the job through relevant experience, qualification and personal traits (some examples are, good communication skills, friendliness, dependability, fast learning ability, etc)
• Be tailor made (or rather written) to match the exact requirements of the proposed job, to the best possibility
• Follow the standard format of the country or region, such as the order of the presentations of information (in some places the personal information precedes all other information, while in many places this is presented at the end)
• Written in impeccable language (which ever language the CV is written) grammatically
• Absolutely free of any spelling errors (as a matter of fact this is one of the highest quoted reasons for rejection of the CV)
• Preferably typed neatly on good quality paper; if typing is not possible, it should be written neatly in legible handwriting (there should be no cuts or additions on the handwritten page)
• Preferably give two good unrelated references or mention that references may be given on request

A good CV will not only be tailor made for the job you are applying for, will also match carefully all your talents and capabilities to the requirements of the job specifically and the goals of the company overall. Your CV should make your candidature for the job look like it is a win-win situation to the company to employ you, i.e. the company will profit from engaging you just as much as you would profit from being part of the company.

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If you are applying for various jobs but which are all in the same industry, you could write a profile that applies to all jobs in that particular industry. However it is preferable if you write your personal profile for each individual position.

If the profile is tailor-made to the job vacancy then the employer will read the rest of the CV whilst bearing in mind that you are a possible match. A personal profile on your CV is a teaser or hook so the employer will investigate you more by reading the rest of your CV.

Keywords are a powerful tool in your CV and should be used! Use keywords to summarize your experience. Keywords will also help ensure that your CV comes up when employers search in their CV databases.

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Successfully applying for a job means showing your employer that you are mores suitable than the other candidates. Job application numbers for a particular vacancy vary from tens to hundreds. You will usually need to be short-listed among the first twenty in order be offered an interview. Only CVs that have impressed the employer will make it to this stage.

When recruiting people, employers reduce the CV list to around forty to fifty candidates. The difference between the chosen candidates and the others is a well presented CV and cover letter.

What did they do differently?

The way they presented their achievements. In this tutorial we will explain how you can word your achievements in a more suitable manner. Employers are attracted to achievements because they want the applicant to repeat them in their own business.

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We all know what a CV should contain, and in general terms how it should be arranged on the page. Inspite of knowing all the technicalities, people still commit the mistake of writing a run-of-the-mill CV with the same headlines, the same order of ideas, and the same general matter in a dull business language. In this way the CV looks indeed as a poor copy of a standard template.

The formatting should be backed up by the right information of course, but in order to have a good flow of ideas, the CV should have a building-up style of presentation. You start at the personal details, or educational qualification and slowly build up to show how your talents are best suited for the job at hand.

Bullet points look perfect when listing job responsibilities, or personal traits, or overall achievements headings. However, if the bullet points do not have an anchor which explains what they are, it will be difficult for the CV to really hold the prospective employer's interest.

Do not state the obvious - depending upon the job achievements do not re-inforce certain traits which are self-evident such as good leadership, good communications skills, etc. Go ahead and use the paper for traits that are not visible from what you have presented so far. For example you are successful marketing manager - it is understood that you are a good strategist - but you could also add that you are a tough negotiator who saved a great deal of money to the company. This would be a trait that would add value to your CV and identify you as having good potential.

The impression of the paper presentation - the quality of the paper, the arrangements of the text, its font, typesetting will create an unwitting impact on the prospective employer. Be sure that you use this trait to your advantage. Use the skills of a good typist and/or word processor to make your CV a work of art.

Each and every aspect of your CV should work towards creating the right impression with the employer. This will be done with the help of a lot of research to know what he/she wants in the first place. Search the net and libraries for reports and news, ask around old and present employees and use the information to form a critical focus on your best talents and traits.

Writing a CV is hard work - do not kid yourself that it is any other way. It is not just the way you put together your personal data - but rather the way you arrange that personal and professional data to attract the attention and interest of the prospective employee. It is an art that has to be perfected with time, patience and practice. It is the most important tool in job searching since it gives the opening line to the employer and thus creates the first impression about you in his/her mind.

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There are five major CV styles:

• Targeted CV
• Inventory CV
• Chronological CV
• Functional CV
• Combination CV

Each CV style is suitable for different situations. Follow the links above to learn more about each CV style.

CV Writing Considerations

More important than your CV format is the actual content of your CV and how it is presented. You only have a limited time to show your skills and capture the reader's attention. Make sure the most important information is in the top third of the CV document. Your skills summary, objective or personal profile will achieve this objective.

A CV must have focus. When a recruiter reads your CV he should understand your career path. Always keep your objective in mind while writing your CV.

Avoid lengthy and boring job descriptions; whenever possible, write your job description in bullet point form. Make sure potential employers will understand how they will benefit from employing you. The employers need to see your achievements and understand how you are able to implement these achievements in your company.

Examples of accomplishments would be: save money, increase turn over or profits, improved productivity, better customer quality. Include actual figures where available.

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• No leadership skills or managerial experience
• Missing skills, knowledge and/or experience
• Patchy career history
• Employment gaps
• Many employers
• Having worked for only one employer
  

It's important you understand what your weaknesses are. You will be questioned during the interview about anything unclear in your CV and should be prepared for such questions. Balance your weaknesses with achievements.

If there is a clear unbalance between the job requirements and your skills and experience, you will not be offered the job. One should then investigate how to bridge the gap. If education is an issue then a course or formal qualification could help you compete with the other candidates.

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The Functional CV is usually two pages in length and covers your entire career history. Unlike the most common chronological CV it focuses not on your career history but on your skills, abilities and expertise. It may not even refer to a specific industry, as the skills as detailed are deemed transferable.

It is important that the skills you detail are relevant to the position you are applying for. It is no use highlighting your great accounts experience if the position is in sales. You should highlight your achievements in a sales environment and focus on relevant aspects of that field of work.

A Functional CV format is useful if:

• You lack experience or have gaps in your work history; these can be de-emphasized in a functional CV while your skills and potential are highlighted.
• You have changed jobs frequently and have had a variety of unrelated work experiences.
• You want to promote skills and experience obtained through college or volunteer experience.
• You are changing careers or re-entering the job market, perhaps after taking a career break to be a full time parent.
• Your most recent work experience is not relevant to the job, but past experience is.
• You have been working freelance or in temporary employment.
• You do not want to advertise your age.

A functional CV format is less useful if:

• You have little work experience and thus not much to highlight.
• You have a progressive career history, which reflects promotions, and growth and you want to emphasize that.

What is the layout of a Functional CV?

• The Functional CV starts with a Profile that highlights specific skills, achievements and relevant personal qualities.
• Grouped beneath subheadings, you should then present your range of skills and abilities beginning with the most important. Present the functions as bullet points. Rather than focusing on experience in a particular job, detail your abilities as demonstrated in that job in such a way as to show that they are transferable to the job applied for. As previous employers are not mentioned by name you can include voluntary and unpaid work.
• Following this section is a list of employers and employment dates.
• Qualifications are covered next including professional and academic qualifications.
• The Functional CV may conclude with a brief outline of your personal details, hobbies and interests.

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The Inventory CV is used when sending your CV to:

• Various recruiters
• When you do not have a specific job objective

This kind of CV is a more general overview of your skills, achievements and qualifications. A general objective or career strategy behind an inventory CV helps in being slightly more specific towards your career goals.

General career goals can be:

• "a secretary working with a local company"
• "a computer programmer"
• "a sales person"

Having a general career objective in mind can help you focus on those particular skills, abilities and experience required for the job. Your CV should show that you are competent by demonstrating your relevant previous experience and qualifications. If you are unemployed or desperate to switch jobs, the inventory CV is a good time saver. You can write a custom cover letter for each job you apply for and you can send the same CV to all recruiters. If you are interested in several careers write several inventory CVs each for a particular career goal.

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The combination CV format is normally used by job hunters who have a solid background associated with their career objectives . You will include sections that highlight your education and experience, followed by the job history. Use the combination CV when you have a definite career path and a targeted job area that is related to your job history and experience. This type of CV combines the best of the functional and the chronological CV styles. You can also use it when each position or job had unique responsibilities and when a shorter type of CV would not suffice. List responsibilities, and or accomplishments and skills developed after each job experience or training listing. Stay focused; use less rather than more words. Begin each sentence or idea with a verb, for instance, Awarded, Assisted etc.

Advantages of the combination CV

• Combines the best of the chronological and functional CV writing styles.
• Emphasizes your achievements and strengths, as well as experience
• Starts with a profile, followed by job history, which is ideal for getting the attention of the employer.
• Focuses on important skills which are supported by the job history.
• Accomplishments are noticed.

Disadvantage of combination CV:

• It is lengthy.
• If you fail to get attention through the profile, the recruiter may not even read the job history division.

Don't use the combination CV when:

• Your work experience is limited.
• You have several or unexplained employment gaps.
• You changed jobs frequently.

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Make sure that you have common weaknesses or, even better, turn your weaknesses into strengths.

• Switch something from a weakness to strength.
• Highlight other skills that make up for the weakness

For example:

• If you never went to university, you need to emphasize your job experience.
• If you are new to the field of work, try to show your qualifications and related hobbies
• If you have worked for small companies, you could, for example, try to highlight the benefits of having to solve a lot of problems on your own with tight budgets

Have a friend or yourself look at weaknesses in your career through your CV. Which points would potential employers be likely to question you about?

Once you prepare answers to common questions you're able to start tackling the more difficult parts of your interview and tune your CV accordingly.

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This kind of CV is a way to focus your career towards a particular objective, within a specific industry or a specific company.

A targeted CV is written in a way that highlights skills, qualifications and experience that match the requirements of the advertised position. Writing a targeted CV is effective when:

• You know the requirements of a particular position
• You know which company you will be sending your CV to
• You are sending your CV in reply to a specific job advert
• You need to compose different CVs each corresponding to a different career objective

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The chronological CV is named thus as it details your career history most commonly in reverse chronological order with the most recent employment detailed first and working backwards. A complete record of career history is detailed along with a complete education record. It is the most frequently used CV and is usually 2 sides of A4 in length.

Job Titles and company names are emphasized with skills, duties and achievements detailed under each job title. A chronological CV is most useful if you are staying within the same industry and wish to show career progression.

Additionally, if your employer was a familiar household name, it may be wise to highlight that as often they set a precedent for the type of people they employ so the mere mention of their company name may be enough to demonstrate that you are a high caliber candidate.

Most employers prefer the chronological CV formats, as it is easy to see who you have worked for and what you did in each particular job. If you do not have many achievements you can take the emphasis off this fact when using a Chronological CV.

Reasons why a chronological CV may not be the best format include:

• If you are changing direction and the most recent employer is not relevant to your new chosen career.
• If your career history shows gaps in your employment due to poor health, unemployment, having children etc or that you have changed jobs frequently.

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The group interview is more stressful than the panel interview. You will be "interviewed" in a group. All the candidates/job seekers will be in the same room during the interview.

The group interview will show

• Leadership qualities
• Stress
• Communication with possible team mates
• How the candidate will face the public and customers
• What level of knowledge candidates have
• How knowledge is used in a discussion

Show your opinion but let the other candidates speak. Ignore any candidates who are too aggressive or make any personal remarks. Try to avoid getting in one to one conversations. It is always a good idea to have the final statement in a group interview.

Generally this is not the final interview and short listed candidates will have a panel or one to one interview.

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When employers issue a job vacancy they get hundreds of CVs in return. Processing each one of them manually is a very expensive task. Most employers scan the CVs to insert them into a database. This database is then scanned for the most suitable candidates. This is called the "short listing phase". If your CV is machine readable there is a better chance that your CV is inserted and reviewed correctly.

Some CV tips to make your CV more scanable:

• Use common fonts such as Times, Helvicta etc.
• Font size should be between 10 and 14 points.
• Line spacing should be set at 1.5.
• Use capital letters for section headers.
• Avoid fancy styles such as any word art or italics.
• Graphics and other non standard text should be avoided.
• Write your CV in one column format (not in newspaper style).
• List phone numbers on different lines.
• Use A4 paper.
• Use white paper.
• Print on only one side of the paper.
• Avoid dot matrix printouts.
• Avoid low quality photocopies.
• Use laser printed originals where possible.
• Avoid staples and folding.

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Documents and materials need to write a CV:

• Job descriptions for all positions held
• Performance reviews
• Educational transcripts and records of seminars/conferences attended since high school.
• References

The above documents are best collected throughout your career and saved as these will make writing your CV much easier in the future.

It can be difficult to remember all the responsibilities you had on previous jobs but a detailed CV is essential for a successful job hunt. The human resource department or your direct supervisor can provide you with your current job description and you can contact previous employers in order to get previous job descriptions.

Performance reviews are what your employers think of your attitude and productivity at work. These are generally used to identify training needs and salary reviews. Potential employers will be interested in these documents. The way you performed in your previous jobs is a good indication of what your future employers can expect of you and this information will therefore be used to judge your suitability for the position.

Keep your qualifications in a safe place. If you lose any, schools and universities can provide you other copies. Letters of reference are given to employees when they leave a job (if they have done a good job!). It is always a good idea to include copies of these letters in your job application.

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An online CV is a CV which is written to be uploaded in the Cyber Space. There are a lot of differences between the regular CV and the electronic CV as it is commonly known and this is because it has another medium of transmission, i.e. the computers. Hence, when you are writing for computer you need the ground rules for that domain:

• 1. Length - CVs need to be crisp and short; most of the times the electronic CV is a door-card; if the companies/ placement agencies like what they see they will get back to you for details
• 2. Compatibility - your CV should be uploadable on any computer - old or new - so do not use the latest technology in typing it lest you will frustrate those using older versions of the software
• 3. Format - as per the point made above, the formatting also needs to be in the simplest form so as not to create problems of compatibility; hence the CV should be uploaded in plaint text format or ASCII
• 4. Visibility - In order to be 'seen' on the internet you need to use specific (to the job you want to attract) keywords; keywords are the way you 'highlight' important things in your CV
• 5. Keywords - Using keywords appropriately will increase your visibility with the employer manifold. You should first understand that keywords are the means by which a prospective employer searches for an appropriate CV. Hence, you should know how to use these correctly to bring optimum effects
• a. Use keywords and phrase keywords that are specific to (i) skill set, (ii) industry, (iii) experience and (iv) job
• b. Add a great number of different types of keywords as any of the relevant keyword may attract your CV for perusal
• c. Use extremely descriptive and sharp keywords (for best selection, think what would you type in the search bar if you were looking for the job you are applying for; make a lit of all the words that come to your mind, and then try to incorporate as many as you can in the CV without spoiling its informative backbone)
• 6. Content - your online CV should contain in the one-and-half pages your name and coordinates (include a website if you have a good one), a job title by which mostly your CV will be searched (such as excellent secretary, experienced civil engineer, fast and accurate decoder, etc), profile of your skills, experience, education, additional skills - all of these should be written in reverse chronological order. Be as brief as you can. If the summary is good, the employer will contact you

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A Europass CV is one of 5 documents that make up a Europass.

The Europass is a system that was introduced as a means of standardising the format for recording skills/qualifications and experience so that they are understood in Europe and candidate countries. It was officially launched 31st January 2005 in Luxembourg.

The Europass CV replaces the European CV, which was introduced in 2002. The Europass is supported by National Europass Centres.

So whether you want to enrol for an education programme or are seeking work, this set of documents can assist you with overcoming barriers that may exist between countries in Europe with regard to understanding differences in qualifications and competencies etc. The Europass is as helpful to employers and education providers as it is to students and job seekers as it helps them to understand what people changing countries have to offer.

The five Europass documents consist of:

Europass curriculum vitae (CV) and Europass Language Passport which you complete yourself and Europass Certificate Supplement, Europass Diploma Supplement and Europass Mobility which are completed for you.

Who needs a Europass?

• If you are seeking employment in another country in Europe
• If you are entering higher education of wish to join a training programme
• Employers and education providers may wish to recognise qualifications as issued by other European countries and also skills.

What does the Eurpass do?

• Europass details your qualifications and skills
• Europass is a standardised document stored electronically
• Europass provides you with recognition for your non-accredited learning and work experiences
• Europass enables you to study and work abroad
• Europass enables you to overcome linguistic barriers

The Europass CV documents can be downloaded from the Europass main site enabling you to complete the CV on your own computer. In addition the Europass main site offers many useful links that relate to the remaining 4 documents that make up the Europass.

Check out the main Europass website for more details
http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/

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This kind of interview is conducted by an interviewing panel that is made up of the supervisor and some members of the team. The interview panel can also consist of top level CEOs although this depends the kind of position you are applying for.

The panel interview is stressful and this is why organizations use it: to see the candidate's reaction to stress. You will be asked questions from all the panel members, sometimes the same question by different panel members. It is difficult to build the kind of connection with the interview panel as you can in a one on one interview.

You can buy time by asking questions. You should always remain calm and composed during a panel interview. Take a breath and even count to five (in your head), if you see the situation getting out of hand.

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The list you created before writing your CV will help to determine which information to leave out. Skills, achievements or qualifications that are not related to this post should be removed. However, most candidates find that shortening their previous job experience is easier to do.

Some general CV to Resume tips

• Your Marital Status and Date of Birth are not needed.
• Write a two line CV Objective under your personal details.
• Do you have what it takes to do the job? A list of skills for positions like programmers and engineers are essential to show in which field you are most qualified or experienced.
• Resumes are briefer than CVs. A job description should just relay your responsibilities to the recruiter. Provide as much information as possible as concisely as possible.

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The main difference between a CV and a Resume is brevity. If you are applying for jobs in the US, recruiters will scan your CV for less than thirty seconds. US recruiters do not like lengthy job descriptions and personal profiles. If you have a 10 page CV you need to re write it.

In the US, more than in other countries, time is money and recruiters do not have the time to spend 11 minutes reading your life history. Your resume should be: a teaser, the hook, pass on the essential information. Do not go into lengthy descriptions of how you saved your previous employer from bankruptcy. Just say "Implemented x : In order to achieve : y" style.

So how do you go about turning your CV to a Resume? More than before you should have the list of tasks associated with a job. Read this article Achievements in your CV on how to focus on or better write about your achievements.

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This kind of interview is often the first contact with an employer. A phone interview is also used when candidates reside in other countries. The most important thing to remember in phone interviewing is that you are working towards a face to face discussion. Phone interviewing techniques.

• Show enthusiasm. Remember that you do not have the advantage of interview body language.
• Hold the receiver well. The mouthpiece should be 5 cm from your lips. Speak normally or a notch slower.
• Make sure there is no background music.
• Switch your mobile phone off.
• Switch your computer speaker off.
• Switch the front bell off (if you can).
• Lock your pets away.
• Avoid being too cheerful or overly concern.
• Make a list of things to say and of your strengths and keep them handy.
• Practice a phone interview with a friend.
• Always be positive even if this job change has not been your choice.
• Do not smoke, chew gum or drink tea during the interview.
• Avoid salary discussions in a phone interview.
• Ask when it is convenient to meet for a face to face interview.

Overview of phone interviews

Show interest and enthusiasm. Keep the receiver in front of your lips and speak clearly and slowly. Do not use slang and try to minimize accents. Write notes and do Job Interview Preparation and Wage Research. Concentrate on your positive in the phone interview. At the close of the phone interview ask for a face to face interview.

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Various career coaches will tell you to use a functional job CV or resume, others a chronological job CV or resume. Your military career is an asset. It depends on the job your are applying for, how much emphasis you put on it. All jobs related to the military, police, security, fireman, paramedic and the like should use a chronological job resume. For others, where you still need to have get the job experience , a combo resume or CV should be used. Make sure that your CV communicates all the qualities that you are bringing on board : cross-functional skills, positive work ethic, leadership, teamwork and dedication.

Active combat

Civilians want to live the cozy life, without knowing what the details of what the honorable country man do, in order for that cozy life to exist. Most people are not ready for the details of the real battle field. (unless you are applying for a job that will include active combat) Leave details active combat details out of your CV.

Your CV is an ongoing process

Monitor the response rate from your new civilian CV. If your CV is getting a low response rate. It is back to the drawing board. Review it with your family, friends or your career coach to see where you can implement improvements.

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What can I do for my employer ?

Your military achievements and awards are all a sign of determination and self sacrifice these should be included but should not be focal point in your civilian CV. While a medal of honor or purple heart is worth mentioning, your tank driving skills should not be mentioned (unless you would like to be a driver). You should concentrate on the skills list you have created. Make sure that the most relevant information is at the top of your CV. The important thing you understand is that your CV shows you are cable of doing the skills associated with a particular job.

Military Jargon

Not all people in the world are familiar with military jargon. Your CV should be legible by those who were never in uniform. Make sure that all the titles you had in your military career are comprehensible to civilians, if you need to change them to make them clearer than do so. Ask a civilian friend's opinion on your CV to check it.

Achievements and Accomplishments

Your achievements are all worth mentioning. How to describe achievements in your CV is a good article on how to describe achievements in your CV. Describe your accomplishments in a civilian manner. Where an employer can identify that the achievements your are mentioning apply to this job.

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How to write a CV for the Civilian world.
How to write a Resume for the Civilian world.

Your military career is coming to an end and you have started looking for a job in the civilian world. In your military career you have achieved more accomplishments than you might think of. A lot of skills are directly transferable into the civilian world. Following are some tips on how to change your military CV to a civilian CV.

What do you want to do as a civilian?

What to write in your personal profile?

Your personal profile in your CV defines what career path you would like to follow. A CV cannot be a general one; you have to focus on a particular objective in order for your CV to be effective. Before you put pen to paper and start writing a resume, do some research on what job you would like to do. Your local job center or transition office can help with this. If you would like to keep your options open, write several civilian CVs which focus on the different options you are considering.

The next step would be to define the requirements of the job you see yourself doing. What are the skills needed to perform the tasks in this job. There are a lot of ways of doing research, your local paper is a mine of information. The job vacancies will have a list of requirements, scan the job positions you are interested in over a period of time. Make a list of all the skills associated with the career you have chosen. This will be a good reference When writing your CV or resume.

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