Getting work is hard work.
So why make it even more difficult by having a poor CV or crappy cover letter.
Or no cover letter!
It’s surprising how man candidates sign up for jobs and don’t even bother to put a few paragraphs together explaining why they should get the job over the other person who also hasn’t troubled themselves to put a few paragraphs together providing the reason why they deserve the job.
The one thing worse is getting an interview and not even turning up! And that also happens more frequently than not.
It’s no coincidence the French word résumé looks and sounds a lot like the English word resume.
A résumé, or curriculum vitae (CV) “Latin for ‘course of life’ – is a brief account of a person’s schooling, achievements or history of work experience, generally sent in support of a job application.
Linguistics notwithstanding, résumé essentially means to start to do or pursue something again after a pause or interruption. In other words, one has ‘resumed ‘ looking for a job.
So whether you’ve just lost your job or have been attempting to find work for an extended time period, why would you lessen your opportunities of getting a job by not trying for a job properly?
And by correctly, I mean with a worthy CV and a Cover Letter.
A good CV should be right to the point and simply designed. No flashy fonts, complicated lay outs, changes in text size or other tricks that just look like you are trying to distract ‘To whom it may concern ‘ from the undeniable fact that you don’t know their name nor have much prospect of getting the job.
And you will not if you are opening your cover letter with ‘To whom it may concern’ – because this just shows that you’ve put no real effort into finding out whose hands your cover letter will finish up in.
The very first thing you need to do is read the job advert correctly – it’s startling how many useful things you will find! As an example, the HR person’s name – or at least a mobile phone number you can call to enquire further about the position, whilst determining the name and title of the individual you ought to be addressing your correspondence to.
It sounds old skool, nonetheless it works.
While your resume is a fast summary of your education and work history, take note to address all the necessary points in the advertisement in your cover letter. Here you can elaborate on some of your prominent accomplishments while explaining how you will be a significant asset to the organisation.
This should all be supported by at least a trio of reputable referees and a mobile number by which you have to be contactable at all points.
After all, you do not need to miss the probability of landing your dream job.
Again.
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