CV writing service

Why do you need a professional CV?

When last did you update your CV? Have you EVER updated it? How 21st century is it or does it still have wagon wheels on it? Does it truly, truly sell you? Or does it simply just age you? Does it need a facelift?

To start the recruitment process always remember you’re a product being sold to a company, and the goal of your professional CV is to communicate what you can do for them. Your CV is not a job description; it is a sales catalogue for your services.

Most people are aware of the standard CV format: contact details, employment history, qualifications - but which key ingredients impress employers and win a place on their interview shortlist?

For far too long most of us have settled for the old standard tombstone format of the CV believing that this is the only way a CV should look. If you are totally honest with yourself, would you hire the person from the CV as it currently stands? Does it really tell you anything about the person’s ability to do the job? Does it even show what that person is capable of?

You CV should identify and solve the employer’s hidden needs. You know that the requirements listed in the ad are only some of the duties. Show the employer that you understand the full range of needs and show how you can solve those needs.

The information age has brought about major changes in CV writing that many of those who seek jobs have not been able to keep up with. Add to that the current economic environment and I am sure most people are ready to give up before they even begin.

CV writing has moved from being the complete chronicle of your work experience to being the tool that illustrates why you are the best candidate for a single position. I cannot stress this enough. The age of having a standard multiple-page CV that you send out to everyone for every position is over. You need a Professional CV for the best impact!

Although the standard format of the CV has become an integral part of the recruitment process, you need to show that you are dynamic. This is your personal branding tool, so don’t be afraid to use your CV to draw attention to you. And there is no hard or fast rule that says you cannot do things differently, from my experience, people who follow the pack, just don’t get noticed. Be sure to create a document that will be noticed! It's not an official personnel document. It's not a job application. It's not a "career obituary"! And it's not a confessional.

How many pages does it take to tell your story to a potential employer or client? Way back when I started my career, the one page CV was for a person just entering the workforce or someone changing careers. Having a long CV was a badge of honour showing that you had significant and relevant work experience. Today most CVs are scanned and most are not read past the first page. Brevity is the key for making you look great.

Regardless of what everyone may tell you, you can't draft a good CV overnight, especially if you're a well-experienced pro. It just doesn't happen. That is why I need two to three working days to draft your professional CV.

The standard CV has one major drawback - more often than not, the information on the first page is irrelevant to the position applied for. And you are unknowingly supplying more information than you need. According to our Labour Laws a lot of the information contained in the old CVs are no longer needed and could be used against you. Have you taken the time to read through all the various acts. Most people don't know their rights when it comes to the labour acts.

Some of the acts that have an influence on your life is listed below.
·Skills Development Act, 97 of 1998 (“SDA”);
·Employment Equity Act, 55 of 1998 (“EEA”);
·Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 75 of 1997 (“BCEA”);
·Labour Relations Act, 1995 (“LRA”);
·Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993 (“OHSA”); and
·Compensation for Occupational injuries and diseases Act no. 130 of 1993 (“COIDA”)

Everyone knows it's a good idea to keep an updated CV / resume, but few people actually do. We're just too busy. Remember though, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Using a professional CV writing service will ensure that your CV stays updated.

If your CV secures an interview, it has done its job. If it sets you ahead of the competition in the mind of your interviewer, then it has given you a distinct advantage, and has gone beyond its job.

Don’t wait until the last minute to have your CV / resume reworked. It might cost you the interview. Honestly. If a professionally drafted CV can give you a better chance of getting an interview with the person you send it to, would it not be worth the investment?

A CV, no matter how good, is NOT the answer to ALL of your job-hunting woes!

Being successful in landing the perfect job requires much more.

The old cliché that it is who you know and not what you know still runs true today. Research has shown that to send your CV for each available position you can find is one of the most ineffective ways of finding work. You only have a 7% chance. Using the internet to find work only has a 1% success rate. Replying to adverts in newspapers also has a 7% success rate. Handing over control to a third party has never been a good idea either. Remember recruiters work for companies and not for work seekers.

Job hunters who use personal contacts, networking and who are willing to change strategies are the most successful. Almost half of the people using these methods find work. When we start discussing ways of finding work, we will open your mind to new ideas and then we can work out the plan for you.

Once you know what you want, research the following factors:

* Whether there’s a demand for your skills
* Current trends in market place
* Where do you look for a job
* Who will end up reading your CV
* How do you handle interviews
* How will your referees respond; etc.

Follow up with informational calls to gain insight into the companies and the possibility of working for those companies. Find the person who has influence over the process and that is normally not the HR department and make contact. People following the above steps have an 86% success rate.

The right frame of mind is as important for landing a job as how your CV looks. Here are some thoughts that will help adjust your job-hunting attitudes:

v Job hunting is all about promoting yourself and your talent.
v   Know how your talent can benefit employers.
v   Finding a job is a job -- it takes time.
v   Follow a plan, but be flexible.
v   Don't quit until you succeed.

Identify and write down your interests, skills, values, needs and work habits. If you know your personality, you can more easily determine the right work and employer for you.

What type of position do you want? What job activities would you enjoy? What kind of employer is right for you? Do you have geographical preferences? Know what you want before you look; it will help you zero in on the best targets more quickly.

Finding a job may be easy, finding a career needs planning. The process starts the day when you decide what you want to do. But above all you need to balance your life and for that we have various E-courses to help you.