THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL CONSTRUCTED CV “Putting my best foot forward”

Have you ever took time to ask yourself why do you have a CV, really asked yourself why is it so important and what significant role does it have or could have in your life. In the past a CV’s was just done as part of compliance, so you sand a CV and trust and hope to the stars to align in your favour to be called for an interview or to get a job. Gone are those days, in today’s world the need for a CV has gone beyond compliance it has become the most important document that demands serious attention and skill in developing one as well as manage it.

WHY IS THAT YOU MAY ASK?

Well, the JOB market has become so competitive in such a way that, if your CV is not UNIQUE and easy on the eye meaning “ATTRACTIVE” it is definitely not going to make the interview shortlist, look at your CV right now and ask yourself the following questions.

1. Will I call myself or this person for an interview?
2. Is this CV Attractive or Unique?
3. Does it put my best foot forward? 
4. Looking at your CV NOW I want you to be honest especially to YOU jjand not to make any excuses ask yourself on face value.  Is this the best you can do?  

THINK ABOUT IT, AS YOU LOOK AT YOUR CV AGAIN… 

And you will realise why scores of people including yourself continually send CV’s looking for employment and other opportunities that could benefit you such as learnerships, internships and you wondering why you are not called even for an interview. Well the answer to that is SIMPLE as established with the questions, your CV is not ATTRACTIVE it doesn't have the WOW element it does not call look at me read me and get the reader hooked. It is just mediocre; it does not put your best foot forward, it just becomes a part of a pile that one has to get through to find some jewel CV’s that are unique and attractive. Interestingly enough most people don’t really have a clue why exactly they must have a CV_ then importance becomes the one of having it to look for work, a default to which leads to not investing time energy and money in your CV.

SOLUTION Five important Tips to an ATTRACTIVE CV 

Personalise the reason and the importance of why you need a CV.

1. Learn different kinds of CV’s and find one that works for you and don’t clatter it with information keep it to two pages. Topics (a) Personal Details  (B) Personal Profile (c) Evidence of Effectiveness (d) Work Experience (e) Education (f) Certificates and other Achievements (g) current and present leadership roles if any (h) and not more than three references. 
2. Let your CV tell a story pregnant with potential rather than history.
3. Manage it well and keep it regularly updated with easy access to print and send. 
4. Send it with intention and keep record, plus inform your references or cc them when you email it.

CONCLUSION

In my experience in empowering the unemployed people and the ones
looking to grow from where they are to a better opportunity, I have worked with many people especially the youth, mostly don’t even know the contents in their CV’s let alone what they have done things like their certificates and name of the courses done and the institutions, with vague memories of  companies they worked for and volunteered at. It is a struggle to articulate roles they played and what they good at. I am amazed how much people take for granted their work and volunteer experience they have and things they did, how insignificant they look at their achievement i.e. school awards leadership roles.  When called for an interview people don’t even bother finding out about the institution they apply at and the job that is being applied for, and wonder why it was a disaster. Looking for a work or any opportunities it is a job in its self. It let us stop to wait and for luck and take responsibility for our own development and growth. Luck is an opportunity meeting readiness. Are you ready? Written By: Isaac Mavuso 011 860 4373 itmavuso@gmail.com