By: Shooin
So the story begins with …. Once upon a time …
==> You’re graduating in a few weeks and panic sets in. It’s time to step into the real world and find a job. A new home, where you would spend the majority of your time doing work that you’re (hopefully) passionate about. So how can you make sure you end up where you want to go? By starting with your CV.
Instead of simply listing your degree and a list of common fluff words that the recruiter has seen a thousand times already that day, tell them your story. Don’t copy paste the Job Descriptions from your previous jobs; instead, focus on how you added value through your work. Remember, companies look for candidates that can help them solve a problem or satisfy a need within their company. You need to show them how you solved similar problems in the past, so they know you can do the same for them in the future.
Whenever possible, use numbers to show your worth. For example, instead of writing “Increased company sales,” say “Increased company sales by 30% over Q1–2 through cold calling, networking, and customized CRM offerings.”
Take out anything not directly relevant to the job you’re applying for. Instead, research the company and take note of their culture and the personality type they hire. Then sprinkle your resume with the right keywords to reinforce cultural fit — make sure your resume clicks with the person reading it.
If you are a recent graduate, and are a bit thin on the work experience section, add relevant volunteer work or college projects instead. Make sure to highlight the transferable skills gained through these experiences that would be useful in the professional world. Draw attention to instances where you displayed leadership or had the foresight to identify and solve potential problems before they grew into a fully blown fiasco.
While it’s good to hope you land your dream job, it never hurts to keep your options open. Once you have your initial resume drafted, make sure it is adaptable for applying to other positions with different requirements. Use formats that allow you to easily go in and shift the focus from one skill or requirement to another. Sending a standardized resume to all job postings is something that should always be avoided at the risk of appearing lazy and insincere about your interest in that company.
Okay, so you spent hours scrutinizing every line and think you now have a powerhouse of a resume. How can you ensure it gets into the hands of the hiring manager at your target company? The key is to network, network, and network some more. Dust off that LinkedIn account and put it to use or better yet, pick up your phone and start calling people. Find inside connections to use as referrals, schedule as many informational interviews as you can, and build the chutzpah to hear a lot of Nos. No matter how good your resume might be, unless you get it in front of the right people, your efforts are wasted.
Not having any luck on your own? we can help you to fix your CV, cover letter, Linkedin profile, and provide company insights so you can be ahead of the competition and land your dream job. Sign up for more info and send your inquires to us here.