Unless I have had the opportunity of meeting you in person or communicating with you via online discussion I do not know your individual story or where you are in your individual career life cycle however if your career story is anything like mine you have had some good, bad and down right ugly times in your life and career. There is no judgement, just a hypothesis based on ones’ personal experiences and those of clients one has helped over the years.
So often we get caught up in the shoulds of life and our careers, which basically translates into us placing expectations on ourselves, that we lose sight of are the bare basics; simply put that life and our careers come down to two fundamental aspects – experiences and relationships. Be it the relationship we have with ourselves and/or others or the experiences we crate or are presented to us in order to grow, develop and evolve as human beings.
I remember back in the early 2000’s when I first started my practice (then called HR Aspects) and commenced market research to compare and contrast my expertise and experiences with competitors of the time; the internet was still in it’s infancy and very few organisations advertised on Google.
Fast forward 15+ years and there are hundreds and thousands of career providers spruiking their services on Google alone claiming to be a Career Counsellor, Career Coach, Professional Resume Writer, Career Development Consultant, Specialist or Expert. Quite frankly, for the average individual looking for someone to help them with their career related queries or concerns it is very confusing – how can you possibly sort out what services you need and want if Continue reading “Career Counselling: – Is your Career Counsellor legitimate?”
Promote and elevate yourself on a professional platform with a Resume – Curriculum Vitae (CV) by Blu Ripples
Writing a clear and concise CV-Résumé is easy if you take the time to do your research, remain objective and highlight what you can do for your potential employer based on their needs not yours.
To ensure you achieve the above stated outcome it is imperative that you know your subject “YOU” very well. Spend a little time analysing your academic, professional and personal background. What skills, acumen (knowledge) and personality traits do you currently possess that would be beneficial for your potential employer? Now look at the flip side of the coin to analyse which skills you need to develop or refine.
The purpose of the above stated research and analysis is to determine congruence between yourself and the current labour market.
It should go without saying that the labour market is a highly competitive environment and as such when compiling your CV-Résumé you need to keep in mind that Managers, HR Professionals and Recruitment Consultants are predominantly highly conservative individuals who are impressed with the content of the of the documentnot the “Bells and Whistles”.
NB: “ Bells and Whistles” refers to clip art, photographs, multiple fonts, colours, borders etc.
Speaking from experience the more Bells and Whistles one finds on a CV-Résumé the more one is likely to focus on what the applicant is hiding or not saying rather than what the applicant can do; as previously highlighted the whole point of a CV-Résumé is to highlight what you can do for your potential employer not draw their attention to what you are lacking in experience and/or education.
5 Tips for compiling a Clear and Concise CV-Résumé
Optimal Page Length – 3 pages ideally, but no more than 5 pages
Do not include discriminatory information for example your date of birth or marital status
Do not include the Bells and Whistles; when formatting your CV-Résumé remember the 4 C’s: – Clean, Clear, Concise and Consistent
Highlight your academic qualifications, key skills and competencies, professional affiliations, operational responsibilities, key achievements and projects, academic publications and if appropriate relevant voluntary work; and finally
Always clarify your statements in the responsibilities and achievement sections
Stay Tuned for Part 3 – Creativity in the recruitment phase; Is there a place for it?
