How to create a effective CV...
What is a CV?
Your CV - or Curriculum Vitae - is essentially the passport to your chosen career. It outlines your skills and experience so that a potential employer can see at a glance how you might perform in a given role. In short, it's an opportunity to present you in writing.

Will I need a CV?
Yes. Writing an effective CV is one of the most important things you will do in your professional life. Quite simply, it will increase your prospects of getting the job you want. Most advertised vacancies on the internet or in newspapers ask for a CV - so having one prepared in advance will allow you to respond quickly whenever the ideal job comes along.

A good CV will get you interviews, which lead to job offers. If properly produced, it will highlight your skills, accomplishments and work experience in a way that distinguishes you from the hundreds of other candidates in the recruitment market. It will position you as a serious contender who is worthy of interview time. Recruitment agencies will often ask you for a CV so they can submit it to companies who are looking for your skills. And when you are called on to complete application forms, your CV will act as an excellent memory jogger.

How should I create and write my CV?
Despite what certain individuals and books will tell you, there are no universal formats or rules for writing CVs. Fortunately, however, there are useful guidelines that will help you produce a CV that generates results.

Start by jotting down notes on your education, experience, skills and any professional or academic organisations you belong to. When recalling your previous employment

Give bullet point job descriptions: through the purpose of each job, the responsibilities you handled and the specific results you achieved.

Write down the details of when you started and finished each job with.

Put yourself in the shoes of the Personnel Officer (Think how the employer thinks "WHY" did this person have so many jobs, is this candidate a JOB Hopper

Reasons for leaving each job whether temp contract or permanent employment.
Take care to avoid unexplained jobs. If you had spells of unemployment, describe what you did with your time - for example, you may have been travelling, working voluntarily or even developing your skills on formal courses.

CV for better results...
Matching your skills and experience to the employer's needs will improve your success in securing an interview. What aspects of your education, experience and skills are most attractive to an employer? Remember, a CV is like a personal brochure. It must promote your strengths and aptitudes and demonstrate the benefits you can bring to the employer's organisation. It means finding out as much as you can about the company and the requirements of the role. Above all, it means thinking like an employer - What are they looking for? What key elements did they ask for in the job description? How specifically are you suited for this particular role and organisation?

Always be honest and accurate in your information. Often a prospective employer will use your CV as the basis of your interview and for references.

How should I present my CV?
Once you have identified the key information to be included in your CV - and decided on the most important elements - you need to write and organise your points. Here are several rules of thumb:

Since your personal career history, achievements and academic credentials are unique; the way you organise and express them may be equally unique. Whatever your choice, make sure that you highlight your strongest points. Also use clear headings, simple language and adequate margins and line spacing.

Key To Interview Success…
Reaching the interview stage is a mark of success in itself. It means your CV has already identified you as a serious candidate. Having convinced the interviewer on paper that you are capable of doing the job, you now have the opportunity to demonstrate your suitability in a face-to-face discussion.

Don't think of the interview as a test. You are not simply there to answer questions: you are there to discuss the role with the interviewer and explore the extent to which your abilities and aspirations match the company's needs. It's as much about compatibility as competence. The interviewer needs to find out if your are right for the company, and you need to find out if the company is right for you.

Importance Of Preparation
Your success will depend on the quality of your preparation - about the company, about the role, and about the kinds of issues that are likely to be discussed.

Remember, most companies are proud of their accomplishments and you should demonstrate that you're aware of them. Find out as much background information as you can. What is their business? How many employees do they have? What is the company's mission and philosophy? Its' turnover and profits? Search for their website if they have one.

You may find some of this information at your local library, where you can consult a range of business directories and indexes. Equally, you can call the company before the interview to ask for any recruitment brochures, relevant marketing material and annual reports. And if the company has an Internet site, be sure to check it for up to date stories about the company and its competitors.

Of course, when your interview has been arranged through Personnel Plus, then your Consultant will be able to provide most of the background information you need.

Once you have the key information, prepare a short response to the question, "What do you know about us?" This will allow you to show that you've taken the trouble to find out and are interested.

Prepare Questions To Ask The Interviewer
Analyse the job description and prepare a list of questions you may like to ask. For example:

Naturally, many of these questions may be answered without you having to ask them, but if you are prepared in advance you will make sure you get all the information you need.

Predict some likely interview questions
On the basis of your CV and the job description, you can probably anticipate many of the questions the interviewer is likely to ask. Once again, put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer. What will she be looking for? Typical questions include:

It's also important to identify any subjects or areas that might create problems for you and make sure you have a response you are happy with. "Have you ever been made redundant?" "What do you think of your current boss?" "Are you ready for a job like this?" Your ability to give brief, focused and reassuring answers to sensitive questions like these will strengthen your prospects of success.

Interview Check List
You should take a copy of your CV, certificates and any references or referrals. Carry everything in just one bag or briefcase; otherwise you'll look cluttered and disorganised.

Making a good 'first impression'
Like it or not, your appearance can influence the interviewer's assessment of your suitability for the job. Being smart, clean and well groomed is a good start. But there are numerous other factors to take into account regarding personal dress and presentation

Two times "EARLY AND ON TIME"
Make sure you arrive early for the interview and don't rely too heavily on the efficiency of public transport or a traffic-free journey. By arriving at least 15 minutes early, you will have a chance to relax, gather your thoughts and possibly read any company literature that is available. Also remember to be pleasant to receptionists and other staff you meet: they will often be asked for their impressions of you.

Interview Behaviour
Bear in mind that the interviewer may be just as nervous as you: they want to select the best person for the job. If he gets it right, the company prospers; if he gets it wrong the company will suffer. Your objective is to impress the interviewer by projecting a professional image and demonstrating your suitability for the job.

Greet the interviewer with a smile and a firm handshake and wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Be aware of your body language: sit up straight, maintain eye contact and avoid fidgeting or twiddling your thumbs. According to research, the interviewer will decide within just four to nine minutes whether to consider you seriously for the job. So making a good first impression is vital.

Show a real interest in the job. Speak clearly and confidently and make sure that everything you say is factual and sincere. During the interview, bear the following guidelines in mind:

A good interviewer will do more than just establish your competence: he will explore your compatibility with the company - your attitudes, beliefs, personality, response to pressure and so on.

To this end, he may ask you deliberately provocative or difficult questions. "Why haven't you found a new position before now?" "What do you think of your boss?" "Don't you think you're a bit overqualified for this role?" "Why should I employ you when I could fill this vacancy from within the company." "What was your biggest mistake or error of judgement?"

Ideally, you'll have anticipated and prepared for difficult questions relating to your experience and capabilities. If you are asked an unexpected question, pause and think before giving an answer and always offer a positive response that relates back to the position you are applying for. For example, "Am I over-qualified? I don't think so. Strong companies need strong people, and I believe that a growing and energetic company like yours will make the best possible use of my skills and experience. That's why I applied for this job."

Usually the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions. The worst response is "Can you tell me a little more about the job?" Be specific and ask questions that have not already been answered in the job description. For instance:

At the very least, ask the interviewer when he will be making a final decision and whether he needs any further clarification about your experience.

Leaving the interview...
Don't let your guard down yet. You want the interviewer to remember you positively, so thank them for their time and consideration and tell them how much you enjoyed discussing the job with them.

It's important to convey that you really are interested in working for the company, because - all other things being equal - the job is likely to go to the more interested candidate. For example, you could say: "Mr Smith I find this opportunity very interesting. Your company is clearly doing exciting things and I believe that with my background and experience I could make a significant contribution to your team."

Tell the interviewer that you look forward to seeing him again, shake his hand and leave.

After the interview...
Tell your consultant at Personnel Plus what you thought about the interview as soon as possible. Make a note of any difficult questions and what you learned from them.
Receiving Feedback

If you're offered the job - great! We'll make all the necessary arrangements. If you didn't get the job, don't give up. Put it down to experience and bear in mind that this interview was a valuable exercise in itself.