If you are looking for a job, but it feels like you are not getting anywhere, most of the time it means that there is room for improvement. Here are some tips that will help you to find a job.
First of all, try to rewrite your CV
What matters most is the first impression. That applies not only to you as a person but also to your CV. Engineer your CV in such a way that it will stand out from the rest. Look for CV writing tips, do research, google some good CV templates and use that knowledge to write your own.
Curriculum Vitae is a document to apply for a job - describing your education, skills, and experience in a precise way.
A standard CV should not be more than 2 sides of an A4 paper. A CV can be longer, depending on your experience but do not go too far with it. It must contain only relevant information. Please, avoid repetition of anything really as it looks like you just want to fill out space.
What should be included in your CV?
Contact information
Write your name, email address, your location, ie. North London, contact number. If you are applying for modelling or acting, then you can add your picture and photograph otherwise avoid it. Do not write your legal document numbers, full home address, next of kin information.
Qualification
Enlist the date and institution of all previous degrees and professional education. Start from the most recent one. The best practice is always to include month and a year during which you were getting the qualification and if possible, a logo of the institution.
Experience
Describe in reverse order all the experience that is relevant to the job you are applying for. If your job experience is more, then elaborate it before qualification.
Accomplishments and Skills
In this section, you will mention your skills, for example, your expertise in any software, international languages you know, systems and platforms which you used or understand, transferable skills which you possessed. Mention the skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Remember, do not overstate anything as you might be asked to prove it or have an interview with someone who has those skills too.
Hobbies and Interests
Try to mention your hobbies and interests relevant to your job, for example, if you are applying for a journalist position, you can mention that you enjoy writing your own blog. Playing games, socializing, or reading books probably has nothing to do with your potential employer recruiting policy or the job you applied for so try to be a little bit more creative and find a relationship between what you like and how that might help you in a future role.
References
It is recommended that you should not provide the references at this stage. Do not write that you will provide the references on request. It may not have a good impact on your CV. If the employer is serious and interested in your application, they will ask for the references when they wish to offer you the position or after you accepted it.
What should be the format of your CV?
Use professional fonts like Times New Roman or Ariel so a reader can easily understand this. Do not use very fancy fonts. Font size should be 10-12, but for section, headings use the font size 14-16, so it will stand out, and a reader can easily understand it. Use consistent fonts throughout the CV. Write the most recent achievements first so the recruiter can easily see your history of work.
Be concise by using bullet points and spacing so the recruiter can easily pick up the required information from your CV.
In case if you have to print your CV, make sure the consent is written between pages and page one will not end in the middle of the sentence etc.
Pay attention to these bullet points while writing your CV
Check your spelling! Any spelling or grammar mistakes should not be included in your CV. Use spell checker and grammar checking software for this purpose.
Use real-life examples to describe your skills and avoid general terminology.
Look at the job position and website of the company and write your CV targeting that specific job.
Do not use the term "Curriculum vitae" at the top of the page.
Use a professional E-mail address. (no bubblegum@gmail.com or redcar@yahoo.com etc.- use your name and surname or name and initials - this is your professional email address.
Do not lie and overstate anything as it will impart a bad impression on your employer and can lead to other consequences.
Do not write your home address if you are applying online as it can cause problems and is completely unnecessary.
Write a cover letter with your CV to attain the attention of the recruiter and describe if any gap is left in the history of your qualification, also specifying your skills relevant to the job.
Use Social Media
You can create an online CV or portfolio website on the social media page to show your work. It can be created in a very little time. You can also showcase your expertise by using YouTube videos or online infographics. By sharing on social media pages, you can pin your CV on the top of Twitter or Facebook.
Also, use social media to search for jobs regularly on a variety of job sites, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Change the privacy settings of your social media apps as you expect that a recruiter will see your profile so if you are posting any pictures or other things that may harm the employer, then hide them.
Join various groups of your interest in Twitter and Facebook or LinkedIn to find a new job. Use hashtags on Twitter to elevate the engagements on your posts.
Keep updating your profile. Check your contact details and professional details are up to date.
Manage your Junk Emails/ Spam Folder
Most of the well-qualified people send CV to an employer but do not get any reply; the reason is - it goes into the spam folder due to the content it has. Here are some tips for managing this issue.
Stay selective in words of the subject and body of the email. Avoid using terminologies that are specific for spam folder like "please read or "promise you".
If you use all CAPS or exclamation points, it will not only look like you are yelling upon the reader, but also it will probably end up in the spam folder even if you are using in the body of the email so avoid using them.
If you like to use signature images or files, try not to, as embedded images also trigger spam folder "warning".
If you use any link of your portfolio, blog, or website do not direct the employer to "click here" as your email can go to spam too, so avoid writing "click here".
I hope you found it helpful.
Best of luck, and thank you for reading!
