Gaps in the CV: What does that mean?

When will you likely NOT to have gaps in your CV?
-- You have just finished school and starting your first full-time job.
-- You are still employed and working in your first full-time job.
-- You have been continuously employed even though you have switched jobs more than once.
-- You were in part-time employment between full-time jobs.
-- You have not been in the workplace long enough!

Anyway if you have been in some kind of employment for at least a decade (and more so if you've been employed longer), it is likely that you might have a gap or more in your employment history if you have tried changing jobs, have been made redundant, or have taken time off full-time jobs for whatever reasons (studying, relocating with spouse to another place, illness, travel, starting a business etc.).

But having a gap in the CV may adversely affect one's chance of getting a new job. The recruiter, being faced with so many choices, would obviously screen the CV for the best few, and any CV which is no where near perfect (those with spelling errors, gaps, experiences and education that do not meet requirement) would unlikely make it at all. I have known of people who have gaps in their employment history - but are still able to get back into full-time employment. The process may be much harder, takes longer, and sometimes involve luck and ingenuity.

But I firmly believe there is no merit in "concealing" the gaps, honesty is the best policy. It is a reality that firms lay off staff (especially the more senior staff who are much more expensive to keep) during poor economy or whenever mergers occur. People left their jobs for different reasons and some did so without another job to fall back on immediately.

However, as far as I am concern, gaps between jobs aren't necessarily bad! What is the rationale behind this thought?
-- A person who has been out of job for some time would be more appreciative of his or her new job and be a better worker.
-- One who has taken a sabbatical would return to the workplace "refreshed" and energized.
-- If this person has been doing something else and meaningfully engaged as a volunteer, or setting up a business, or has been consulting for sometime - he or she might have gained some insight and new skills while doing so.
-- One who can "afford" to be "out of job" between full-time employments may be someone who has a strong financial background, and that means he or she may be waiting for the "perfect job" to come along. If what the company is offering matches this job seeker's talents, then it may be a win-win situation for all.

Watch a Video on Resume Basic Tips 觀看視頻:撰寫履歷書的基本知識 | 观看视频:撰写履历书的基本知识

"An average resume gets about 15 seconds of the recruiter's attention", mentions one recruiter in the video. So are there anything in the resume that will catch the recruiter's eye within that time frame?

Writing a resume is not a simple task because there are basic rules, requirements and format to consider. It pays to know the basics and get the document right from the beginning.

In this video by CareerTV, different recruiters gave tips about what they would like to see on a resume and touched on elements like layout, font sizes, information flow -- in a nutshell, a resume that is well-organized.

As fresh college graduates and those who are starting their first jobs after school may not have the financial means to pay for professional resume writing services yet, watching "how-to" instructional videos would be greatly helpful.

CVs and Resume: Similarities and Differences | 关于履歷(CV 及 Résumé) 的分別 | 关于履历 (CV 及 Résumé) 的分别

In Hong Kong, the SCMP Classified Post which comes with every Saturday edition of the daily newspaper SCMP, is usually thick and filled with job advertisements from many industries. Recruiters normally specify that they need a CV and about half of them wanted a Résumé . So that makes one think if these two terms are used interchangeably because they are similar or are there differences at all. If I were to apply for a position that asks for a CV, I would provide a CV instead of a Résumé ... so how do they compare? How are they the same and where do they differ?

Purpose
-- Similarity: Both CV and Résumé give a summary of your credentials and other relevant information about your skills, achievements and professional history that will allow your prospective employer to have a glimpse as to whether you are suitable for a post and to make the informed decision as to whether to call you up for an interview. Both are standard format required for job applications although some companies prefer one format over the other.
-- Differences: For the purpose of job applications, the Résumé format is usually preferred in America (and American companies) and the CV format, the rest of the world. CVs are used in applications for positions in the academia or for applying to institutes of higher learning.

Document Features
-- Similarities: Both are organized into distinct understandable sections which provides information about you.
-- Differences: CVs are more detailed and complete and in reverse chronological order. Résumés are shorter, more focused and targeted to the post applied for - irrelevant information is excluded. CVs are about 2 to 3 pages long - Résumés do not usually exceed 2 pages, 1 page is ideal. CVs are more formal than resumes (which tends to have promotional vocabulary). Résumés can come in different formats of presentation because it is a less formal than a CV.

It takes time and a good deal of understanding of the similarities and differences, and practice to be able to come up with a quality piece of CV or Résumé . Getting down to producing a "perfect" CV and Résumé is quite a daunting task for many people. Some people would procrastinate or avoid this task altogether, especially if it has to be in written English (a language which may not be familiar to all). But not having a proper CV and Résumé will cost job seekers dearly.

Every person of working age should start building his / her CV and Résumé and keep the documents updated all the time so that they are accurate. If one had spent much money on education and sacrificed great effort in work - why should all these go unnoticed or under represented in one's Résumé to the detriment of one's future in the career?

CV (Curriculum Vitae) or Résumé: When To Use a CV and NOT a Résumé? 关于履歷(CV 或者 Résumé) 的分別. 关于履历 (CV或者Résumé) 的分别

This is the most frequently asked question which we get all the time. To determine whether you require a CV or a Résumé, you need to understand their differences and ask yourself some questions. The confusing point is when these terms are so often used interchangeably that some employers may not know their subtle differences.

Does a CV or Resume serve the same purpose?
Yes. Each summarizes your accomplishments in a brief and formal way.

So Do I Need a CV or a Résumé?
You must have both a CV and a Résumé because you will need each of them at different times. This is especially so when you work in a cosmopolitan city like Hong Kong because the companies may have different origins.

What do you need it for? When to use a CV? When to use a Résumé?
-- Applying for jobs in the commercial sector in the United States or with an American-based company anywhere: Use a Resume (Unless a CV is asked for)
-- Applying for positions in the education, scientific and research area in the United States: Use a CV
-- Applying for fellowship, further education or academic training in any institutes of higher learning: Use a CV
-- Applying for educational scholarships, a grant or funding: Use a CV
-- Applying for membership with a professional society: A CV may be required
-- Securing a tenure or promotion within the same organization and when an internal review is conducted: A CV may be asked
-- Applying for any positions in companies around Asia, Africa, Europe and Middle East: A CV is expected
-- When presenting a background introduction of one's qualification at a conference: Use CV

So when do I know specifically when to use a CV or a Résumé?
If you're applying to an advertisement for a job posting - the company would state clearly whether you need to attach a CV or a Résumé - so that is quite obvious. If you are writing in to enquire for a job vacancy, a Résumé is more appropriate and a CV may be presented at an interview when granted one.

In the next few sessions, we will be taking a look at the similarities and differences between a CV and a Résumé.

http://www.thecvworkshop.com/

Does Your Resume Stand Out? 您的履歷是否特殊? 您的履历是否特殊?

We need to put ourselves in our recruiters' shoes if we were to understand how they make decisions as to who they want to call in for interviews, basing their decisions on the resumes they get. Unless a job listing has been extremely unpopular, you can be sure that any one job advertisement would likely to attract a number of job applications. Then one has to pass that first "screening" in order to be considered for an interview and that step is crucial as what you put in your resume determines how good your chance is.

Your Resume IS Your Marketing Document About Yourself
Assuming that you have all the information that normal resumes should contain, what else can you do to make sure that it is an OUTSTANDING document - one that recruiters would spend more time on and dream to meet the person behind it? Here's when you have to step into the recruiter's shoes and try to understand the kind of candidates the recruiter would be most interested in.

Here are some tips to consider:
-- A candidate whose resume is customized for the job applied for and not just a general "off the copier" stuff.
-- A candidate whose resume reflects all the education, skills, knowledge, experience and qualification that the company is looking for (in other words, what the post had advertised for).
-- A candidate who seems to be able to handle the post and add value to the organization (as in track records documented).
-- A candidate who seems to be able to contribute the best to the company when hired (personality-wise, other additional skills possesed, other strengths).
-- A candidate who demostrates care in preparing their resumes to the point that it is error-free.

There are numerous styles in which resumes could be presented and candidates must make sure that an appropriate one is used. If in doubt, do your research or hire a professional CV writer to do that important task for you. Ultimately, your resume must project professionalism and create that optimum good impression and suitability for the post advertised. You only get one chance to make an impression and a well-written CV or resume maximizes that.

Commit To Improving Yourself : It Helps Your Career - 為職業而進修 - 为职业而进修

Many good companies provide training and education for their workforce because they believe that knowledgeable minds are better at solving problems. That is what it's all about when one is employed. Employees are employed to solve 'problems' and give solutions. The lack of skills, experience, or knowledge becomes an employee's nightmare because they hamper the ability to provide solutions and make decisions.

New industries and jobs are being created every moment as new technology redefines how a workplace operates. Every wise employee thus needs to be in the know about current trends in his industry and commits time and resources to upgrade himself or herself so as to be ready and flexible when change occurs. When one is constantly learning, one will be a valuable asset to one's company. Companies need new ideas and talents to remain competitive.

If you're in Hong Kong, the English newspaper, SCMP (South China Morning Post) or 南華早報, provides very good reading materials for career improvements in its Saturday editions. They too have an online version but only available through subscription. Incidentally, the Saturday papers carry the most classified ads. for jobs. Interspersed between the sections are industry news, success stories of who and who in the various industries and their secret formula of achieving career success, and much much more. The Wall Street Journal too have many good articles on careers.

So in a nutshell: Do something daily to improve yourself - it helps your career in the long run.

Hong Kong Jobs - 香港就業 - 香港就业

Career search is mainly regional in character. Unless one is very ambitious or loves to travel to sample working life in another country, one will look to access local job listings. Thanks to the internet that we now have a plethora of job search engines which could be as simple as matching job-seekers to prospective employers, to full career websites which offer career advice! Hong Kong has a population close to 7 million and is a very vibrant country. It is also a gateway to China whose economy is booming. Many local employers usually advertise jobs in local Chinese newspapers. Jobs that require candidates to be conversant in English are normally advertised in English newspapers or classifieds.

Here are some online career search engines, but the list is not exhaustive.

• For Chinese job listings: JiuJik.com


• English Job Listings: Classified Post Online


• Vault.com.hk


• Monster.com.hk


• Hong Kong Jobs


• AnyWorkAnyWhere


• Hong Kong's Craigslist


• AdPost.com


• 4 International Careers & Jobs

Your Career Log - 你的事業記錄 - 你的事业记录

A career log is a continuous record of noteworthy events, education, experiences, trainings, and even recognition (or commendations) one accumulates throughout one's career. It is an important documentation that will come useful when one needs to reflect on what to write for one's resume or CV.

I started a career log the day I entered the job market more than two decades ago. My first entries into the log were my education and professional training. Then I slowly accumulated numerous in-service courses, workshops, seminars and other experiences, responsibilities and contributions at work. For my first job, a resume was not required because it was a civil service posting which came immediately after my professional training. But after 8 years, I had the chance to advance in my career and be sent for an overseas posting. That was the first time I needed a good resume and my career log saved my day! There were more than 2000 applicants for 3 vacancies and I was one of the 30 candidates shortlisted for interview. Of course I got the job, and that changed my life!

Decades ago, people tend to hold one job for many years, and for some, it became their lifetime career. Not anymore now ... job changes and career changes will be the norm and one can easily lose track of the past if it is not properly documented.

Here's a link to an article about maintaining a career log. Maintaining A Career Log

Be Prepared With A Good Resume Always - 準備好你的簡歷 - 准备好你的简历

From graduation until the time you retire, you can expect to hit the job market several times whether by choice or not. A good CV or resume is an absolutely essential tool every employee must have whether currently employed or job-seeking.

A CV or resume is a self-marketing tool summarizing your skills, work experiences, qualifications and career history for your prospective employer. Its main purpose is to get you that interview. So how you present this very important document determines if it ever gets a chance to be read and make your prospective employer interested in calling you for a job interview.

On the side bar are some related news and links which may give you good tips on resume writing and what's going on in the employment field.

This is an interesting video highlighting the basics of resume writing.