Many Job Candidates Chasing Far Fewer Job Vacancies

Too many job applicants for too few job vacancies; this is a scenario for disappointment. But the truth is that if a post is very popular because the basic entry requirements are not demanding and yet the starting salary is attractive, chances are high that application for the post will be oversubscribed.

According to the Feb. 21, 2008 online version of SCMP, "every year, thousands of young Hongkongers apply to the Fire Services Department and the Hong Kong Police Force" and although several thousands applied, only a handful were accepted! For example, the Fire Services Department wanted to hire 100 ambulancemen and women and received a total of 3,300 applications! Sometimes, despite the vast number of applicants, few people pass the final tests. In a 2007 report, the Civil Aviation Department introduced the post of student air-traffic control officer, with 20 vacancies available but received a total of 2,248 applications (SCMP, Feb. 21, 2008).

These examples illustrate the point of how competitive it can be in some chosen career fields. A candidate must understand the total requirements that the post demanded, and evaluate if he/she meets them all. The jobs mentioned above require that the candidate have mental and physical toughness, be team players and ready to accept strict discipline and training, have perfect vision without eyeglasses, possess integrity, courage, confidence and the commitment to serve the community. Academic qualifications alone is not sufficient!

Now assuming that one meets all the qualifications perfectly, has a strong interest in the post, and even has the right attitude and aptitude, these must still be communicated to the recruiters. How would you do that effectively?

One tip:
Be armed with a powerful resume/CV if you want to have a higher chance of getting your dream job. Make sure that you have several file format types of your CV (printed, scannable, ASCII text) because different recruiters may ask for different types of CV file format. But no matter how attractive a post may be, always be honest with yourself; what makes you think you will be the right and best person to do the job. Then your CV must reflect that. Let not attractive salaries and perks lure you into a job does not suit you.

Your CV/Resume is UNIQUE

Every CV is unique. Like your fingerprint, there will be no other CVs exactly like yours. Yet a majority of CVs 'blended in with the crowd' and never get noticed at all! Why?

A good CV goes beyond telling the facts about your work history. It has to present them in a clear and convincing way. The recruiter has to (very quickly) perceive from your CV that what you can offer matches well with what the company is looking for. Your CV is your marketing document, it markets your brand (what you stand for) and how you and you alone can fulfil your prospective employer's needs! Quite a daunting task, especially when you probably have around 15 seconds to prove your point!

What about CV styles? There are various that you can employ to develop your CV. Depending on your circumstances, one style may be more effective/suitable than the rest. Common examples are the chronological, functional, combo, and competency-based formats; so which one should you use? Preparing an effective CV involves a great deal of work and time invested in researching, analytical thinking, organization of information, needs identification, devising appropriate layout formats, understanding industry trends, and of course - effective writing skills ... and this list is not even exhaustive yet.

CV preparation is very rewarding if done well but can be immensely frustrating too. A couple of people (my CV clients) have done hiring, understood the importance of an effective CV, and know how a good one looks like! It is not uncommon to hear of people having spent more than a year on their CV and still unable to get it "right". That is when some finally sought out the help of professional CV writers.

Writing an outstanding CV depends very much on the skills and dedication of the writer, and the cooperation of the candidate. A dedicated writer strives to make every single CV a masterpiece, and keeps himself/herself updated and informed about industry practices at all times. If you are considering using the service of one, your best bet in finding the right professional writer is to use one who has the credentials/training, who can build a good rapport with clients fast, and preferably through referral by someone who has used his/her service.

CV / Resume Presentation: First Impression Counts

Your first contact with your recruiters or prospective employers is through your CV or resume. First impression counts! You should never photocopy your CV and mass mail them. Every copy should be high quality print on good quality paper.

My favourite is high dpi laser printing on Conqueror paper with a conservative range of shades of white such as diamond white, high white or even brilliant white. Paper weight of 100gsm to 140gsm gives a nice feel to the finished product which looks more professional than just ordinary 80 gsm printing paper. The cost of the paper is considerable (about 10 to 15 times as expensive as normal printing paper) but doésn't your CV/Resume deserve the best?

Furthermore, one should never staple the pages together - instead use paper clips. When sending your CV/Resume through post, use an A4 sized envelope, do not fold the paper.

Job Searching: It's about Marketing Yourself

Armed with an effective resume / CV, one may start the job search process. Without an effective CV, job searching will be extremely frustrating. When you're looking for your dream career in a company you like, you are telling the employer "hire me" - I am the best candidate for the job! And so do hundreds and thousands of others who are competing for the same attention. Smart job-seekers use various channels to "broadcast" their intention. Some of these are:
1) Through referrals - this is the most effective method
2) Networking - always important to keep your professional network alive even if you are not in need of a job yet
3) Answering to job advertisements
4) Using the service of job recruitment agencies
5) Responding to online job postings
6) Writing to prospective employers / companies (remember that some positions are never advertised)
7) Posting your resume online

Spread Words About our CV / Resume Service

In an effort to make our CV writing service known to more people in Hong Kong (and elsewhere too), we have made available our logo to be printed on buttons, and T-shirts. We will proudly wear it to promote our company and spread the message of our wonderful service. We know we have made a difference to people's life - one at a time. Visit online store to see "The CV Workshop" branded items



See T-shirt / Buttons

Economy and the Job Market

We need to be aware of the state of the economy because it's inevitably linked to the job market. Weaker economy means fewer jobs created, leading to fewer hiring and even job cuts. During such times it is prudent to have one's CV updated just in case. It can happen anytime and to anyone. But while one industry is suffering, there may be others doing well and facing shortage of talents.

Below is an excerpt of an online article I read from the New York Times.
From: The New York Times
Business
Sharp Drop in Jobs Adds to Grim Economic Picture
By EDMUND L. ANDREWS
Published: March 8, 2008
The worst fears of investors and officials were confirmed as paralysis on Wall Street collided with new evidence of a likely recession.

Dressing For A Job Interview: How NOT To Do It.

This a very good video on dressing for a job interview. It's extremely informative and it'll last for 40 minutes! There's so much to learn from the video, especially for college students who will be stepping into the job market.

Career Planning Videos

The job seeking process does not end after the preparation of CV or resume. When invited for an interview, one must be well-prepared in order to succeed. That's when the employer makes his or her choices and a smart candidate will stand a better chance of getting the job. There are many good videos covering the topic of job interviews and we have picked some for viewing.

In the coming week (1st week of March) we will be featuring some good videos related to career planning on this site: http://www.myoffice.tv/ .
Topics of some videos that are already up include:
* Job Interview Bootcamp
* How to Get Hired - Job Interview Tactics
* Preparing for Job Interviews
* Things You Should NEVER Do in a Job Interview
* Job Interview Success
* Planning Your Career etc.

Do you have an updated Resume or CV?

Life is not simple, we have to be prepared. Opportunities can show up suddenly and luck will be on those who are well-prepared! Constantly upgrading one's skills and knowledge through continuous education and training is a good way to enhance one's competitiveness in the workplace and the job market. But that alone is not enough. Keeping an accurate record of the courses you have taken, skills that you have acquired, milestones that you have accomplished in your career are all important steps that have to be well-documented. These data will come handy when a good career opportunity presents itself.

If you have never kept a good record of your career, it is time to do so. Waiting for the last moment is a great mistake. If getting started on a CV / resume seemed like a daunting task that you would rather do with a professional CV / resume writer, we can help. Take a look at our web site The CV Workshop and get in touch with us. Whether this is the first time for you to have a CV written or having yours revamped or updated, we can provide guidance.

Interested in the job? Research the company first.

Job-seeking is a serious undertaking and should not be taken lightly. Especially if you have set your eyes to work with some of the top notch companies in the world, ask yourself truthfully what attracted you; is it the pay, the perks, the reputation, the company culture or something else? Remember that work hours take up a great percentage of one's life and has significant impact on one's happiness, family, and even mental health!

If the company offers something that you truly have passion for and a real aptitude in, and you have what it takes to meet/exceed the requirements that the company is asking for, then the job might be a good fit for you. Analogous to marriage, if both parties aren't compatible, there is misery down the road and less chance of happiness and success. Being employed is a kind of "partnership" with your employer - you give (of your time, talents, energy etc. to solve the employer's problem) and receive a salary in return. It never works one-way only.

A job-seeker usually views a job ad. for "certain criteria" and then proceeds to send in a resume and cover letter without doing a thorough research of the company. Be different! Learn more about the company first ... I remembered I actually flew 4 hours (overseas) over to visit the organization I was interested in working for, applied for the job, and got hired! But that was 16 years ago when the Internet was non-existent for the public. Doing a little due diligence will increase one's understanding of the company's philosophy and hiring process (if any), providing much needed information to help one make a more informed decision and write a better resume and cover letter - thus improving one's chance for success. Featured here is one such video I came across on YouTube ... where a company talks about it's hiring process ... Enjoy!

Articles about hiring process at different companies:
- Microsoft