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.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
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.
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.
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