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.

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.

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.

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.