Writing An Effective CV

If you are looking for a job, you may have noticed that some employers request a CV instead of a resume. Many jobseekers assume that a CV and a resume are different terms for the same thing, but this is not necessarily true. CVs and resumes are similar, true, but the differences are important. If you submit a resume instead of a CV, you will risk appearing inexperienced and naïve - definitely not qualities that will scream, "Hire me!" to prospective employers.

What is a CV?
"CV" is an abbreviation for "Curriculum Vitae," which roughly translates to "This is my life." In other words, your curriculum vitae or CV is meant to draw a picture of your life for prospective employers. A CV is more than just a listing of past employers: It is a resource that describes everything you have done in life pertaining to your career.

The main difference in the content of a CV as opposed to a resume is that the CV is usually expected to include more detail, and therefore be a little longer. In general, a CV is expected to be one or two pages for a professional just entering the workforce, two to four pages for a professional with some experience, and as many as seven pages for an experienced professional. No matter how experienced you are, however, your CV should not exceed ten pages.

When is a CV Usually Required?
You will probably have noticed that some job ads request a curriculum vitae, while others simply ask for a resume. Usually, academic positions are the ones that require CVs. You should expect to be asked to provide a CV anytime you are applying for a(n):

• Teaching position


• Professorship


• Science position


• Research position


• International job


• Fellowship


• Grant

What Should a CV Include?
Your CV should always start with your personal information and end with your references, if you have any. However, the order of the sections in between is entirely up to you. Remember, your curriculum vitae is meant to represent your life as a whole, so it is probably best to list your strongest sections before your weaker ones. For example, if you are a recent graduate or only have a few years of experience yet, or if your academic record is quite impressive, you can list the education section first.

In addition, every CV you send out should be tailored for the specific position you are applying for. This means that you should only list experience that is related to the position. You can also change the order of the sections in your resume, so that experience that is more closely related to the job is listed earlier in your CV.

Personal Information
Like a resume, your CV should start with your name and contact information. Also like a resume, you do not need a subject heading for this section.

Some jobseekers and employers feel that since a curriculum vitae is supposed to be a representation of your life as a whole, this section should include personal details, such as your date and place of birth, your marriage status, and the number of kids you have. However, others feel this is unprofessional, not to mention damaging to your chances of getting the job. Whether you decide to put these personal details in your CV is up to you, but you should definitely never do so if you feel it could prejudice the employer against you.

Statement of Purpose
If you include a statement of purpose, also known as a personal mission statement, in your CV, it should immediately follow your personal information. This section should only be a sentence or two long, and should do two things: state where you are in your career, and what you are looking for in your next job. (Note: Because you are tailoring your CV to the specific job, your goals in your personal mission statement should match the position you are applying for.)

Summary of Qualifications
Just like in a resume, your summary of qualifications should provide an employer with a bulleted list of your most important qualifications. This section should include a handful of bullet points at most, but each one should quantify your achievements with numbers, as this will make a bigger impression on a potential employer.

Education
Like a resume, a CV features an education section that lists your degrees in reverse chronological order. Each listing should include the school, city and state where it is located, your degree and focus of study, and the date you graduated. Most professionals in academic fields have impressive educations, which is why this section often comes next in a curriculum vitae. However, if you feel another section is stronger or more relevant to the position you are applying for, you can rearrange your CV accordingly.

Awards
Although some resumes include sections for awards and honors, these sections are short and may be lumped in with achievements. In the academic world, however, experienced professionals often have a long list of awards to their name. For this reason, a CV can be laid out with a separate awards section.

Grants
If you have applied for and received important grants, these can be considered "bragging rights" as well. However, not all academic professionals have done so, making this section optional.

Employment History
Another section the resume and the CV have in common is the employment section. As in a resume, your employment history should be listed in reverse chronological order.

Publications
Most jobseekers who use resumes would never have use for a publications section, but many researchers, professors, and scientists have published their work in academic publications. This section provides an opportunity to list all of the publishing credits you have achieved.
Research
Many academic professionals have dedicated some part of their education and/or career to research. The format of the curriculum vitae allows these professionals the option of giving these efforts special attention.
Professional Memberships
Another notable difference between a CV and a resume is the need for a "Professional Memberships" section. Most non-academic professionals do not belong to any professional organizations. Academic professionals, on the other hand, often belong to several. Because professional memberships are regarded highly in traditional academia, this section can be used to include them in the curriculum vitae.

Volunteer Work
Having donated your work for the good of the community is an advantage and should always be included on your CV. Volunteer work can also be used to demonstrate experience and skills, even if you have not acquired them through paid work. In addition, you may want to include any relevant experience you have gained while pursuing your hobbies or personal interests.

References
Just like in any other industry, ads for academic positions may ask for references. This should always be the last section in your CV, and should include three to five professional references. Your references should be able to speak knowledgably and positively about your work, so if possible you should choose colleagues who have known you for at least several years.

Writing a Superb CV
As you can see, one of the main benefits of a CV is its flexibility. If you have never written a curriculum vitae before, you may find the many optional sections to be rather overwhelming. However, it is important to remember that a CV is designed to allow you to represent yourself to your best advantage. Your CV should be always written and organized in a way that you feel best reflects your unique personality and your qualifications for the specific job.

Looking for a job in SG, you can source a list of available jobs at job bank Singapore.

An article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

Your New Job Title - Finding a Job!

Today's unemployment sits at around 9% or 14 million people. But a lot of job hunters spend their days (hopefully) perusing jobsites like craigslist and submitting dozens of resumes every day to no avail.

How do you distinguish yourself from a pile of 400 resumes?
Well you start by doing slightly more than your average job seeker, and if you really want a job, you will make finding a job your full time job.

Pay attention to the concepts outlined in this article to find out where to start and how to transform yourself into a prime candidate and become a Job Winner rather than a Lazy Seeker.

Yes, there are jobs out there. In fact hundreds of new jobs are posted in your area every week. So if you keep applying to them how come you are still unemployed?

Well, the fact that they are looking at a stack of a minimum 100 resumes doesn't help. Even if you are lucky enough to get an interview, they are probably speaking with 5 other candidates more qualified, and more prepared for that job.

So what is your spin on this? Become one of the 5 other candidates that APPEARS more qualified AND more prepared. This might sound like a lot of work, but if you look at it, it's less work than a 40 hour/week job, and it's definitely a better use of your time. And remember if you want to stand out, you must put the leg work to do so:

1. Cater your application to every new job
Lazy Seeker: submits same resume and cover letter to dozens of jobs in 15 minutes and things he's done for the date.
Job Winner: Every time you apply to a job, apply to it like it's the ONLY one. Rewrite your cover letter to highlight the skills and expertise the job post asks for, every single time.

2. Find your unique selling proposition
Lazy Seeker: will tell the same story on an interview about his history, background, strengths, and weaknesses.
Job Winner: will develop listening skills to bond with the interviewer and share relevant stories that will highlight their strengths and automatically build value to the employer.

3. Have stories to back you up
Lazy Seeker: "well that's pretty much it"
Job Winner: will create and share stories about his strengths and weaknesses and give a little insight about the company he's interviewing for from his perspective. Stories create pictures that will make the employer visualize them in the company already: "in this position with your company I would...and I know you will enjoy..."

4. Create and manage your public brand
Lazy Seeker: "what brand? You mean clothing brand?"
Job Winner: what comes up when you Google your name? Job winners make sure they polish their Facebook or LinkedIn profiles to be professional. Some even create blogs where they share stories about helping their communities or being involved in noble causes. This builds your brand. This builds your value.

5. Be willing to downgrade your expectations
Lazy Seeker: "Well this is not a great job, I'll just wait for a better one"
Job Winner: "I need a job NOW. This opportunity is here, and I will take it. I will use the time and experience I have when I am EMPLOYED to find my dream job."

6. Find out about the company (and mention it in the interview)
Lazy Seeker: " so what exactly would I be doing?"
Job Winner: "well I noticed that your company...which I am very happy about because I feel that I would...so this is perfect for me and I am very excited to start here. With that said, what else do you need to know about me before you make your hiring decision?"

7. Keep up to date with current events
Lazy Seeker: "the price is right is on..."
Job Winner: takes this time to read about current events, economically, locally, and find stories he can use for his advantage.

8. Develop job skills on the hunt
Lazy Seeker: gets better at sitting on the couch
Job Winner: reads a few books that would give him basic understanding of concepts he could use in interviews and on cover letters to give the appearance he is a well rounded and qualified candidate.

9. Make the call rather than an email
Lazy Seeker: "great I sent 25 emails today!"
Job Winner: finds every opportunity to get the employer on the phone because an email will get lost in the hundreds of other job applicant's and that phone call gives him the opportunity to present his case.

10. Drive your activity passionately until you get a job
Lazy Seeker: "I guess I'll look for some more jobs today, but the economy sucks more today."
Job Winner: get's to work every single day and does everything with passion and conviction. Constantly affirming to himself that he will find a job today and always makes sure the employer knows that he is more qualified and wants the job more than the other lazy seekers he has spoken to today.

Looking for a job in SG, you can search a list of available jobs at jobsbank sg.

A recruiting article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

10 Ways to Speed-Up Your Job Search Effort

Today everyone knows at least one person who has lost their job to down-sizing, right-sizing, cut-backs, production reduction or a mean, vicious “bogus leader” who could care less about your family, your life or your existence at the company. This may sound a bit overboard, but everyone has probably experienced the manager, supervisor or company leader from hell, and if you haven’t just stick around.

It is this type of leadership that is taking companies down the path of death and destruction. So what’s a jobless person to do? First you must get organized and do a serious self examination. Look at the things you love to do, your gifts and talents. This is not fluff, you may be at the best time of your life if you are willing to get real and do some serious work. You cannot expect others to do this for you, you have to own the unemployment label, and decide where you want to go from here. Leave the pity party for later.

Do you have a charismatic personality? Have you ever done sales? Can’t live knowing that your life depends on you getting a commission? Try it. Yes, that’s easy for me to say, but “nothing ventured nothing gained” and you should always have more faith in yourself than a “bogus leader.” It is unfair and foolish for employees today to think that their employer should always have their best interest in mind when planning company growth and expansion. The company leadership is looking out for the bottom line and that’s all. In a perfect world they would care about workers, but this is not a perfect world it’s a global economy and it’s “all about the Benjamin’s.”

Here are 10 things you must do before starting your job search:

1. Do an honest in-depth evaluation of your job skills. Take a serious look at your management, financial, communication, research and computer skills.

2. List all those transferable skills, for example, auditing, appraising, recruiting troubleshooting and organizing, and all those task that fit under the umbrella labeled “other duties as directed.”

3. When writing your resumes select your words carefully. Use only strong, positive points that are relevant to the job you are seeking.

4. Use skill titles and job headings that match the job you want. Unrelated job titles are a sure indication that you do not have knowledge about the position.

5. Consider doing contractual work. Just consider it.

6. Practice your interviewing skills before the actual interview, and master the one important aspect of nonverbal communication…eye contact.

7. Consider taking a job in an area outside your comfort zone. You might like it.

8. Remember to speak with those folks willing to act as a reference. Never assume that they will say positive things about you, call them and make sure your relationship is still sound.

9. Never email a cover letter as an attachment without a signature. Those cover letters without signatures are often the ones eliminated first. Use a scanner or email from a copy store i.e. Kinko’s that will allow you to scan your signature and send a signed cover letter.

10. Keep track of all those positions you are applying for and make sure the people living with you are aware you are applying for positions so they answer the telephone with style and grace. You are a representation of the type of home your come from, so remind everyone to be professional.

Looking for a job in Singapore, you can source a list of available jobs at WDA jobs Singapore.

A recruitment article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

Job Skills - 7 Essential Skills That Are Required For Any Job

In this highly competitive economy, employers are looking for workers who can do more than just fill a vacancy - they are looking for people who can help them grow. While any job has a specific skill set associated with it, companies want workers with "evergreen" job skills that are always useful in changing times.

If you want to find a job that will let you grow professionally, you'll want to make sure that you have skills that will help your company grow right along with you.

These skills will make you a highly sought-after candidate in any field, and will help you to keep the job you get:

1. Research skills
Nobody has all the information they'll ever need in their head (or on their desk) already, but if you know how to do research, you'll always be able to find the information in a timely manner.

2. Logic and reason
Every company runs into problems, and those problems need to be solved. A firm grasp of logic and reason will make you an invaluable asset.

3. Technological literacy
Computers have taken over the workplace, and every worker needs to have at least a basic level of skill and comfort with modern technology, just to be able to function.
You don't need to have a degree or special training in computers or information technology, but you'll be expected to have a basic level of ability to work with computers.

4. Communication skills
Every job will require you to communicate with other people, in speaking and often in writing as well. Employers are interested in workers who can express themselves clearly in their dealings with supervisors, underlings and co-workers.

5. Organization
A messy desk may be acceptable (though it is never recommended), but a messy approach to your work is never something an employer is looking for. You'll probably have to do a lot of different tasks, each with a different schedule and deadline, and being able to organize your work is crucial.

6. Interpersonal skills
Every workplace has people in it, and those people often have different personalities and temperaments. Being able to work well with others, and communicate across barriers of culture and personality is necessary.

7. Career-minded orientation
If you don't know where you're headed, neither does your company. Having a plan for your own career will make your employer more willing to help you achieve your goals since they will benefit from your growth.

These skills aren't the only ones that you'll need for your specific job, but they are skills that will make you an asset to any employer, and serve you well in any position that you'll find yourself in.

Looking for a job in Singapore, you can get a list of available jobs at job bank WDA.

A recruitment article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

How To Write a Good CV and Impress Potential Employers

The path that leads to an appealing job offer always starts―and unfortunately often ends―with your CV. It takes a busy HR director just seconds to review your CV among a pile of others, and make a quick judgment: In those critical few seconds, only your writing skills influence his or her decision.

Before you dive into reading articles and books that teach you how to write a good CV, remember: Much of the impression that you leave on a potential employer comes from the level of your English writing. Since you haven't had the chance to meet with that potential employer and convince him or her why s/he should choose you among all the candidates, only your writing skills reflect your image.

Therefore, there's no doubt that a professionally written and creative CV dramatically increases your chances of gaining an interview with that potential employer.

How to write a good CV by using advanced technology solutions
Recently, some ambitious developers took English writing to the next level, developing a smart, self-learning technology called Natural Language Processing; this technology constantly analyzes millions of documents and text phrases, maintaining a growing proprietary dictionary database that simulates the human mind, so that the end user is provided with an accurate online grammar check and spell check solution.

This innovative technology compares the analyzed results with the user's existing written text―a CV for example―and automatically performs a punctuation check, language enrichment (using an advanced online synonyms dictionary), and grammar and spelling correction, eventually transforming a plain old CV into a professional and appealing "ticket to ride".

Benefits of using professional grammar software to write your CV:

(1) Makes your CV stand out from the rest, thereby increasing your chances of getting an interview.

(2) A potential employer will perceive you as intelligent, professional, and trustworthy.

(3) Prevents embarrassing spelling or grammar errors that can cause you to lose an appealing joboffer.

(4) Eliminates job-hunting stress, as you no longer need to spend hours writing, checking, andrechecking that CV.

(5) One writing solution contains all the editing tools you need to write a professional CV.

Searching for a job in SG, you can source a list of latest jobs at wda job bank.

An article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

How To Get A Disney Channel Acting Audition

Kids all over the country dream of making it big in show business. While acting jobs can be hard to land, it is possible to break into this difficult field by answering a call for a Disney Channel acting audition. Many of today's hottest young entertainers got their start from a Disney Channel acting audition. Though there are sometimes hundreds, or even thousands of people competing for just a few spots, this has been the big break that boosted the career of many performers.

The easiest way to land a Disney Channel acting audition is through an agent. They are made aware of current calls and will have the specifics of the open roles available. It is much easier for inexperienced actors and actresses to get themselves noticed by using an agent than attempting to land these highly sought after roles on their own. While there are ways of getting a Disney Channel acting audition on your own, this is the simplest route.

A great resource that will allow you an inside look at a Disney Channel acting audition listing is the Disney website at http://corporate.disney.go.com/auditions/. Their corporate section has a special page that will let the public know about any open auditions, casting calls, or extras opportunities. While this may not get you the scoop on every Disney Channel acting audition, it can be a foot in the door if you do not have an agent. Check this page regularly to see what auditions are being offered nearest you.

Though winning a part through a Disney Channel acting audition can be difficult, with hard work it is possible. Just take a look at all of the big name celebrities who have become hugely successful after a start on the Disney Channel. Who knows, maybe you could be the next huge success!

Searching for a job in Singapore, you can source a list of latest jobs at WDA jobsnet.

An article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

Blank Resume Form For Free - How I Easily Write My Resume

When you are starting to create your CV, it will help you if you go on the net and download a few free resume formats as a benchmark to create your resume. A lot of people have doubts about what a resume ought to look like, and the free resume formats which are there on the net could truly assist you when you have questions about what to put on your resume and what you must leave out.

There's no unitary standard way to write a resume. There are various formats and people put different information on them. But, having free resume formats to direct you could assist you decide what you reckon is significant to you and what is not. In addition you will be able to modify your resume for the job you are applying for. Depending on the sort of position, you might prefer to change the formatting and also the information a little to meet the necessities of the job.

If you are applying for a sales job and you don't hold much education specifically relating to the sales field however you do hold several job experiences in sales, you would prefer to have your job experience listed at the beginning on your resume followed by your qualification. On the other hand, if you're applying for a teaching job and have a lot of education which goes for teaching, then you might want that at the beginning followed by job experience.

A good CV could make the difference between receiving an interview and not receiving an interview. The CV is the very first thing a potential employer checks and you'll want it to appear professional and command the person performing the hiring job to wish to see you personally. It must be no longer than two pages - actually one page if you are able to fit your information on a single page and this can be done in several ways.

The primary idea of a resume is the same, however there are various ways to state your skills and experience which is why free resume formats could help you create your best resume and receive that interview. Naturally, the free resume formats you use must just be utilized as guidance. You have to put in your own information! Perform an Internet search with your favorite search engine and put "free resume formats" in the search box. You'll have an option of 100s of sites. Consider a few of them and download a few free resume formats which interest you and then start writing your resume.

Seeking for a job in SG, you can source a list of available jobs at wda job bank.

A recruitment article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

How To Make Your Resume Work For You?

The key component of a successful resume is to target it to a specific job position. To write your resume for general review is to shoot without aiming. If you want to make your resume work for you and get a new better job, then you need to put some time and effort not only into your resume writing but into job search as well.

Having a myriad of useful tips, guidelines and advices on how to write a good resume we try so hard to make it perfect, following all the guidelines on the format, sequence of information and font type, that we forget the main thing: successful resume is one that leads you to the interview, and not the one that is written "according to the rules".

To make sure your resume will stand the competition and will fulfill your professional objective please review these three principles.

DEFINE YOUR TARGET 

Before writing or updating your resume select one or more job openings that you wish to apply for. Do not put your resume for general review online. There are thousands of resumes out there, and the chances of yours to be noticed are very small. Instead be proactive, spend some time to find companies and positions you are interested in and go for them.

TAKE AIM 

Once you have selected your targeted job openings you need to adjust your resume to match each. Don't be tempted to send same resume to different employers, it won't work because it's impossible hit several targets with one bullet.

Write a copy of your resume per each job position. Compose a unique job objective each time but avoid using templates. Your goal is to make your statement personal for the reader to feel like you have been striving to work in this specific company and not just anywhere.

The next step is to adjust your professional experience and achievements section. Look for the hints in the initial job ad, try to include same phrases if applicable to your experience and maintain similar structure/consequence if possible. The keywords for your resume are in the job posting, include them in your resume but don't overuse.

SHOOT! 

Once you have worked on the content of your resume, format it to look neat and professional and you are ready to shoot. When you send it to your potential employer it is better to compose a short covering letter to go with it, and put it in the body of the email. Now you just need to wait, usually you will receive a reply within nearest 2-3 days. If you don't you can go ahead and send a follow-up letter to check the status of your resume and the deadlines by which you can expect a reply.

However be very careful with this letter, while it is your right to be informed of the progress of your application, you don't want to sound rude or impulsive. Stay formal, polite and concise. Remember that your professional and personal skills may be judged not only by your resume but by any action you take.

We wish you good luck with your resume and the fulfillment of your professional and personal ambitions. Your resume makes your first impression and we hope it will look professional, confident and relevant to help you get the job that you want.

Searching for a job in SG, you can get a list of latest jobs at jobs bank Singapore.

A recruiting article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

How To Write A Resume Summary Paragraph

When writing a resume it is important to give the document purpose. This is done by writing a resume summary paragraph above your work and education information. This paragraph will summarize exactly what the goal of the resume is. This paragraph will tell the employer what kind of personality you have, your work ethic, your talents, and most importantly, your objective and how you wish to fulfill that at the company you are applying for. There are many resume writing services that specialize in doing this.

Now that you know the purpose of writing the resume summary paragraph it is important to understand the correct grammar, formatting and sentence flow that is typically used in professionally written resumes. Here is a free example of what we are talking about here before we discuss in detail what we are describing.

Corporate Business Development Executive with repeated success identifying critical business issues and opportunities, launching profitable strategies, leading new business ventures and relationship management. Proven record of achievement leading to accelerated consultative sales, improved business processes, and optimal market share. Experienced in large established, turnaround and early stage companies.

Do you see how there is no reference to the self? You do not want to reference yourself because it sounds pompous and arrogant. Descriptive sentences are much less confrontational and much more conversational in the eyes of the hiring manager.

The next thing to notice is that there are a lot of keywords spread out throughout the text that hiring managers, like myself, tend to look for. An example of this is "repeated success", "leading", "proven record of achievement" and so on. These are high impact keywords and buzzwords that the employer will identify with and may end up selecting your professionally written resume over your competitors.

If you wish to learn more about how to write the rest of the resume, not just the summary paragraph, then you will need to learn how write a resume, an official Business Resumes article.

Looking for a job in Singapore, you can find a list of latest jobs at jobbank Singapore.

An article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.