Top 5 tips to make your CV work for you!

13Apr11

Every few days we get – for lack of a better term – a message on the Gharkamai’s info account asking us why it is that certain users of the site have not been able to find projects through the portal in spite of months of trying. I use the term message and not mail or letter or note because it is usually in the format of a glorified text message. Something along the lines of: Dear Madam, pls hlp. Not able getting job on ur site. Inspte trying many mnths – cannot find job.

While we here at Gharkamai applaud your persistence, perhaps its time to examine why? As an HR professional and recruiter, I can tell you that no employer is going to waste their time with an application that is not properly drafted and well worded (especially when its for a job posted under the ‘writing and translation’ category). This type of approach might work if you are very technically sound and work behind the scenes in IT. But why allow for exceptions?

The point is that anyone seeking work under any circumstances should at least try and do the bare minimum. An employer wants to be wowed by candidates and see that some effort has gone into the application; that the candidate is interested in the job.

Out top 5 tips for improving your CV are:

1. Work on your CV to make sure it is current and markets both soft and hard skills that would give you an edge when working from home.
2. To write a clear and neat cover letter indicating why you would be good for the job that is advertised. You could draw from examples on your CV and elaborate on why you think you would be a good fit.
3. It is also our finding that many candidates use sms lingo or abbreviations, this is a big no-no when applying for jobs. If you cannot be bothered to type the full word, then what assurance does the employer have that you will communicate clearly and effectively on their behalf? This is also the case for correct grammar, syntax and punctuation. You will find that a well-written letter will take you places!
4. Another aspect to pursue would be to look at taking up small courses or classes that could help you carrying out work from home. This could also help you customize your skill set and would also show any potential employer that you are not prone to sitting idle, but keen to develop while you have no work on your hands.
5. Finally, you could make sure that your CV has no gaps on it. Breaks on your CV are perfectly permissible but they should clearly be able to gauge what you have been up to when you have not been working.

You could also look at the company’s website and find out more about them, so that when you do write to them or call them you are informed and can use examples from your own experience. Sometimes it helps to pick up the phone and talk to the person concerned. This is particularly the case for placements that require telephones sales and other such services. All of these tips show initiative and it is initiative that an employer is looking for when he or she hires a candidate. It is also initiative that will allow someone to work in a slightly unique working environment, facing the challenges of balancing work and their personal lives. A little initiative in how you apply, how you use your skill sets and how you deal with your interview are all indicators to an employer of how you will actually fair once you have been employed.

In HR there is the concept the an individual will filter themselves out of the running for a certain position based on whether they are over or under qualified for a position. Thus leaving only a small range of individuals that are pretty much qualified for the job to apply. If you see a position posted for law related work, but you have only ever worked in computer programming, then it is clear that you would not look at the project posted. However, it may pay to read the posting clearly as project based work often requires other skill sets that are not found readily around the office. These are usually skills that are required for a one off assignment. It could be the case perhaps that a legal firm requires a technical person to work with new software that has to be rolled out throughout the legal practice. In other words no matter what project you are applying for – read the details, and look at how you would be relevant. If you feel that you have very little to offer; there is probably no point in applying. However if you can think of a new way of using old skills that are relevant to the project posted you should not only apply but you should contact the company which placed the posting making your case as to why you would be suitable for the job.

We hope our tips help and that you find many suitable projects in the future!

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Tags: applications, CV, improving your application, improving your CV, job seeking tips