15 CV Mistakes Costing You Interviews

15 CV Mistakes Costing You Interviews Your CV is an important part of your armoury when looking for a job. It has to look good and be as close as possible to the job description to get you through to the next stage. As one of the first documents that someone will ask for to represent your capabilities, your CV should be completed with focus, time and care. If youre guilty of any of the below 15 CV mistakes,  youre probably costing yourself some great interviews: 1. Bad formatting Your CV should be formatted perfectly. It should be consistent throughout in terms of bullets,  text  and margins. Your CV should be readable on a  mobile device as well as on a computer screen; so ensure it displays perfectly for both. Saving it as a PDF  is a great way to ensure it is easy to read on  tablets and phones. There is no excuse for untidy, inconsistent formatting. Check once, and then double check this! 2. No contact details These should be clear, correct and visible. Perhaps they could be in a header to ensure they are easy to find if the pages are not kept together. 3. Too many pages The ideal length of a CV is two pages. 4. Jam-packed paragraphs Your CV should be split up clearly with bullet points. HR professionals and recruiters want to read the relevant information quickly and easily,  and will not waste  hours reading through long scripts. 5. Hidden information Your CV needs to match as closely as possible to the job description or job requirements. Often CVs are selected via key words so the words that appear on your ideal job description should also (if you have the experience) appear on your CV. 6. A rush-job Rushing to produce a CV without really thinking through and analysing what it is that you want to do next. Take your time to analyse yourself; self-awareness and knowing what you want and are suited to should be your first step before producing your CV. Real freedom to choose and some control over what you now want must involve some self-awareness work first. My book  What to do next? is a practical exercise book which  can help you with this (available on Amazon). 7. Wordy profile statement Your profile statement needs to be short, strong, snappy and not generic. They need to be objective. In one or two sentences summarise and emphasise your key attributes, experience and your intended future career path. 8. No summary of skills These should be clearly visible, don’t hide them. Some people like the top part of their CV to look like a snap shot of your experience. Your skills should be bulleted and separated and can appear under your profile statement so the reader can quickly see them. 9. Inconsistent, incorrect tenses I often see CVs where the starting word is in the wrong tense. If you are currently working there, it should read,  for example: Reviewing, Liaising etc. If, however, it is a previous role, it should read: Reviewed, Liaised. Its an  obvious one, but I see it on almost every CV that crosses my desk.  Perhaps this is because people update their CV as they go, and dont necessarily go back to change old roles. 10. Overuse of one particular word Again a regular mistake that I see. People often have one word that they repeat over and over again â€" watch out for this, it is often the first word of your responsibility bullet points. Ask a couple of people to read through and check your CV for you. 11. Omitting relevant qualifications/training/courses Often people miss internal training or courses that they have done in the past. List all of them. 12. Failure to quantify  things A great way to add strength to your bullet points is to add numbers and percentages. What did you do, what was the outcome, can you quantify it? 13. Unorganised bullet points I prefer CV’s that have clear bullet points for each position. They can be easily read and are clear. Even within those bullet points think about which ones are at the top. The first two bullet points position you. Think about which are most impressive or most relevant to the job you are applying to and put them first. 14. Lack of tailoring For those good important jobs that you really want make sure you tweak your CV and pull out the most relevant experience and information that you can. Change the order of bullets, add figures. Go through the job specification and match your CV as closely as you can to it.   Take time over this. 15. No references Have them. Either references on request or list the names of two individuals you have asked at the bottom of your CV. fixing these problems in your Cv will help a great deal with your job search, however you should also make sure your social media profiles match the calibre of your CV.  Make sure your Linked In profile gets  just as much attention. The two will work together and these days both need to be strong. Also, be careful not to use too much jargon and simplify your language where possible.  Some industry jargon is necessary  for key word searches, but try to  stay away from inter-company jargon all over your CV it will only alienate the reader. Finally, don’t forget to do your research. Find out as much as you can about the company youre applying for; the culture, job description, their social media presence. Try to gain a true understanding of what they are looking for before you apply. Decide then if that is what you want and if the answer is yes, tailor your CV with your relevant experience and attributes to match that. About the author: Charlotte Billington is a career coach who helps individuals  at a  crossroads. She has recently written a practical exercise book What to do Next?  (available on Amazon) that can assist and guide you through the process  of changing jobs,  understanding and maximising your own potential.

How to Get Started as a Networker [9 Key Principles]

How to Get Started as a Networker [9 Key Principles] As a new year begins, it is always best to create some resolutions. Why not start networking? Starting out as a networker can be a daunting experience, but here are 9 key  principles  to remember: Change your mindset â€" you network and make connections all the time, so stop feeling afraid of networking and get on with it! Recognise that depth is good, it’s about creating trust. Develop a style that works for you â€" if you are an introvert then stick to situations where you can speak in depth to one or two people, not huge speed dating type events. Always carry business cards and make sure people know who you are. Remember that networking is building long term relationships based on trust do what you say are going to do, honour confidences and only ask for what people are able to give. Know your strengths and work to them do what you enjoy! Maybe you hate eating with others but love country walks? Make them part of your style. Tap into your network’s networks, get introduced in order to spread your network. Asking contacts who they can introduce you to is a classic networker’s tool. It’s a two way thing, always be ready to give, give when you see no prospect of re-payment. This is long term strategy not today’s tactics. Joining up your contacts fro their mutual advantage is a great way to give value. Keep high standards, focus on where you want to network, don’t just be a tart. Make sure you think about who or what you need and where you will find it. And follow the etiquette follow up on the contacts you make. Get your network going when you don’t need anything. Phoning people from 20 years ago (it is never too late to pick up a contact) works better when you are not saying ‘Giz us a job!’ And on that note, ask for help, ideas and information.. never ask directly for a job. Join a couple of groups, get some opportunities to meet people you can help. Don’t rely solely on social media, it gives you quantity not quality, use it to get in touch and then press some flesh, it is your start point not your end point. Good luck and have some fun on the way!

Too Many Emails Some Real Causes and Solutions - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Too Many Emails Some Real Causes and Solutions - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career In the corporate world people often complain about too many emails. It is a modern day challenge for sure, however over the years I have noticed a few underlying causes and possible solutions for this common symptom. Introverts feel more pain Emails and meetings (add social media to the list) are another form of people interaction (like big gatherings) that exhausts the introverts more. As an introvert you have developed strategies to survive in other social situations, why not get creative for this one! It’s a self-management challenge There are quite a few ways emails can be organized, filtered, searched and marked for follow-ups. How open are you to try those? If you are not particularly interested to find solutions and are mostly sharing your frustration, dig little deeper. How organized you are in other areas of your life (ask your spouse or a trusted friend if you need a clue)? My feeling is that you will find a pattern and then should approach this more holistically. Its a habit  issue If your daily routine involves going through your emails first thing in the morning, it’s almost noon before you do anything for your own deliverables. A big chunk of your most productive work time is spent on emails. According to David Rock, you should do the brain intensive work in the morning as thats when the brain is well rested and is ready to do most productive work. Another fact is that our brain wants to avoid the energy consuming intensive thinking. That’s why we easily get allured to do the easy tasks (checking emails) first. I am not saying you shouldnt spend time replying to other people’s questions, help them and be a good citizen â€" do all of those but do it consciously. But what is underneath? Why do you feel compelled to spend so much time on emails? Why is it so easy for you to get distracted? You may say that its the brains fault:). Chances are you don’t have any strong plan for yourself. When you are heading for work, do you plan for the day? How are you treating your priorities? How much passionate are you about the real job? My client Tom was a busy professional and a large chunk of his time/energy was taken by emails. He used to get disappointed that his hard work was not getting the recognition. When I challenged him about the real impact of his email activity, he asked some of the people in his team. The data helped him to use his time more consciously- “Always on” no longer seemed so cool! When he focused on what he really wanted to accomplish at work, it was much natural for him to discipline his email activities. Emails are just another form of communication. Pick a style that aligns with your own values and communicate that with your team. You are reading this shows you want to do something about this challenge. That is a very powerful place to begin! Please feel free to share your challenges, ideas and triumphs. Author: Sharmin Banu   is a development partner for high performers who wants to have more Growth, Purpose and Joy for their work and lives. On top of her coach training, a deep eastern cultural background and a 12-year of high tech corporate experience give her a unique position of learning what blocks people to move up in their career path and what helps them to excel. She is very passionate about helping professionals so they can honor their core selves and leverage those to thrive and succeed in the high paced corporate culture and have more fulfillment from their lives. Sharmin’s clientele   is mostly high-tech professionals in the mid-level in their career. Sharmin and her husband have a young daughter and lives in Kirkland WA. Sharmin loves to stay in touch with her friends and the extended family.

Should Your Company Custom Build Software or Buy a Canned Solution

Should Your Company Custom Build Software or Buy a Canned Solution In today’s increasingly connected world, technology is king. As such, software development has become more important than ever before for companies in a wide array of industries and fields. Improving your business through software has become more of a necessity than a luxury, and many businesses struggle with the decision between purchasing off the shelf software or investing the time and money into creating custom built software programs. They both come with benefits and disadvantages. Consider the pros and cons of these two options and determine which better suits your company or product. Custom Built Software Those looking for innovation are drawn to custom built software, as it allows company specification and results in a unique, one of a kind software program not found elsewhere. It provides a competitive edge that off the shelf software simply can’t. The Pros Customization Should you choose to create custom built software, you’ll have ultimate control over every facet of the program. From the tiniest details to the must-have features, everything can be designed and adapted to your specifications. Quality Assurance If you’ve ever used off the shelf software, you know that running into bugs is inevitable. With custom built software, you have the opportunity to work and rework certain features to perfection. With the right quality assurance tools, you can quickly spot issues and have your developers fix them with immediacy. Should customers complain, you’ll be able to immediately answer their needs with quick changes. A Leg Up on the Competition Gaining a competitive edge in an increasingly evolving world can be tough, but custom building software programs specific to your company’s needs can grant you this edge with ease. A Great Team You can easily assemble a dream team of talented developers, thanks to the influx of outsourcing options. Sites like https://remote.com/ allow business owners to quickly locate qualified talent anywhere in the world. You truly have a global workforce available at your fingertips, and finding the right individual or individuals for your software project can be as simple as the click of a button. The Cons Time Intensive Embarking on a custom software build means committing to months and even years of project time. Software development isn’t quick, and it can take some businesses months before they see return on their development investment. If you’re looking to get your business started more immediately, you’ll likely need to pursue off the shelf software options. Expensive Price Tag One of the largest and most challenging disadvantages of custom built software comes in cost. The upfront costs alone can be extensive, and easily reach into tens of thousands of dollars if not more. For some, budgetary limits mean custom software is simply unrealistic. Off The Shelf Options While custom built software can be enticing, it’s not to say off the shelf options don’t have their share of advantages. The Pros Production Begins Sooner With canned solutions, you won’t be waiting on an extensive development timeline. You’ll have the opportunity to get your product or service to consumers more quickly and begin pulling in revenue sooner. Less Expensive In all regards, it’s cheaper to purchase canned solutions rather than pursue custom built software. If you’re just starting out and don’t have the private funding or personal capital to handle a great deal of extra expense, off the shelf options are probably your best bet. The Cons Rigidity Generally, canned software solutions aren’t going to cater to every problem you encounter or every need you have. Software solutions may cover a great deal of general issues, but if your business has a specialized need, know that off the shelf options may simply not address all of your concerns. Because you purchase as-is, you won’t be able to modify the way it works or fix any bugs that may arise. Selecting off the shelf software or custom built software is a high personal decision and depends largely upon your business’s needs. Consider the disadvantages and benefits of both and determine which best suits your company.

Negotiation Skills For Project Managers (+ Tips To Master Them) CareerMetis.com

Negotiation Skills For Project Managers (+ Tips To Master Them) Negotiation skills impact our everyday lives. We negotiate with our partners for more time together, with our children about what they can eat for dinner and with our friends about where to go to watch the game. Much of our life is engaging in a series of negotiations with the desired outcome being a solution that benefits both parties. The same applies to project management.As a project manager, it’s important to understand that every part of a project is a negotiation. What to buy, who to buy from, how much to pay for materials, how to agree on terms, and how to settle disagreements are all parts of the job for a project manager.evalThey also all rely on negotiation.I’ve written this article to walk you through the steps required to become a master negotiator in your projectsâ€"it’s common to be fearful of negotiation, but with the right skills, you don’t have to be.What Is Negotiation?Negotiation is a discussion aimed at reaching an agreement. Think of all the things you t ry and agree upon with the people in your personal life.Where to eat, what to eat, who does the dishes, who does the laundry, all of these are small negotiations which we engage in every day of our lives.Quiz Yourself: Are You A Good Negotiator?You’ve probably never asked yourself this before. Sure, you’re able to problem solve, get contracts signed and materials purchased. But are you getting the best deal, finding the best solution, and reaching the best agreement? Here are a few questions you can ask yourself.a) Can You Understand The Other Sides Point Of View?evalRoger Fisher, author of Getting to Yes says that “the ability to see the situation as the other side sees it, as difficult as it may be, is one of the most important skills a negotiator can possess.”b) Can You Disagree Without Being Disagreeable?In the heat of debate, it’s easy to let emotions get the better of you. A key skill in negotiation is the ability to stay calm and agreeable. Chriss Voss, the author o f Never Split The Difference, writes that “he who has learned to disagree without being disagreeable has discovered the most valuable secret of negotiation.”c) Can You Identify Value-Creating Moves?evalThese are small agreements within a negotiation that cost you little, benefit the other side, and create value for you. Say you’re negotiating the bulk purchase of materials and in order to secure a lower cost per item you guarantee fast payment.The other side wins because they aren’t waiting weeks or months for the invoice to come through and you win because you’re getting better cost per unit.d) Are You An Active Listener?Most people don’t listen. Instead, what they do is wait for the other person to stop talking so they can start talking. The result is that at the end of the conversation they’ve failed to understand the other person’s point of view or learned from them at all.Active listening, on the other hand, requires the listener to really understand what the ot her person is saying. It requires your total attention.evalOne technique for active listening is to repeat back, in your own words, what the other person just said in a way that they agree with.By doing so, you communicate to them that you have a) been listening and b) can understand and empathize with their point of view. This is a great way to build rapport.Why Negotiation Is An Important Project Management Skill1) Project Negotiations Are Always OngoingevalIn project management, there are unique and routine forms of negotiation. Some things, such as resource allocation, come upon a near-daily basis.Others, such as negotiation the bulk purchase of materials, may come up only once or twice each project. Of course, you’ll always have salary negotiations throughout your career as well.2) Not All Negotiations Have Equal OutcomesNegotiations break down into two sub-categories:DistributiveIntegrativeDistributive negotiations are also known as “zero-sum” negotiations. The only poss ible outcome is that one side wins and the other loses. These are often adversarial as each side fights to maximize the amount they win by.One common mistake people make when entering negotiations is assuming that zero-sum is the only possible outcome. This is not true. Distributive negotiations are where both sides leave the negotiation in a better place than where they entered. Most of the negotiations you engage in as a project manager have the potential to be distributive.3) Project Managers Fill Three Negotiation RolesFirst, project managers are negotiators. They are responsible for the purchase of materials and the allocation of resources, both of which require negotiation.However, within the project, they often have to mediate conflicts between team members. When that happens, they have to fill the role of mediator.evalIn this situation, they’ll look to facilitate the meeting between parties. Communication is a vital part of the negotiation and the mediator should ask quest ions that generate dialogue.In other situations, project managers will be the arbitrators of a negotiation. They’ll make the final decision. As a result, it is in their best interest that the negotiations go well. They’ll set the ground rules for negotiation, allow both parties to make the best argument possible and then choose how to proceed.What Are Negotiation Skills?Negotiation skills are personal characteristics and techniques that can be applied to negotiation in order to achieve the best possible outcome.Some important negotiation skills are:Setting goals and limits.Control Over Your EmotionsActive ListeningKnowing When To End NegotiationsIssues Where Project Managers Will Need to NegotiateSo far I’ve talked about the reasons why project managers need to be good negotiators. Until now, I’ve been talking about negotiation in general terms.evalNow, I’m going to explain some specific parts of project management where you’ll need to negotiate on behalf of your team.a) Scope, cost, and schedule objectivesI’m sure you’ve been in a situation where you’re fighting tooth and nail against scope creep. It happens all the time. The stakeholders want to add a feature here or there that wasn’t initially planned for.Even if the modifications are possible, it will affect the cost and schedule of the project. Here you need to negotiate what you’ll be willing to add, how much more it will cost, and how it will affect your schedule. Strong negotiation here will increase team morale, too, as your team members will know you’re in their corner.b) Release, Acceptance, Go/No-Go CriteriaSometimes there will be a disagreement between what qualifies as acceptable quality for the project to go live. Many projects have failed at the final hurdle because the requirements for the project to be considered done were not clearly negotiated at the start.c) Contract Terms And ConditionsContracts are negotiations. If you’re a sports fan you’ve probably heard num erous times that your favorite team has entered contract negotiations to sign a player.As a project manager, you’re familiar with the complexity of contracts. How much, how long, the structure of the payments. There are a lot of details to sort out and potential points for conflict and negotiation.d) Assignments, Roles, and ResponsibilitiesSometimes you’re going to have to assign team members roles and responsibilities that they’re…well…less than thrilled to be given. Many people who’re unfamiliar with the different types of negotiation will view these conversations as zero-sum.Instead, if these situations are handled correctly, they can be integrative. Yes, perhaps the team member has to do a role they don’t love, but in exchange, they get a slightly better contract or additional time off.Good negotiators are able to take these potential points of tension and turn them into satisfying resolutions.5) ResourcesNo project comes with an infinite budget. We wish. And belie ve me, if we knew how to get you one, we would tell you.The reality is that even if you negotiated a great contract that has ample budget for resources, you’ll still have to allocate them properly (usually with the help of a project management tool).It’s human nature for people to want more resources than they think they need. We like the surplus because it means security. However, since you don’t have an infinite budget or resources, you’ll have to negotiate who gets what, and how much of it they get.6) PricesAgain, since you don’t have an infinite budget, you need to make sure you get the best prices possible for your resources. Look for value-creating moves.What can you do that will take little time or cost on your part but provide value to them?Some options are guaranteed fast payment and bulk or recurring purchases.A good piece of advice is to look for things that provide stability for the other side.Resources to Improve Your Negotiation SkillsThough negotiation is no t often mentioned when it comes to project management (though it should be!), other professions have been incredibly concerned about improving how they negotiate. As a result, there are many books and online resources that project managers looking to get that extra edge can turn to.Here’s a list of the best books on negotiation, as well as some online resources:The Best Negotiation BooksGetting Moreby Stuart DiamondWhat Sets It Apart:The book starts with the theory that a person’s emotions are what guides them through negotiations rather than logic.Quote:“Never make yourself the issue. Just because the other side is a jerk doesn’t mean you should be a jerk.”Crucial Conversationsby Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, et al.What Sets It Apart: The book emphasizes the importance of effective communication. The ideal read for people new to learning about negotiations.Quote:“At the core of every successful conversation lies the free flow of relevant information.”Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce PattonWhat Sets It Apart:The most influential book ever written about negotiation. Developed the idea of the “win-win” situation between opposite sides.Quote: “The more extreme the opening positions and the smaller the concessions, the more time and effort it will take to discover whether or not the agreement is possible.”Getting Past No by William UryWhat Sets It Apart: In Ury’s follow-up to Getting to Yes, he presents a five-step strategy for negotiating the hardest of deals.Quote: “You need to suspend your reaction when you feel like striking back, to listen when you feel like talking back, to ask questions when you feel like telling your opponent the answers, to bridge your differences when you feel like pushing for your way, and to educate when you feel like escalating.”Never Split the Difference by Chiss Voss and Tahl Raz What Sets It Apart: A book is written in response (and expressing disagreement with) Getting To Yes.Quo te: “If you approach a negotiation thinking the other guy thinks like you, you are wrong. That’s not empathy, that’s a projection.”Other Online Resources to Learn Negotiation SkillsHarvard’s Program of NegotiationProject Management Institute: Negotiating Project OutcomesNegotiation Express What Do You Think?Now that you’ve learned a bit more about the importance of negotiation in project management, what techniques will you try?Let me know in the comments.

Ways of Inspiring Employees to Bring their A-game to Work - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Ways of Inspiring Employees to Bring their A-game to Work The employer-employee relationship deserves a closer look by your HR team. As HR, you’re representing both the company and the people it employs. As the company’s representative, you want to make sure that employees are being effective in their respective job roles to help the company achieve its business goals. At the same time, you also owe it to the employees that they gain a good overall experience in the company. To make this happen, you can encourage the company to provide a work environment where employees’ morale is high and where there is room for career growth. For one, you can motivate your employees more by developing a rewards and recognition program. This will make the staff feel that they’re being valued and encourage them to keep contributing to the company’s success. When it comes to professional advancement, you cannot scrimp on resources that are meant to give your employees the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills. If you’re looking for ideas on how to inspire employees to give their very best at work, check out our infographic:

What to Include in Your Pastor Resume Package

What to Include in Your Pastor Resume PackageYou've worked very hard to develop a pastor resume that will help you land that position at your church. So, it's only right that you include this in your pastor resume package. The simple fact is that the more relevant, detailed and presentable your pastor resume is, the more likely it is that you'll land that job. Here are some tips on how to add this to your pastor resume package.o Be specific in your letter of introduction. If you're going to mention specific experience in your letter of introduction, you should do so. In your letter of introduction, always mention what you have done in your church. In this area of your pastor resume, you can leave out all the technical work. Just be sure to get specific in this area of your pastor resume.o Fill out your pastor resume package as well. Your package should include your basic information about yourself, your church affiliation, and a few letters of recommendation. If your pastor has a ref erence from a parent or a sibling, include this with your resume. You should also include these if the pastor knows of someone who worked with you when you were employed at a job.o Don't forget to include your pastor resume package. The package can contain copies of your past church service worksheets and your current church service worksheets. Be sure to put them all in your package so that the church personnel can refer to these when they are reviewing your application. It is also a good idea to include a couple of copies of the church program of service. This way the church personnel can refer to these when evaluating your application.o If you have a high school diploma or a GED, include this in your letter of introduction. You may not be asked to produce documents but many churches want people with higher education. This can help make you look more relevant and give the impression that you are more successful in life.o Don't forget to ask for and provide any additional reference s in your letter of introduction. Be sure to include an address and phone number and even a work or email address.o Write a brief biography about yourself including your interest in ministry, how you got into ministry, how you have progressed and your professional experience. If you have had any leadership roles within the church, include them.Finally, include your pastor resume package in your church's agenda or in the bulletin. This will give people a chance to see what the church is looking for in its new leaders. Include a link to your pastor resume package in your church bulletin to further help build your reputation.