There’s no getting away from the fact that it’s a worrying time for everyone. Most of us have had to endure lockdown during the Covid pandemic and even though restrictions are starting to lift in some countries, others have had to re-impose lockdown because cases have started to rise again.
This has hit economies hard around the world and, certainly in the UK, a surge in unemployment is predicted. And I’m sure this isn’t the only place where it will happen.
So, perhaps now is the time to overhaul your CV in case you find yourself having to look for a new job. But before I go into this, I’d just like to say that if this happens to you, try to stay positive. Before starting to send out job application in a scatter-gun manner, sit down and think about what you really want to do. Do you want a job similar to your old one? Do you feel you’d like to go down a different path? You might even take the plunge and decide to Start Your Own Business.
Now, back to your CV. First, read through it to check that everything is up to date. Are your personal details (address, telephone number, email address) correct? Have you mentioned all appropriate employment that you’ve had? Is your personal statement as good as it can be? Is it neatly presented with no grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes?
OK, you’re happy with it, but what about sending it out? Some companies prefer you to send it with a covering letter. Nowadays, many prefer you to send it attached to an email. Whichever you choose, make sure the letter/email has been tailored to the job you are applying for. This is your only chance to make your CV stand out from the crowd; so spend a little time making it relevant, not just general.
Study the job advert and try to really understand what the company is looking for, then try to make them see that you are the person for them. In our Professional Sales Techniques course we talk about ‘features’ and ‘benefits’ when selling a product. It doesn’t sound very complimentary but in the job market you are the commodity and you have to show a prospective employer that the features you’ve got (your qualifications, training, language skills, experience, etc) will give them benefits. The more you can do this, the better your chances of securing an interview.
When you’ve got that interview, the key is preparation, preparation, preparation… And we’ll be looking at this in more detail next month.
Author: Diana Nadin
