It has to do with your achievements. And before you go, “oh, please, I know all about this,” let me tell you something. 90% Of CVs I read and review, well, the writers clearly have no clue. Please make sure you’re not among them first.

Why CV Achievements are Critical

I was speaking to the Director of a software development company a while back. And I asked him: “so, when you look for people, what do you look for?”. His answer was interesting. “Value” he said. “I look at how they can provide me with some advantage or benefit.”

He went on to say that he uses a basic formula: what challenging situations the person has been in, what tasks they’ve tackled, what actions and what results or achievements. This gives him a good view of how the person would benefit him.

The key takeaway? Your CV isn’t just about qualifications and duties and responsibilities. It’s about what value you provide. There’s nothing better than to ‘craft’ your achievements accordingly.

What Achievements in Your CV Do

Well written, well chosen achievements in your CV communicate value. Here’s what they say:

“I can make a difference … I make things faster, simpler, better … I improve things”

“I produce results … I can take something from A – Z … I help an employer get what he wants”

“I make things better … I heal the pain … I’m a fixer … I’m a problem solver”

Those are good messages. Because usually when an employer’s hiring, he’s not looking for a qualification or a list of duties done. He’s looking for his problem to be solved. “Can you do it?” is what they want to know. “Have you done it?” and “Where have you done it?” and “How have you done it?” and “What results did you get?”

If you feature answers to those questions, in your CV, you’ll pull interviews. Achievements have influence. Achievements are persuasive. Kinda what one wants. Right?

Right so here is my 3 step CV achievements strategy for getting it down in your CV. To make you shine. I call it the S-[T-A-R]-S strategy. You don’t know it.

3 Step S[TAR]S CV Achievements Method

First, regarding where to place your achievements in your CV. Only one word (well two): in context. A list at the end of your CV is no good. Rather put them in context. Your job title, the company name, the from / to dates you worked there, a brief summary of the job, then achievements. (If you want more on writing a CV get my free information package at 12jss@getresponse.com – just send a blank e-mail and I’ll send it to you – you’ll also get my guide on how to write a 2 page CV.)

Now, let’s move on to the S[TAR]S CV achievements method.

S – “Significant”. When selecting your achievements, what you include has to have a high “significance” or “this really matters” rating. Take a Financial Director. Should he include: “reconciled all Debtor accounts …” as an achievement? No. Probably not. It’s not a heavy weight task. It won’t match the message he’s wanting to send: “I’m experienced, I’m senior, I can handle a lot of responsibility, I’m right for an EXCO type role.”

What you include as an achievement has to be significant in relation to your job. It must focus on important areas of your job. And it must show how you did a great job in exactly the areas you were required to. And exactly in the ways a future employer would value.

So ask yourself – in my current/most recent job – what were the core things my employer needed from me? Your achievements should focus on those core things. As an example: in Sales it’ll be bringing in new business/revenue; in Admin, it’ll be getting and keeping things organized and done on time; in Customer Service, it’ll be quick response, reducing and resolving complaints.

[Are you making notes? Make notes about your job and achievements as we go. Right now, don't worry about anything but the ideas – we'll compile them just now.]

T – the [T-A-R] in STARS stand together. T is for “Test”. What tests did you face in the job? What challenges? What problems? What were the key things expected of you and what obstacles did you face in getting them done? Brainstorm a little, jot down your thoughts.

A – “Action”. How did you tackle the above tests? Do you perform an analysis first? Did you formulate a plan? What did you do to solve the problem? How did you go about fixing? Did you enlist help? Did you research a solution? Did you create a system? What did you start doing to improve the situation? Write it down. Describe it. Take some time.

R – “Results”. So you 1) faced a test and 2) you took action. Now, what results did you get? How were things better after you came in on the job, than they were before?

[Special Note: the best way to present "results" is by using figures. Think of financial results in the newspapers. Usually companies will take out a spread, a big block of space, featuring .... figures! You can say "we did well" till you're blue in the face, but saying "we improved earnings from R465m to R750m in 1 year" just has so much more impact!]

Always then, try to put a figure in your achievements. “Improved xyz by 25%.” “Reduced xyz by 65%.” “Raised customer satisfaction from 78% to 98%.” No need for exact, provable figures! This is not a legal document.

They must however be more or less accurate. But it’s not necessary that they be documented. At interview level you should be able to back what you say up by telling the story, providing more details.

If you don’t have figures, why not try this: include a reference quote. Here’s an example: “Secured a reference from the MD, Jake Strong saying: Jennifer was brilliant, she was organized and professional. I recommend her highly.”

Nice idea. Third party opinions of you always carry more credibility and pulling power.

S – “Simplify”. Now, take the notes you’ve made (see above), select 3 or 4 ideas/achievements and simplify, shorten and shape them into 2 or 3 line sentences. Why? If they’re too long they won’t be read. Your CV achievements won’t have an impact. They won’t pull interviews.

Here are 3 samples:

For an admin department manager: “Setup a department – with 20 people and all admin and systems – that processed 5 000 applications per month, 25% more than target.”

For a PA: “Within 1 week had made a complete assessment of existing systems and efficiency and identified key improvement areas. Within 1 month had reduced turnaround times by 25%.”

For a Sales Rep: “During 1^st year in the position, had made fresh contact with 20 ‘stale’ accounts, secured new orders totaling R3.2m and also exceeded new business target by 10%.”

Right so try to simplify your CV achievements down to these more manageable, readable sentences.

CV Achievements: Quick Summary

1. Know that they’re critical. They can have massive positive impact – they can pull interviews.
2. Achievements – if well written – convey the message that you’re a “do-er” you get things done, you improve things, you fix things, you make them better.
3. Place your achievements ‘in context’.
4. Use the “S[TAR]S” method for writing your CV achievements.

These are some of the strategies and methods I’ve ‘engineered’ in my CV writing practice over the last 7 years. If you’d like my personal help with your CV see more about it here. (http://www.wowcv.net/professional-cv-writing).

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Let’s get going – how to handle rejection in your job search.

6 Job Search Rejection Bounce Back Strategies

1. Understand that rejection is part of the game. There’s one job. Many applicants. When you’re going in to a job search you just have to start out knowing that rejection will happen. This is the voice of reason.

But you know that right? ‘Course you do. But when it hits you as a string of rejections, or when you really wanted the job, or when you feel like you can’t go one day more, all reason flies out the door. I get it. Personally, I’ve been in tears before about a job situation. And I’ve had clients in tears with me on the phone because of how job hunting can drag you down.

Okay, but keep going now.

2. Know that the guy who got the job, isn’t better than you. It’s true. They’re just different. People get hired for all sorts of reasons. Some are even illegal. Yeah, think sexy legs. Blond. Hunk. Cousin. Mistress. Friend of a friend. Aunty of an uncle. Whaaatever! You get it?

There are other reasons too – normal, ones. Ever heard about chemistry between people. Not the romantic kind – but just a feeling that “I can work with this person” or “I like them”. There’s no particular reason behind it although some may try to come up with reasons. So you get rejected and another accepted – based on personal chemistry. It’s not your fault.

But just a minute, let’s add a bit of brutal truth next.

3. Know that the guy who got the job, may be better than you. Wait! Listen! Basically they’re no better. But in perhaps one or two critical areas of the job, they may have more experience, knowledge, expertise and skill.

So you need to also take a bit of responsibility. You need to identify weak areas and plan to work on them a little. Those areas may have to do with your job skills or how you interview, how you answer certain questions. How can you improve?

You made the shortlist for an interview, so well done. Most applicants didn’t make it. Most didn’t even get a call back. Most heard a deathly silence. You didn’t. You got a call. You got interviewed. Someone thought so well of you to do so.

But perhaps there is room for you to up your game? If you send me an e-mail to 12jss@getresponse.com (or fill in the form here). I’ll send you some hard hitting ideas about things like your CV and job interviews. And some ideas dedicated to helping make you “unstoppable”. Seriously.

4. Get a handle on your own self worth. Ever heard the saying: “whatever you focus on expands.” Think about the good things you’ve done. And good things will happen. Be absorbed in your own bad luck, and likely more will happen upon you.

You have achieved much. I know you have. You are a goal achieving machine. You can tackle difficult things, and win. How do I know? You’re reading this. You can walk. You can run. You can dance (maybe?). You’ve learned a language, or maybe several. You’ve done a great job in at least one of the jobs you’ve had.

These are difficult things to do. You’ve done them. But now – as an adult – you’re focusing on your faults, your failures, your weaknesses – and it’s dragging you down. You’ve covered over your achieving machine! It’s still there! And you get it running again by focussing on the good things you’ve achieved, the good things you do, the good things in your life.

Don’t let one or even many rejections shut you down. Put one foot in front of the other. Put one positive thought in that head, then another, and another. It’s easy to say, I know. That’s why in my “Job Search FAST TRACK – DYNAMITE for Job Hunters” program I’ve included a special stand alone module titled: “6 Secrets to Staying Strong when You Face the Job Hunting Fire!” See more here: www.jobsearchfasttrack.info.

5. Keep a full diary. It’s sometimes not the rejection … but the black hole thereafter – no interviews, an empty diary, no hope on the horizon – that really ‘guts’ you. So always, always have many interviews lined up. Whether they’re job interviews, or just networking meetings, or even just with a supportive friend – fill your diary. That black hole ahead of you will kill your spirit otherwise.

6. Be audacious. You’re good at what you do, right? You’ve had some successes. You’re valuable. Would have done a great job if you’d been hired. Right? Okay, so do this after receiving your next rejection:

Write back after about a week. Send a note or an email to the recruiter or hiring manager. Be upbeat, tell them that you are disappointed but are pursuing other options. Tell them that you liked the company and the job on offer. And remind them of the 3 reasons you thought you were great for the position.

Why is this a good idea? Hiring anyone new is a risky and uncertain business. Many things have to ‘come together’ to make it happen. And all along employers are looking not just for the perfect skills but they want to feel safe about the person. Your letter will build trust. They’ll be impressed. And it may just tip the scales back in your favour.

The letter will also make you feel good. Make it a habit to send one with every rejection.

Here’s an example e-mail:

Hi Jane – you interviewed me 2 weeks back for an Accounts Administrator job. Got your rejection letter yesterday. Thanks for letting me know. Really appreciate that.

Actually loved the company and the job description and thought I could have been great:

• I’ve got the experience (3 years) in Accounts Admin positions
• Experience with Pastel Accounting
• Ability to make order out of chaos!

If they haven’t made a final decision yet, I’d be very willing to go in on a short term contract basis to help them out. Or otherwise if other similar positions come up, please keep me in mind.

Thanks!

I love that approach. Love it.

Right, so you can bounce back from a job search rejection. You can deal with a job search rejection. Apply what you learn here in this article and in the many others you’ll see here.

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Okay, well here’s the thing: the best job search website is …

The one through which you find your next job.

It’s like agencies. They give bad service and we criticize them … until they find us a job. Then, boom!, they’re great! Job search websites are the same.

So one job search website may look better, another may have more jobs advertised, still another may have lots of cool features. Whatever. In the end … it’s the job site that finds us the job that counts.

But that leaves us confused. Which employment site should you use?

Job Search Website List

So here’s a quick list of the most popular job search websites in South Africa.

• www.careerjunction.co.za. My opinion? They’re the smartest. They’ve hooked up with traditional media – newspapers. They’re owned by Avusa (think Sunday Times). They have excellent additional features like Resume for Life.Currently advertising 13 500 jobs.

• www.pnet.co.za. Personnel Net has been around a long time, and they’re good at what they do. They represent the most companies, almost double than CJ.Currently advertising 19 000 jobs.

• www.jobs.co.za. A relatively new site but climbing the charts fast.Currently advertising 4 300 jobs.

• www.jobmail.co.za. A Junk Mail branch off, with lots of jobs it seems.Currently advertising 12 300 jobs.
• www.careers24.co.za and www.jobs.iol.co.za are also newspaper based options.

Job Search Site Straight Talk

Now in your interest, before you get too excited … some caveats (cautions/qualifiers) are in order. Some job search website straight talk. Because one thing is true:

We can spend hours and hours fruitlessly surfing these job sites. Applying for jobs. Getting no response. Thousands of applications. Not one word. This is why I frequently get mails from clients saying: “I’ve applied for 1000 jobs, no response.”

Job search websites are – well, job hunting via this channel anyhow is – overrated. They do a good job – but we rely too much on them. The fact is this: relatively few people land jobs via them. Have you? Probably not.

And as for the kind of resume or CV they offer, it’s really just a bland template that doesn’t allow you to show any of your magic.

Rather, keep control of your job search. Passive job hunting – putting your CV up on a job search website and hoping someone will find you and say “aha!” – is very optimistic.

It’s easy to get lost in the crowd. Many of the jobs advertised are outdated. Many are duplicated by competing agencies (yes, employment agencies dominate the advertising.)

By the way, I’ve dedicated a whole chapter in my free book to the pros and cons of job search websites. Get it free here – send an e-mail to 12jss@getresponse.com. Or fill in the form here. Also in the book are 12 other “guerrilla” style, practical ideas to get your job hunt out of the doldrums.

In conclusion then, yeah, job search websites are great. But as to which is best? Again, the best job search site is the one where you find your next job.

And be warned … you need to limit how much time you spend with them. There is no ‘secret’ job search site that’s a paradise of jobs just for you. Rather you need to adopt a broader, multifaceted job search. (Also see www.jobsearchfasttrack.info.)

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Here’s my “Triple AAA Personal Best” job search strategy.

Warning! Yeah, just in case you’re hoping for a quick, “do this … and get hired tomorrow” job search tactic, that’s not what this is. It’s better than that. It is a job search strategy that guarantees success in your job hunt. You can use it again and again. It’ll work every time. For anyone.

Also, when job searching you need to know that any job search method can work – agencies, websites, networking, personal referrals, newspaper ads, cold calling, using LinkedIn, using Gumtree … lots of ways. They’ve all worked for various job hunters.

In my free ebook “12 Job Search Secrets to End Your Stalled and Frustrating Job Hunt Now” I analyse quite a few of them (actually tear some of them apart to see if they work!) – you can get your free copy by sending a simple e-mail to 12jss@getresponse.com.

So we won’t go into each one here. Rather we’ll look at the practices and thinking that should underly any job search. That’s what will guarantee your job search success.

Right, so here’s the “AAA PB” job search strategy.

Job Search “AAA PB” Strategy

A – Activity Level

It’s simple. The more active you are in job search activity, the quicker you’ll be successful. There are too many stories of job hunters spending time on non productive (non interview producing) job search activity.

I’m sympathetic though. Job hunting is tough mentally. And frequently a job hunter doesn’t have a definite plan, or schedule.

They can also be uncertain of what works. Nothing feels like it’s working so they just dabble. The don’t ‘dive in’. They don’t take ‘massive action’ on one direction for any length of time.

So, how busy are you with job search? How many hours a day? Do you have a plan of job search activity?

A – All Fronts

Job hunting comprises many facets. There’s your CV, cover letters, job interview skills, interviews with agencies, job websites, company websites, trade journals, newspapers, networking meetings … all of these are productive job hunt activities.

They are the job search ‘fronts’ you should be working vigorously.

So your job hunting plan should incorporate all of them. Here are some ideas:

• CV – can it be tailored for a certain kind of company? Can it be improved? Can it sell you better? Can you improve the way you’ve presented your achievements? Don’t obsess, but certainly spend some brain time. And get help if you need to. Just a friend with an honest opinion can be a great help.
• Cover Letters – ask yourself: what will grab a recruiter’s attention about me? How can I shorten my letter to make that point stand out? How can I improve the message I’m sending?
• Job Interviews – what tough questions do I always get stuck on? Who can I talk to to help me practice my answers till I feel comfortable and confident giving them? How can I improve?
• Job Websites – am I wasting too much time online? How can I follow up? How can I rather make direct contact with the advertising recruiters to uncover fresh jobs?
• Newspaper Adverts – am I organised? Do I cut out ads and paste them in a book? Do I record my applications? Do I follow up? Am I responding immediately?
• Networking – am I really enlisting my network of contacts (friends, colleagues, family, ex colleagues, etc) or am I just fiddling and feeling embarrassed? How can I improve in this area?

Your job hunt should include all these fronts.

But with a strong focus on improvement. Learning. Making each application better.

If your job search networking in particular feels lame – don’t dump it! Just find a new way to ‘work it’. It’s a very effective job search strategy. Every one of the above are. You can’t afford to sideline any one of them.

(I hope you’ve already got my special free guides by now. You’ll find out what works and get guides like the “10 Smash and Grab Cover Letter Ideas Checklist” and the “10 Easy to Do Ways to Quick Fix Your CV” guide. Just send an e-mail to 12jss@getresponse.com, and I’ll see it gets to you.)

A – A Process

A process or a system is a boring but wonderful thing. It’s what enables, for example, homes to be built. Brick by brick. First the foundation, then the concrete slab, then the walls, roof, etc. Until it’s done.

There are always obstacles along the way, but if the system if followed, the house will be built.

Your job search is the same. If you follow your plan. If you follow good advice. If you apply it. If you are consistent. If you rise to the challenge. If you are willing to operate a little outside your comfort zones, perhaps being a little bolder.

If you do what needs to be done in your job hunt. You will succeed.

If you’re job hunting by doing whatever, whenever, you’re in for a rough ride. But if you’re willing to discover and do the job hunting tasks that guarantee your success, then your job hunt will be quicker.

You’ll also end up with more and better interviews, job offers and options.

P – Persistence

Don’t sit there in a discouraged slump. Just put one foot in front of the other. Your job search may feel like a roller coaster. Some days will be good, others bad. But every day, you get up and you do just one little thing right. Then the next. And the next. And so on.

When you persist with the little things, the end result will take care of itself.

B – Balance

It’s funny, but a job hunt is about more than hunting for a job. Huh? It’s not just about the CV. Or the employment agency.

It’s often a lot about you – how you feel about yourself, your mental state, the sparkle in your eye (or the absence of a sparkle).

These things have a big influence on what’s going on in your life right now. So spend some time looking after you. Take some time, it’s hard, but just plug out for an hour here and there, go for a run, keep fit, eat healthy food, take on an improvement project at home or in the community, help others. These are good balancing activities. They help you.

In closing. Take a notebook. Take this article. Go to a coffee shop or a park or a library. Brainstorm a little. What can you change? How can you improve? What additional guidance can you get (clue – this site is a good start) I guarantee you’ll burst with helpful ideas to help you achieve “AAA” results and your “Personal Best!” in your job hunt. It’s the fastest route to your next job.

I have to mention that my program titled “Job Search FAST TRACK – DYNAMITE for Job Hunters” is the ‘full monty’ on all of the above. It’s a total job hunting activity solution for you. See it here: www.jobsearchfasttrack.info. But the free materials I’ve already suggested are also a great help.

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Your Cover Letter: Here’s what Happens

Cover letters are just that: cover letters. They are not the main event. As a result, the fact is, they get scant attention. It’s a quick glance. That’s all. And in that moment your cover letter has the chance to do its job. So a covering letter has a lifespan of only seconds. After that it gets tossed. Separated, left behind. It’s only the CV that gets much attention from there on.

What’s the lesson?

Your cover letter or letter of introduction should be quick. To the point. It needs to make its point in 5 seconds or less. Recruiters and those who filter the e-mail are impatient. Busy. And they also feel that they’ll rather judge who you are and what you do by scanning your CV. Consequently they’re quick to move on.

Recruiters and HR people hate, hate the idea that you’re trying to sell them. But the fact remains, they’re people. And if you have what they need, it’s no use hiding it away. That helps no-one.

A cover letter is an opportunity to influence. To persuade. To channel the recruiters thoughts. Don’t lose the chance by being long winded. And don’t attach the letter as a separate attachment such as one does with the CV. In that case it’s likely it won’t be opened at all. It’s just an extra step the reader probably just won’t take.

Your Cover Letter – What a Recruiter Wants

At cover letter stage of your job application, Recruiters really only want one thing. I call it “Tier-1″ details. They want to see that you match their most important criteria/requirements for the job.

So look at any job ad and you’ll see something like this:

“Wanted – Production Administrator, 5 years experience, National Diploma or higher, knowledge of the FMCG industry a definite advantage. Contact Janene.”

Those are the “Tier 1″ details. How do you get a recruiter excited about your application for that job? This is how:

Dear Janene

Application for Production Administrator Position

Offering …

• 5 Years experience as a Production Administrator
• National Diploma in Production Management and Administration
• 2 Years FMCG experience

See details in CV attached.

Best regards,

Niall Louw

Why will that cover letter work? It gives the recruiter what they want: the perfect candidate. The “Tier 1″ details do the job. They’re like magnets for recruiters. They think:

“Hey, this is exactly what I need, I can quickly interview this person, pack them off to the company, get my commission! Cool!”

It’s a good idea therefore to keep your cover letter minimalistic. Put those “Tier 1″ details out there fast.

A Bad Covering Letter Example

Last week I wrote a CV for a client. In her information to me she included a typical covering letter. She has good qualifications. Good (although not perfect) experience. But she started like this:

“I’m a student and still have one paper to write …”

And she went on for several paragraphs. What she failed to mention in her cover letter is:

• She has an BCom Honours degree relevant to her job (and yes, she is a student studying for a high level management degree, with only 1 exam still to write.)
• She has 5 years relevant experience

Astonishing. But also it’s actually common for job hunters to just not “get” what a covering letter is all about. They go on too long. They include irrelevant details. They waffle. They bring in all sorts of compromising stuff (“I’m a student and still have one paper to write”).

A covering letter is also not really for adding all sorts of additional information explaining your personality, background, etc. It may be important. But it won’t get much attention.

And all of that diverts attention away from their good points. (Note – if you’d like a checklist of 10 points to guide your cover letter writing just send a mail to 12jss@getresponse.com – I’ll send it to you.) You’ve got to get those “Tier 1″ cover letter details out there first.

And often unless you do that the recruiter moves on to the CV with: “this person’s an idiot” in their minds. Not what you want your cover letters to achieve. So, use those 5 seconds your cover letter gets wisely.

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You may have been fired. Retrenched. Squeezed out. You can fight back, you can kick and scream. But the fact remains: you have to find another job. Probably fast.

You need my 4 point H-I-T-S post bust up job interview strategy.

Job Interview Strategy: H-I-T-S

H – Honesty

Yes, sorry. But it’s a mistake to try to sweep it under the carpet. Secrets have a way of biting one in the rear end (and also they make you nervous in a job interview situation). And then they’re much, much worse to deal with.

The fact is life happens. There are people we don’t see eye to eye with. Sometimes we have life situations that DO really cause us to lose the plot, and perform below par at work. And there ARE times when we leave on an acrimonious note.

In a job interview, being honest about what happened is ‘real’. Don’t make excuses. Don’t lay blame.

“I screwed up.” “I could have dealt with the situation better.” “There was stuff going on in my private life, and I allowed it to affect me at work.” “In retrospect what I should have done is …”

These are good, ‘real’ (mature) job interview answers.

You may feel the desire to criticize your ex-employer. But the job interview isn’t for that. Sure, admit to a difference. Your job interview ‘mission’ however is to be positive.

I – Improvement

To successfully turn the situation around requires more than smart answers. You actually have to learn from the situation. Take active measures to improve on the last performance. You have to have a plan. And in your job interview you should be ready with 1) your honest answer; and 2) your “what it taught me” answer that follows. The one that shows maturity.

Funnily enough one job interview question than well trained employers/HR/agents ask is a question asking: “what’s your biggest failure?” They’re testing your maturity. They want a real answer. And that involves showing how you turned things around.

Read a book. Take a course. Analyse yourself. Draw up a 3 point plan to improve. Use it in your job interview.

T – Try Harder

In your job hunt, you will find employers who will view your bust-up as a deal breaker. And you will find those who won’t. Your job is to try harder to find those who won’t.

The bust-up happened. And you may have a lousy reference. All you can do is move forward. You’re looking for the employer who sees your value. Who can see past the incident. And that may require harder work in your job search than usual. But the job market is very unscientific. Anything can happen – good AND bad. So don’t despair, you can still succeed.

If you read my free book (get it here www.jobsearching.co.za or just send an e-mail to 12jss@getresponse.com and I’ll mail it to you) you’ll learn 13 facets of the job market some of which will shock and surprise you. It’s about what works and what doesn’t – and this thing about the job market being all about agencies, processes, HR and labour regulations to control what you can and can’t do in your job hunt is all garbage. So get the guide already. It’s free.

And the final point in my post bust-up job interview H-I-T-S strategy is:

S – Smart Marketing

Job interviews, your CV, your cover letters, your job search strategy all have to be smart. When facing an obstacle, you cannot get away with just doing what everyone does.

Job interview preparation, practicing your answers to the questions you know you’ll face, working on yourself; focusing on proving/demonstrating your value in a business should be your focus.

If an employer can see – clearly – in the job interview how you represent hard value (ie you delivery more money, quicker services, fewer problems, happy customers, reduced costs, etc) then they’re much more inclined to ‘laugh off’ your previous poor performance incident.

Success can’t be guaranteed. Job interviews are unpredictable, subject to the whims of the job interviewer – who may be inexperienced, incompetent of just plain looking for a leggy blond!

Right so that’s the H-I-T-S job interview strategy. When you’ve been fired or after a bad bust-up it’ll guide you to your next job. It’s never plain sailing. But now you have a plan that works.

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It’s not that thinking better thoughts can miraculously fix your situation. But it can miraculously make you suddenly feel like you can cope and in fact hit back hard when facing a challenge.

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Just before we start – know this – the client is a good guy, but doesn’t have the greatest knowledge of ‘managing perception’ – which is kinda what marketing, sales and CV writing is all about.

He included the following on his CV:

• Designed prisons back in the 70′s (in South Africa)
• Managed the design and set up of death row cell blocks
• Designed the gallows infrastructure

Sheeesh! And add to that the facts that he has a very Afrikaans cultural name and his age and we’re … edited … (not positive stuff, guaranteed).

So it’s my job to fix it. Looking forward to it. People have value. But not always a past that places focus on it. And even worse, the past may prejudice readers. Not great in a tight economy. Smarter tactics required.

Here’s what I did: I focussed the CV on his transferable skills – ie what he can do, his skills, experience and abilities. I went ‘lite’ on the organizations he worked for. They were mentioned but at a higher level. Here’s what I mean:

He worked for the Department of Public Works,  Department of Corrections, Prisons, Death Row/Gallows division. So one can say: “Gallows”  and rope (sic) in all the prejudice and shock. Or take a higher level approach and just say: Dept of Public Works.

If you’re battling with something similar – or just with your CV in general – let me send you some guidelines (titled: “10 Easy to Do Ways to Quick Fix Your CV”)  to writing your CV for hard hitting impact. Just drop me an e-mail to 12jss@getresponse.com and I’ll send it through right now.

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So, yesterday I wrote a CV for a General Manager, working in a JSE listed Group, GM of a division with a Rkazillion turnover. And he had included tons of detail in his old CV. And it made me think.

By the way, the principles I’m gonna share here apply equally if you’re an Admin Clerk or MD. So ‘lissen up’. One of his points – in his 13 page, 25 year career long CV – was this detail (to take a simple example):

“Prepared and coordinated the annual budgets on a zero base budget method”

Now for what he’s aiming at (GM, Managing Director, etc type positions) is that going to help him get where he’s going? I don’t think so. It’s too much detail – going down to that level of detail across his last 10 years would require many tedious pages – which would have an overall negative effect on his ‘impact – boom, boom’ rating.

Yep, maybe he wouldn’t make the impact he could have with a more punchy, concise document.

So where do you draw the line in terms of how much detail goes in a CV? A couple of things come to mind:

1. Is the specific detail really that special? Or is it assumed? Take our GM – budgeting is pretty much an assumed function/skill (especially considering his Financial background). That he did budgeting is unlikely to impress anyone. That he applied a certain methodology is perhaps even more un-important. It’s not going to twist anyone’s arm into calling him in for an interview. Right? It’s not a deal-breaking, what I call “Tier 1″ detail.
2. It’s about results. One makes decisions about what to include or not based on what the position being applied for asks for and will ask for in the way of results. Again take the GM. He’s being – no doubt – asked to increase revenue, improve efficiency in service delivery, reduce costs, etc. So really focus has to be on that stuff – how he’s performed those tasks/challenges before. And the results achieved. One doesn’t want to dilute those aspects of the message by detail that may be 2nd or 3rd tier in importance.
3. But … (there always is one) – but perhaps in a certain profession knowledge of certain methodologies, practices or legal frameworks IS of critical importance. They’re fundamental to whether you’re a suitable candidate or not. That’s another clue to whether detail should be included or not: if it IS fundamental (tier 1) then it should appear.
4. A good clue – what is your tier 1 detail? Look at the job ad for clues. Years of experience, qualifications, and job titles are big ones. Do they stand out on your CV – or do they kinda get diluted, buried, lost in pages of detail. Your tier 1 detail should be page 1, paragraph 1, line 1. Seriously. Not stretched out over 10 pages.

Sometimes in a CV – I see it in my CV writing Clients all the time – the response of the writer is to pack in the detail, sometimes desperately giving the impression that “this little detail may tip the scales in my favour”. But usually it won’t. Recruiters are influenced by simpler things.

As in the case of the GM at the start:

“10 Years as GM in a R300ml pa Company; Recent Achievements Include Turning a Division around from a R5ml loss to a R2.1ml Profit; BComm Hons Degree etc.” (the “etc.” is not advised – but you get the drift, right)

For the right position, that alone will have a recruiter scampering for the phone. Will adding “zero base budgeting” make them run faster? No. (BTW : I wrote a great CV for him. And I can for you too. Ask for the info – send me a mail gerard@jobsearching.co.za or visit www.wowcv.net. Or get some free guidelines by sending an e-mail to me at 12jss@getresponse.com)

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Hi Gerard

I would like to pursue a career change. I have a Diploma in Office
Administration and a B. Tech in Commercial Administration. I have
worked as a secretary for +- 10 years in the same educational
institution. My interest is in Travel & Tourism certificate/diploma. My
concern is based on the following problems of my own:

• My age, I am 54 years old, am I not too old for the change.
• Will I still get a suitable job at my age.
• Will it be a wise change?

Please advise.

Okay, so here’s my answer based only on the above information:

Thanks for your question. Tough situation. However you do have in your favour:

• strong qualifications
• good solid experience

So that’s a start. Good competent people with a stable background are always valuable.

But now regarding the career change.

I would say that a drastic change, a “start from the bottom” change is not a good idea. From what I know about the environment you’d like to move into (Travel) it’s high energy, very sales oriented. So some questions:

• Is this really what you want?
• What position/role exactly are you thinking of chasing?
• Is there any way in which you can combine your admin/secretarial background INSIDE a company offering a speciality Travel Desk service?
• What is it about the travel industry that excites you, is motivating your desire for a change?
• Have you already done the Travel diploma?
• Will it be a wise change? Who can tell??! But be cautious, don’t make any quick decisions. Do your homework. Try meeting with some Travel people to see what your options are, what role you’re aiming for, see what day-to-day activities you’ll be performing (sometimes we glamorize a certain industry, when really there’s another side to it all).

So these are some of the questions you should get back to me with and that have a bearing on your situation. Also of course is your financial position. Maybe you can afford to make a drastic change. If you’re doing this for the passion then that’s another matter. (I am assuming with this answer however that this is not the case.)

Just had another idea. Do you know anyone who – or can you find anyone who would like to go into business. You can handle the Admin side – setting up systems, policies, procedures and processes, and they can perhaps supply the Travel experience. Or can you join such a company lacking those skills (strong administration). You will also bring the added benefit of higher BEE rating.

Getting such an opportunity however will require you to market yourself directly to possible Travel Companies/Targets.

You may be facing a similar decision. Sometimes it helps to see that there are different ways to approach a career change.

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