Starting with the first step

Your CV

When starting your job search, at times you have to go back to the very start - and that means revisiting your Curriculum Vitae. Writing a great CV is time-consuming but it is really important to get your CV right and to keep it updated on a continuous basis.  The CV should be a work in progress i.e. you may need to adjust your CV for each role to which you are applying. It's very important that your CV will be relevant to the role otherwise it may be overlooked and deemed unsuitable for the position. Ensure you are covering off the main responsibilities of the position clearly and early in the CV is key to gaining the employers attention quickly.

You should also ensure your CV outlines what makes you different to the other applicants. With so many CV templates available online currently, it is not unusual that many candidates will have a CV that looks identical to everyone else's, thereby making your application seem dull and not stand out.

Identifying your key achievements will ensure you stand out from the crowd, so be sure to list your individual contributions to your current/previous roles, rather than just outlining what the job was. This is what will make the employer interested in you personally, and more importantly, to meet with you in person to gain further insight to what you can offer to their business.

 

 

 

 

 

Interview Tips & Techniques

The role of your CV is to get you an interview - Great, you've achieved that! Now to get ready for your interview.

This is the phase of your job search that requires some research and analysis from you in terms of your future potential employer - both the people and the business/sector in which they operate. If you are applying to a similar organisation/sector that you are already familiar with, you'll have a lot of knowledge to hand already but this doesn't mean you will know everything you need to about the company you will be attending for interview. Familiarise yourself well before the interview. The expectation from the Interviewer will be that you have taken the time to educate yourself about them, so any vagueness or unawareness of their sector may indicate a lack of interest.

Getting yourself mentally ready for an interview is half the battle in conducting a successful interview.

Be prepared to

• Speak fluidly about yourself - your achievements, personal and professional goals, your ambitions and drivers. This of course means you should know the detail of your CV thoroughly. Be sure to be clear on dates, names, times etc.
• Know exactly what the company is looking for - you will presumably have received a copy of the job description for the role you are interviewing for or it may just be the advert you applied to. Read it over thoroughly and be ready to outline where you have carried out these duties and responsibilities before e.g. you are giving the interview proof of your ability. Review the job line by line and be able to outline examples from your previous roles. Be very specific about your examples - give detailed outlines - when, where, how and why. 
• Know the Company well. There is no excuse these days with all of the public information a company releases to know a lot of important information about the company you are meeting with. What are their Values and Mission Statement (often outlined in their website). What is their target audience? Whilst no one will expect you to know their 'earnings per share' down to the last cent, you should know about any recent updates/developments within the company and their sector.

 

 

 

 

 

For more advice/tips on Writing your CV or Preparing for Interviews, please feel free to get in touch for a more comprehensive one-to-one consultation. Contact Us
 

Summary IT Salary Guide 2021

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