Tips on Writing a Tip-Top CV

# The primary purpose of a CV or Résumé is to tell prospective employers something about you. It should make him/her want to give you that all important interview. (From time to time there may be others to whom you may also wish to send a summary of your career and interests.)

# The terms CV and Résumé are virtually interchangeable but, from time to time, one or the other may be more fashionable. If a prospective employer uses one of these terms, it may help to use the same term when corresponding with them.

# A covering letter is an opportunity to be a little less formal than in a CV. This is your chance to tell your prospective employer how enthusiastic you are and how excited you are about applying for their specific position.

# Always keep in mind that employers use the PLU ('people like us') principle and try to pick employees who will fit in. Therefore, it's not a bad idea to do a little research about the company and include some of these facts in your covering letter.

# Prospective employers see many CVs and covering letters and, therefore, it should be your aim to compile documents that stand out from the crowd. There are a number of ways of doing this:

* By using an attractive writing style that's easy and quick to read

* By only presenting information that will be of interest to your prospective employer

* By making your document attractive and eye-catching

* By not making the document too long

* By using the bullet format

# Never alter the facts and never make things up - it's amazing how often you'll be caught out. However, a seasoned writer should be able to take the bare bones and make them sound interesting. Also remember that there are good ways and bad ways of presenting the facts.

# Many people put their job history at the top of a CV but it's modern practice to begin with a list of your personal attributes

# You should always keep a standard CV that can be modified to suit the particular employer.

Let's say you have experience and qualifications as a hairdresser and as a masseuse; if you were applying for a job as a hairdresser you wouldn't put the qualities that make you a good masseuse at the top of your list of merits.

Your standard CV may say that you are a member of a number of car clubs. However, if you were applying for a job in a motor showroom, you would elaborate on your interest in cars, show some technical knowledge and use jargon that the man in the street may not know.

# Make sure that your list of references is carefully selected. It always helps to include someone like a doctor or Member of Parliament. Always make sure that everyone on your list knows that they're there, so that they don't get a surprise if they're contacted.

# Although it's illegal for employers to discriminate on the grounds of sex, sexual preference, religion, age or disability, an employer is not obliged to give reasons for not employing people. Therefore, these are things that are better left out of a CV. As an example of a potential problem, let's take the case of a person in a wheel chair. If they put that in their CV, the prospective employer would probably not invite them in for an interview because he/she would anticipate problems that probably don't even exist. If they don't mention their disability and they get an interview, the prospective employer would soon see that they're disabled but, of course, the interview would be the time when they should be able to convince the interviewee that there won't be major problems in employing them.

Let's take another example: if one is over 50, there are ways that good writing techniques can be used to present a full CV without mentioning age or the year one started work.

# There is an art to writing attractive CVs and covering letters. Obviously you know more about yourself than anyone else but, often, one may fall into the traps of being too verbose and of not readily seeing the specific things that will make you attractive to an employer. It should also be kept in mind that poor spelling, bad grammar and inadequate expression of thoughts, often lets people down. Write-to-the-Point, an Australian company offering a range of professional writing services, recently conducted a market survey that showed that 91% of those polled said that they could see advantages in a professionally written CV. There are a number of individuals, organisations and businesses that offer to compile CVs and covering letters, so you may decide to shop around before selecting a writer that suits you.

Write-to-the Point's market survey also revealed that people identified a number of possible pitfalls to having a professionally written CV:

* Expensive

* No individuality

* Time-consuming process.

The same market survey revealed that the overwhelming majority of people were prepared to pay up to A$100 for a good CV and even more if it was an intricate document.

Therefore, based on the results of this poll and of industry experience, I would recommend that you look for a professional writer who offers:

* Individualised service based on a viewing of your current CV

* A reasonable price

* A quick turn-around time.

If you give consideration to these hints you should end up with an attractive CV and covering letter that will help improve your job prospects and, thus, your quality of life and your lifestyle.

Albert Isaacs

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Resume Writing Service - 10 Critical Tips on Picking the Best Writer

When you want a resume that will get your phone ringing with calls from hiring managers who are salivating to interview you for jobs you'd die for -- how do you know who to hire?

The resume writing industry is not regulated. The internet is crawling with wannabe and would-be resume writers who'd love to take your cash and give you a garbage resume in return, written in broken English on a template, like thousands of other resumes they crank out daily in resume mills for $99 each.

Or maybe they'll take one you already have and just re-key it into another format. You may be laughing, but hey, it happens every day to folks who aren't thoughtful and wary of web advertising and careful how they pick a resume writer. Your resume is one of the most important documents of your life. It should represent you extremely well.

The good news? There are great writers out there, waiting for your resume assignment. You can find one using these steps. Follow these tips and you can't fail.

1. Read online ads analytically and critically. Don't believe assertions that aren't backed up by believable proofs. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Beware especially of pushy advertising based on dark emotions, garish graphics, and strange formatting. And guarantees that are so good they're obviously ridiculous. Nobody can guarantee you'll be hired based on a resume, even if a master writes it.

2. Understand what pricing is reasonable and customary in the legitimate resume industry. Be ready to pay a fair price for value received. The most frequent victim of a resume scam is someone whos's trying to get something for less than it's really worth. Remember, the cost of your resume is an investment in your future success.

3. Interview the writer on the phone. Listen to how they speak and ask them questions about their background, like how they became a resume writer, who they have written for, and what their process is. Trust your feelings. If the person sounds credible and intelligent, great. If they don't sound like someone you'd like to introduce you to your next boss, move on.

4. Review some sample resumes. Start with the writer's own resume. Then check out a couple they have written for others. Would you hire the individuals who are represented by the samples? If not, why expect someone to hire you based on that writer's work?

5. Don't use an online resume mill. You are not like everyone else. Your resume can't be done well by someone who pops them out like biscuits. Get a real writer -- someone who makes a living by writing based on specific research. Probably someone with a degree in English or writing.

6. You can't really completely hire out the responsibility of creating your perfect resume. Expect to stay involved and provide lots of answers to the writer's questions.

7. The writer should be doing research and you are the only source of all the detailed data they will need to represent you well. Expect (and check for) a rational, organized process. The writer should have you fill out forms and send any old resumes. They should also interview you by phone and ask you a lot of relevant questions. They should be able to explain what they do and why they do it.

8. What questions are they asking you? To write well for you, the writer needs to gather specific kinds of information. They should be asking you questions like these:

What important qualifications does the job require?

What are your best and highest qualifications?

Tell me about the high points of your career.

Is there anything we should keep in the background?

What about you stands out that will help win the job?

Describe your best skills and greatest expertise.

Do you also have minor qualifications that are relevant?

Are there personal traits that make you a good fit?

What have you accomplished that you're proud of?

Can we express any of your qualifications numerically?

How did you develop your particular skills?

What do people in your field find impressive?

Have you accomplished things in those areas?

Is there any special language that is frequently used in your field?

And so on.

9. Does the writer offer all the documentation and help you need? There's a lot more required to get a job than just a resume. Do they also write your cover letters, follow up letters, references sheet, and salary history? Do they offer you an elevator speech to help you promote yourself? Do they coach you on how to use all parts of your job change documentation to your best advantage?

10. What are the writer's special qualifications? Have they written for people like you? Do they have experience with writing persuasively, perhaps with some form of marketing? Do they speak about resumes to groups? Do they have experience as a hiring manager so they understand how people who make staffing decisions think?

When it comes to your resume, quality control is up to you. The best assurance of quality in your resume is in the skill and integrity of your resume writer. You deserve a writer who's a cut above -- the kind who'd be chosen by a CEO or other executive. Check your writer out carefully. Don't settle for less than one who truly captures exactly who you are professionally and how you're qualified for the job you want.

Receive a FREE gift of usable, profit-building, strategic business information today. The Business Insight Special Reports on my JRW Publishing web page are offered for sale. But I'll send you any one you choose FREE when you email or call me to chat about my services -- copy writing, marketing, or business strategy consulting.

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Tips to Improve Your Resume Cover Letter

Any person who is applying for a job in any company should provide a proper resume cover letter along with his resume. The main purpose of providing a resume cover letter along with the resume is to provide an introduction to the person who is applying for the job. The reason for applying for the particular job in the company will have to be stated in a clear manner in the resume cover letter. This will help the prospective employer in understanding how much the applicant will value the job if it is offered to him.

The applicant should give equal importance to the preparation of the resume and also the resume-cover letter. If the resume-cover-letter is unable to strike the right chord in the mind of the employer, then he might not even take a look at the resume which has been attached even though it is very impressive. There are certain points which should definitely be mentioned in the resume-cover letter in order to capture the attention of the prospective employer.

The main reason as to why the applicant is applying for the specific post in the company will have to be stated in a crystal clear manner in the resume-cover letter. This should be stated in such an impressive manner that the prospective employer should feel compelled to call the applicant for an interview. Any knowledge which the applicant has about the company should also be made known in the resume-cover-letter.

The manner in which the applicant has come to know of the vacancy existing in the company should also be stated clearly in the resume-cover-letter. If the applicant has seen an advertisement on the Internet or in the newspaper he will have to specify the date as well as the name of the newspaper or website where the advertisement had been displayed. When the employer finds that the applicant is showing a lot of interest in the company, he will feel more inclined to call him for an interview.

The information which has been provided in the resume cover letter should be crisp and come straight to the point. The purpose of applying for the job will have to be stated in the opening paragraph of the resume cover letter. The complete length of the resume-cover-letter should not exceed one page. When the employer finds that the resume cover letter is too long he might not have the interest to read it completely. The information which is provided in the resume cover-letter should be enough to convince the employer that the candidate needs to be called for an interview. Some of the details regarding the qualification of the applicant should also be included in the resume cover letter.

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How Can You Benefit from Microsoft Office?

Where is Microsoft Office today?

Today Microsoft Office has evolved from a group of private productivity products to a more complete and integrated system. Building on the well-known tools that a lot of people are familiar with already, the Microsoft Office System includes servers, services, programs and solutions meant to work as one to help deal with a broad range of business dilemmas.

What's my benefit for getting Microsoft Office?

A Microsoft Office System gives you a building block for solutions that helps:

It gives business users enhanced access to data, and therefore they can get better insight and take actions that are more valuable. And it improves an organizations capability to expect, handle, and react to changes in the market. Further it is allowing teams and organizations to work jointly with swiftness and quickness. And finally, the most important, it improves individual efficiency and enables more business users to contribute in the all the time more challenging environment around them.

What is Microsoft Office?

The servers, services, programs and solutions, which put together, forms the Microsoft Office System, are:

Office Editions is the successor to Microsoft Office XP, and the foundation of the Microsoft Office System.

Microsoft Office Access is the Office database management program, and offers an enhanced ease of use and an extended ability to export, import, and work with XML data files.

Microsoft Office Excel is the Office spreadsheet program, and includes support for XML plus features that make it easier to analyze and share information.

Microsoft Office FrontPage is the Office Web site creation and management program, which delivers powerful features plus controls to help you design superior Web sites.

Microsoft Office InfoPath is the Office information gathering as well as management program, which streamline the process of gathering information.

Microsoft Office OneNote is the Office note-taking plus management program, which enables you to organize, capture and reuse notes on a laptop or desktop computer.

Microsoft Office Outlook, which is the Office personal information manager plus communication program, provides a integrated place to manage calendars, e-mail, contacts and other personal or team information.

Microsoft Office PowerPoint is the Office presentation graphics program, which allows you to produce an impact in person or online.

Microsoft Office Project enables organizations to line up business initiatives, resources and projects for improved business results.

Microsoft Office Publisher is the Office business publishing plus marketing materials program, which makes it easier than ever to produce, design, and publish expert marketing and communication materials.

Microsoft Office Visio is the Office business plus technical diagramming program, which helps you transform ideas plus conventional business data into diagrams.

And finally Microsoft Office Word is the Office word processor.

Final word about Microsoft Office.

As you see, Microsoft Office covers it all. Try it out. See if you or your business can benefit from this fantastic office tool. Give it a go and see for your self.

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Job Interview Follow-Up Tips

So what happens when you have a really great interview, you send your follow-up email in a timely manner, but then you hear nothing? What do you do? Do you send another note? Do you contact HR? Or the hiring manager you spoke to in the interview? It's a tricky situation, and a lot of people struggle with what to do.

My answer is: You need to both call and email the hiring manager. You took the time to meet with him, and if you went through that process, you spent at least 4-5 hours speaking with him or preparing for speaking with him, and you deserve to know exactly what is going on. Have they filled the position? Are they moving forward with other candidates, or are you still being considered? Are you no longer being considered for some reason?

(Don't get me wrong-I'm not telling you to "grill" them on what's up...but if they have moved forward with another candidate, you need to ask the question: If I were to do this again, what two things could I have done that would have made a difference? Or: What did the candidate you chose do that really separated him from the rest of us? You really want to learn from this. The ultimate goal for you is a great job. If this one has gone away, you need to learn what you can do next time for the next job interview process.)

Specifically, when you call the hiring manager, you can say something like: "Hi, this is John (or Jane). We interviewed last week for the position of XYZ. You said that you would be making a decision within a couple of days and contacting candidates. I haven't heard from you, so I was curious as to where you were in the process. Have you made a decision? If you haven't, is there a way that you and I can speak about this further so that you understand why I'm an excellent candidate?"

If you get voice mail (which will happen a lot), leave that message and say, "I'm going to also send you an email asking you what's going on with this process. I really appreciate speaking with you and I just want some feedback to understand where we're at and what the next steps are." This last sentence demonstrates your communication skills, your confidence, and your ability to handle a difficult situation. It's a tremendous opportunity for you, really. I've seen people save the job offer from the jaws of death by communicating so well in the follow up.

So, absolutely follow up with a phone call and an email, and if you're not getting the job, don't miss this significant learning opportunity to find out what two things you can do differently next time.

Peggy McKee 

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5 Job Interview Answers to Avoid

You'd think that by now you'd know what job interview answers not to give, but surprisingly I've heard that a lot of you are still out there making the same blunders you always have!

So, you may think that the following 5 job interview answers that you should NOT employ are common sense, but you really need to drill them into your head. I don't want to have to tell you again! (wink ;-)

1. Avoid job interview answers that are too honest. If an employer asks you about why you left a previous position or why you want to leave your current one, you need to proceed with caution. You need to avoid job interview answers that make you sound negative or that put you in a negative light. This means no harping on how your old boss was a man-whore that hit on anything with legs or rode you till your knees bled (hopefully not literally!) Even if you despise your boss or where you worked, you have to act like you're always positive in your answers unless your goal is scaring away potential employers!

2. Avoid getting too specific in job interview answers. Of course I'm not telling you to act like an airhead that can't keep their facts straight, but you should avoid citing specific people or events that took place where you last worked. It's ok to say things like "we used to do something along those lines," or "we had a similar procedure," in job interview answers but a lot of companies want you to be confidential about their specific practices and especially employees. Don't make your interviewer think that you have loose lips with your job interview answers.

3. Avoid negative statements in job interview answers- everything should be a positive. Of course this is common sense, but again, I don't think I can say it enough. Job interview answers need to be upbeat and positive, never negative or depressing. You should show that even when faced with struggles and adversity, you're able to remain, positive, upbeat and that you continue to do your best and work toward a common goal.

4. Avoid too much eye contact when answering questions. Preaching tons of eye contact is the norm when it comes to what to do when giving your best answers, and it's true that some eye contact can go a long way. If you don't look an interviewer in the eye when you give your job interview answers you might end up looking more like a nervous criminal than a job candidate. Looking them in the eye a little bit conveys interest, honesty and integrity... but doing it too much by blatantly staring just says you're kind of a weirdo.

5. Avoid too many hand gestures accompanying your job interview answers. Of course I don't expect that you're going to flip off your interviewer while you're trying to dazzle them with your answers... but I for one, like to talk with my hands. I'm not even aware of it most of the time but I've learned that I need to keep it under control, especially when I'm trying to come up with creative and original answers because sometimes my hands tend to take on a life of their own. The best job interview answers come from the heart, which means that sometimes I'm moving my hands around like a crazed umpire at a baseball game. You might just end up freaking out your interviewer though if you're doing this too much, so try to keep it under control!

Like I said, these tips to follow when you're trying to give answers are pretty obvious and any fool should know to avoid them... However, I've seen many that fail to! Make sure you keep these mishaps in mind so you don't screw up your next job interview answers.

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Job Application Forms - How to Write Effectively and Successfully

Recent statistics have shown that over a third of jobseekers fail to secure an interview after submitting a job application form. An application form acts as a sort of self-introduction to a company: it shapes the first impression a potential employer will have of you. By following a few simple guidelines, it is easy to perfect your command of the written word and ensure that this first impression is a favourable one.

Speak in specifics, not generalities. The majority of job application forms comprise of competency-based questions. The employer wants to be provided with evidence of your capabilities. Showcase your good points not with forgettable lists of personal qualities, but with specific examples of situations which you have used them. When responding to a question, think in terms of SAS: a Situation in your personal or professional life, the Action you undertook, how this action led to Success. Detail makes for a more interesting read, and thus a lasting impression.

Use short, succinct sentences. You want to include detail, but you do not want to be convoluted in your answers. Each sentence should encapsulate a new point: do not waste time or space repeating yourself. Try to keep to one theme within every new paragraph. Remember that application forms are often read quickly. If a point is embedded too deeply in long sentences and long paragraphs, it may well be missed. Condensed and concise sentences make for greater ease of reading - vital when you're trying to impress the reader.

Consider the tone of your responses. You want to use your short and succinct sentences to be matter-of-fact, but not terse. Aim for a formal but friendly tone. Using positive and affirmative language (e.g. 'I am' rather than 'I think I am') will create an impression of competency and enthusiasm. A friendly tone and good readability (see previous point) will enable you to emphasise your good points without sounding arrogant. Do not be afraid of the occasional exclamation mark - when appropriately placed, they can lighten the tone and add an enjoyable sparkle to your answer! Case in point.

Check, check and check again. Before you submit the application, make sure your spelling and grammar are flawless. Clumsy errors are not only irritating for the reader but they immediately suggest a lack of care in your work, and you could be dismissed from certain jobs on the basis of this alone. It sounds simple, but make sure your answers are consistent and not self-contradictory: it is no good saying you are diligent while failing to fully complete a section of the form, for example. If you say you attach a CV, attach a CV! Ensure that the application is 100% complete before you send it off. Now is not the time for silly errors.

As with any skill, the completion of a job application form can be improved upon with practice and attention to detail. Unlike in an interview situation, you have the opportunity to take your time, reassess and make everything word perfect. Take advantage of this. Do not let yourself be part of that unlucky third who fail to progress further than the form. If you take into account the above advice, the all-important interview is bound to follow.

Xanthe Kershaw

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