4 Things To Remember When Writing Your CV For 2019

By Lilian Wamaitha
It almost the end of the year, which means that it’s the perfect time to re-think your job search strategy.
Job search begins with sending an application which could either turn into an interview or not depending on the quality of your application.
“Your CV tells a lot about you and will do the heavy lifting for you when it comes to securing an interview. It is basically like a knock on the door,” says Cynthia Wangeci, a recruiter at Corporate Staffing Services.
“A single advert will attract over 200 applications which means that you must pull your weight to be shortlisted,” she continues.
And here is the truth; recruiters don’t really read through the CV. They scan it in only a few seconds, and it is in these seconds that your well formatted professional CV will capture their interest in you.
That said, today, I want us to look at things that you need to do differently in 2019 when it comes to your CV.
1. Just stop it with the generic CVs
2017 came and went and now 2018 is almost over, and you still don’t have that well-paying job that you aspired to come the beginning of the year.
And it’s not like you have not been applying for jobs. On the contrary you have made it your life’s mission to apply to as many jobs as you can.
But the only problem is; employers don’t really care how many jobs you apply for.
What they are interested in is the quality of those applications.
Do you have a folder on your laptop that you refer to every time you see a job you want to apply for?
Or worse do you just download a CV from a previous application you have made that is still in your email and send to the current employer?
Sometimes, without realizing it, you are the one setting yourself to fail.
First of all, the problem with sending generic CVs is that you never get to go through the job description in detail. To you as long as you meet the education and experience qualifications, the job is as good as yours.
But that’s now how things work in this competitive job market.
Come next year, to avoid all the stress that comes with being rejected for almost every job you apply for, why don’t you start applying for fewer jobs that you know you are qualified for and then tailor your CV to meet all the employer is looking for?
2. Not all jobs are advertised
Do you know that 70% of all vacancies are never advertised?
Spending all your time on job portals alone therefore means that you are missing out on the other share of the cake.
It is advised that you spare some time to check up on unadvertised vacancies as you may stumble on something more.
SME’s have by far the majority of these hidden opportunities. They do not have the financial muscle nor the infrastructure to compete with the heavyweights like the likes of Safaricom, Coca-Cola or Deloitte.
And as you revamp your CV for the coming year, keep in mind that you are not only tailoring it to fit the jobs you see on online portals or newspapers but the ones that you never hear about.
Some companies will allow you to upload your CV details for future opportunities which means that you should pay attention to your CV just like you would in an open application.
3. Make it your business to follow up on applications
I encounter so many job seekers on a daily basis most of whom will be wondering why they never get shortlisted after every application they make yet they feel qualified.
And the first question I ask is “Did you follow up?”
While you may think that it is the employer’s or recruiter’s job to give you feedback on your application, you need to take the first initiative.
If you applied for a job, don’t just sit waiting to be called for an interview. After a few days of application, call and inform them that you applied for this and this position and was wondering if they could look at your CV.
An employer will not refuse.
Why?
With over 200 applications, your applications may not have been seen. They may have gone through the first few applications and gotten the right candidates to invite for an interview.
You may also have applied late and your application was missed.
By just following up, you are already establishing a relationship with the recruiter and next time you apply, best believe your name will be on their mind since they will have already looked at your CV in detail.
4. Build meaningful connections
As 2018 draws to a close, understand that job search is not a one man show.
You have to connect with people who can help you get that job faster and these are recruiters, career advisors and professional CV writers.
With this in mind
Doing something over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. If you are looking to make 2019 better than this year has been, start making these changes. Before you even prepare for interview, ensure that your CV is in order. And being that this is the last quarter of the year, when companies are making their strategic plans and looking to replace those who are leaving, it would be wise if you could start applying for jobs right away.
And like I said, don’t just apply for jobs just for the sake. Tailor your application to fit every job you apply for keeping in mind all that has been discussed in this article.
For a CV re-vamping, contact a professional CV writer today by sending an email to cvwriting@corporatestaffing.co.ke or brenda@corporatestaffing.co.ke.