Day: July 13, 2020

Have you already completed short courses in Auckland and are ready to dive into the workforce? Before you hit the job market, you’re going to need to make sure that your CV is up to scratch – it’s competitive out there! Take a look at the ultimate checklist for CV’s we’ve compiled below, and make sure yours ticks all the boxes.

Work-Focused vs Skills-Focused CV

There are two main types of curriculum vitae that people can use to portray their skills and experience to employers – a work-focused CV or a skills-focused CV. While many people use a work-focused CV to showcase their experience and progress their career further, if you’re a graduate fresh out of school, or if you’re just starting down a new career path, then chances are you don’t have years of work experience to show prospective employers. If this is the case, then using a skills-focused template is the best type of CV to use.

An empty work history doesn’t have to be a disadvantage! If you create a skills-focussed CV, you can highlight your best skills and qualities to prospective employers, showing your potential to grow and learn.

What to include in your CV

A professional and well-presented CV will make all the difference between a positive and a negative response. To present yourself professionally in your job applications, make sure your CV includes the following.

1. Your name and contact details

Both your first and last name, in large, bold text. Your contact details should include a phone number and email address for employers to get in contact with you.

2. A personal statement

A personal statement gives a brief overview of who you are, and what strengths, and experience you have. It is only about three to four sentences in length and sits below your contact details. It is optional to include this, but a personal statement is very useful because it helps employers get a concise, clear perspective of you and your career objectives.

3. Personal skills

These should be skills relevant and useful to the job you’re applying for. When you’re applying for specific jobs, take note of the skills listed in the job advertisement, and include them in your application. Make sure to give examples of how you have used them so employers can fully appreciate your experience.

For example, good attributes to emphasise are strong communication skills, your commitment to detail, or your ability to work well under pressure. Use examples of when you used these skills in school, in work experience programmes, or your previous employment. Even if your previous job or experience isn’t related to the job you’re applying for now, as long as you show employers how the skills you gained are relevant to the role at hand, you can include it in your resume. Learn more about how to include your skills in your CV!

4. Technical skills

There is a wide range of technical skills you could include in your CVs, such as your driver’s licence or your language skills if you’re fluent in two or more languages. Practical skills are a great way to show employers what other capabilities you bring to the table. A driver’s licence can be advantageous and sometimes necessary if the job requires a lot of travel to and from locations. In comparison, knowing multiple languages can be useful for multicultural workplaces.

5. Work history and volunteering experience

Include your most recent job and volunteering experiences if you have any. What you need to include for this section is the name of the employer, the job title, the location of the job, and the start and end date of your work or volunteer experience. Follow this with a short list of tasks you needed to perform for this role, and any achievements you gained while working in it.

6. Qualifications and education

For the qualifications part of your CV, you can include the following: school qualifications, school subjects, grades, certificates, diplomas, or degrees. Any micro-credentials or short work-related courses you accomplished can also be included here. Have your qualifications listed in chronological order from most recent to oldest.

7. Achievements

If there are any important achievements you didn’t list in your qualifications, list them in this section. Achievements can be anything from any awards or commendations you received, to any contributions you made to the community or any successful projects you completed. If you have previous work experience, you can also include examples of how you helped former employers reach their sales targets.

8. Personal interests

This is an optional section, but you can include a list of personal interests to showcase any non-work-rlated skills you may have that make you a great candidate for the job (e.g. hobbies that show you are proactive, are a team player, and so on).

9. Referees

A referee is typically someone who knows you professionally such as your current or previous manager, but they can also include people such as your team leader, teacher, or work experience supervisor. Include at least two referees in your resume and provide their professional details, including the referee’s first and last name, job title, the organisation they work in, phone number, and email address.

Make your CV easy to read

Employers take between 15-20 seconds to initially scan through CVs. If your CV is easy to read and well-presented, then it is more likely to make a good first impression and stand out. Our key tips for making your CV look professional and presentable include:

Do Include:

• Strong headings
• Black, easy to read font
• Keep a formal tone
• Use clear, short sentences, and break up blocks of text
• Use bullet points to list information
• Keep your CV between 1-2 pages maximum

 

Don’t Include:

• Abbreviations, unrelated jargon, or slang
• Images or photos
• Too much text or bad spelling
• An unprofessional sounding email address
• Unrelated work experience
• Lies about your experience or skills
• Your date of birth/age
• Your marital status
• Your religion
• Your bank account details

Pro tip! Include action verbs in your CV to describe your skills and work history. Words like managed, demonstrated, developed, and organised are powerful because they give a strong impression that will maximise the effectiveness of your accomplishments.

Another best practice is to save your CV as a word document under your name, the job title, and the application date. This makes it easy for you and the employer!

Useful Supportive Documents to include

Besides your CV, there is a variety of other documents you can choose to include to support your job application. Supportive documentation types include:

• Cover letter – the most important supportive documentation. Tells your potential employer why you are the ideal candidate for the role.
• Letters of recommendation such as a professional reference or a personal character reference letter.
• Education transcripts
• Certificates
• Other documents relevant to the job

In need of practical work experience? Study short courses in Auckland with Crown

Looking to study in New Zealand and eventually enter the work force? Here at Crown, we provide a wide range of business, travel and tourism, and hospitality courses for you to choose from. Study with Crown to gain industry knowledge, practical skills, and work experience that will keep you two steps ahead of the crowd when applying for your dream job. For more information, explore our website or get in touch with us today to register your interest!

A job interview is nerve-racking for most people, but the more prepared you are, the less nervous you’ll be. If you’ve already completed your course study in Auckland and are ready to get out and join the industry of your dreams, here are some key tips to help you absolutely crush your next job interview!

What kind of job interviews are there?

The best way to prepare for your interview is to know what to expect before you go, and one of the first things to be aware of is that no two interviews are the same. While some interviews will be one-on-one, others can be structured with a panel of two or more people interviewing you. A group interview with multiple applicants is less common, but you might find yourself in one if you’re applying for a sales role or an internship position, or if the company you’re applying for is hiring multiple people for the same job.

Other common interview types include over-the-phone or video interviews. Phone interviews usually take place in the first round of screening to see if you are a suitable candidate to come in for a full interview. In contrast, if it’s in a video format, there are a few things you’ll want to do beforehand.

Prepping for Video Interviews

•  Make sure you know which computer program, website, or application the video interview will be held on, and have a test-run of the program with a friend or family member. Check that the sound, video, and microphone are all working properly prior to the interview to avoid any complications during the interview.
• Make sure your device is fully charged.
• Exchange numbers with the interviewer prior to the call, in case of any video link failures.
• Make sure you – and the background – look presentable and professional.
•  Have your interview notes and CV close by for reference.

Preparation is Key

Arriving at the interview fully prepared and knowing what to expect will not only help you feel more confident, it will also show the interviewer that you are serious about getting the job. Before attending your interview, make sure you:

•  Research the organisation. Learn as much as you can about the organisation, this will help you determine if the position is right for you and will also give you an idea of what they’re looking for in an employee.
• Prepare your answers beforehand. Research commonly asked job interview questions and write down your answers. You don’t need to recite these answers word-for-word during the interview. In fact, it’s better if you don’t! However, if you think about possible questions beforehand, you are less likely to be caught off-guard and will be able to speak with confidence and intention.
• Know your strengths and weaknesses. A common question interviewers ask, is “What are your biggest strengths/weaknesses?” This is your chance to discuss your strengths and show how they are relevant to the job at hand. Recognising your weaknesses and sharing them is equally important. Everyone has weaknesses, so show your employer that you’re aware of yours and that you’re willing to honestly self-assess and seek ways to improve them.
• Prepare your own questions for the interview. Having questions prepared and ready will show the interviewer that you are interested in the job and the organisation.
• Practice with a friend. Practising your answers out loud and having a friend ask you possible interview questions is an excellent way to prepare. Not only will you become more familiar with the potential interview question, speaking out loud will give you confidence in your answers, as well.

First impressions matter

When it comes to job interviews, a first impression can make the difference between a rejection email and a follow-up interview. Give yourself the chance to make a good first impression with the following tips:

• Look the part. You don’t need to go out and buy a brand-new wardrobe to look presentable. As long as you wear something smart and tidy, employers will recognise the effort you made to be well-dressed.
• Arrive early. Make sure you have your means of travel to the interview sussed before the interview day and plan your schedule so that you arrive 10-15 minutes early.
• Practice respect. Make sure to show respect and consideration to everyone you encounter. This is a good life practice in general but it is especially important when visiting the site of your job interview.
• You might encounter your potential employer unexpectedly or bump into people who end up being your future colleagues or teammates.
• Good manners and positive body language. Being polite, friendly, and confident does wonders for a good first impression.
• Bring the essentials. Useful things to bring to an interview include a copy of your resume and other relevant documentation, a notebook and pen to write with, and a water bottle in case you get thirsty.
• Respond Thoughtfully. You don’t need to rush. Take your time to respond thoughtfully to the questions you’re asked and tie your answers back to your accomplishments.

After the Interview

Once the interview has finished, you can ask the interviewer or hiring manager about the next steps in the interview process. You can also enquire to find out when you’re likely to receive a follow-up email with the results of your interview.

If you’ve already completed an interview – well done! You’re one step closer to landing your dream job. If you’re interested in learning more about what to do before accepting a job offer, such as choosing between multiple offers and resigning from your previous employment, there are plenty of resources available online.

If you didn’t get the job, don’t be disheartened! Think of your interview as a valuable experience you can improve from. You will definitely have more opportunities to find something even better.

Looking for more practical experience? Come study in Auckland with Crown

Want to gain experience and confidence in the industry of your interest? Enrol in one of Crowns intensive short courses, hospitality courses, or business courses in Auckland and hit the ground running. We provide you with all the industry-specific knowledge you need to know and help you build a repertoire of key skills and experience to smash your next interviews with. Feel free to contact us today for more information on courses and opportunities through Crown!