5 Ways to Simplify a Long CV while Maintaining Sophistication and Nuance

5 Ways to Simplify a Long CV while Maintaining Sophistication and Nuance Confession time: recruitment is as much about quantity as it is about quality, and most recruiters work in a permanent state of overdrive to hit volume and placement targets. As a result, successful recruiters are efficient recruiters: those who are able to quickly get through the huge stack of CVs  sitting on their desks. What does this mean for you? There’s no surer way to make a recruiter run screaming in the other direction than to hand over a multi-page monstrosity of a CV. If your CV  is more than 4 pages long or doesn’t follow a simple, easy-to-read format, you’d be well served by taking some time to simplify. The good news is: simple doesn’t equal plain, and it’s possible to have a sophisticated and nuanced CV  without causing recruiters’ eyes to glaze over, beginning with these 5 strategies. 1. Use Grouping to your Advantage. While reverse chronological CVs  are certainly the most common and  preferred CV  style, you shouldn’t be afraid to tweak this tried and true format if you have a legitimate reason. Professionals with significant project experience, consultants or sole traders with multiple clients, and people who’ve switched positions frequently within the same company are most likely to benefit from this technique, as it allows for a succinct summary of multiple roles. The trick is to group responsibilities together whilst still highlighting individual projects and accomplishments. My team does this by describing role mandates and common responsibilities in 5 or 6 bullet points, and creating a ‘Key Engagements’ or ‘Projects’ section with 1 to 2 bullet points per project to describe your role and highlight results. 2. Use the Russian Doll Approach. I swear by this approach, because it allows me to subtly direct the readers’ attention to the most important experience, which is typically also the most recent.* Think of your current role as the largest in a set of nesting Russian  matryoshka dolls: because it’s the most important, it should take up the most amount of space around 5 to 7 ‘responsibilities’ bullet points and 3 to 5 ‘accomplishments’ bullet points. As you move further back in your career history, imagine each role as a smaller doll, and give it less space on the page. This will keep the overall length in check, while allowing you to give the most important information the detailed approach it deserves. *Of course, this approach only works if your most recent experience is indeed the most relevant.   3. Master the Mandate. If I’m honest, most long and complex CVs  don’t have to be; the writer simply didn’t do a great job at presenting the information succinctly.   Considering you only have 6 seconds to capture a recruiters’ attention, its crucial you make the time you have count. That means putting the most important information for each role up-front, so even recruiters that stop reading past the first bullet point get a good idea of what you did. Make the first bullet point for each role a ‘super bullet’ that includes: a high-level overview of the role, the mandate, and the main target. Here’s an example: Divisional leadership role [overview] driving market expansion across 5 APAC markets [mandate] to turn around financial performance and restore divisional profitability [target]. 4. What-Why Writing. Many people have difficulty summarising a role using less than 10 bullet points, and as a result, role descriptions spiral out of control and take up way more space than they need to. The solution is to create fewer, but more complex, bullet points, using What-Why writing. For each ‘responsibility’ bullet point, express what you did, leading with an action verb, and why you did it, showing the positive impact your actions had. For example: Forged cross-functional partnerships with senior client stakeholders (what) to identify business requirements and ensure the project plan aligned with organisational priorities (why). 5. Be Selective. It always baffles me when clients list every job and short course they’ve ever completed on their CV. It’s hugely distracting, and often has the opposite effect to that intended, detracting from the experience and qualifications you really want the recruiter to notice, or making you look unfocused or out-of-touch. While deleting irrelevant qualifications and experience is a must, sometimes it’s not enough. If that’s the case, use grouping and formatting to your advantage: Create a ‘Selected Qualifications’ section on the first page to draw attention to 3 or 4 of your most impressive credentials. Move all other relevant qualifications to an ‘Additional Qualifications’ section on the back page. Group similar qualifications together rather than listing them out separately: Australian Marketing Institute Short Courses: Public Relations Writing Tactics (2015), Event Promotions Sponsorship (2013), Social Media Marketing (2012). List your most recent career experience in a ‘Professional Summary’ section on the first page, providing details for each role in the Career Experience’ section. Create an ‘Additional Experience’ section to list, but not detail, roles prior to the past 10 years. Before you hit SEND on a job application, ask yourself if the recruiter has to go digging for the good stuff. If they require a Rosetta stone to decipher your CV, chances are they’ll move on to the next candidate. Remember that the best CVs  are both sophisticated and easy to read. Do yourself a favour and take a few hours to simplify in a smart way and enjoy  the results.

Kionna Resume Writing - How to Write a Great Resume in Five Steps

Kionna Resume Writing - How to Write a Great Resume in Five StepsThere are two primary questions that you need to ask yourself when it comes to keionna resume writing. These are what kind of an applicant you are and who are you trying to attract. If you don't know these two things then you're in for a huge disappointment as the steps involved with this type of resume can be very time consuming.Now, let's say that you have some specific demographic information you want to include. For example, if you were thinking about an applicant with criminal records you would want to include that information on your resume. Once you know that information you can start to write a resume. You will want to come up with a few different layouts before settling on the one that you like best.Now, let's discuss your resume's personal appearance. As you are likely aware, employers like candidates who appear well groomed and dressed properly. They may even give the impression that they've hired someone bec ause of their appearance or clothing.So how do you look in this regard? For starters, wear business casual clothing. If you wear anything flashy you could create a whole new set of problems for yourself. Think smartly when you're choosing your clothing style as if you make a mistake you could be giving your potential employer a reason to have another candidate to interview you!The second area that needs to be addressed when it comes to clothing style is shoes. Shoes come in a variety of styles and colors. Choose something that has a comfortable fit. Softer leather shoes, especially, are a definite no-no.Thirdly, while you are considering your clothing and shoes, you should think about your head shot. You should take the time to prepare your head shot and have a good look at it. Pay attention to your hair style, whether you're wearing it or not, and your body types. Try to get as much input from the employer as possible. Let them see what you look like when you're dressed properly.On ce you have prepared yourself for your head shot and included everything you need to your resume, it's time to make sure that your skills match the position you're applying for. Many people don't pay attention to this aspect of their resume. They are too focused on what they're wearing and how they look. Think about this area so that when you're interviewing for your job you'll come across as more professional.Lastly, you'll want to make sure that the resume is as concise as possible. It doesn't matter how attractive or fit you are if the employer isn't able to read your resume fast enough. Your resume needs to be quick and easy to read so that the employer can read it and send it back in a short amount of time. Make it so that the prospective employer can quickly scan through your resume and get the information that they need without wasting too much time.

When Jeans are Okay to Wear to an Interview Â

When Jeans are Okay to Wear to an Interview   When is it okay to wear jeans to an interview? Most interviews require the common dress code of slacks, a button down top, and a suave jacket, but there are the occasional job interviews where jeans are okay. How do you gauge what to wear and when it’s okay to dress down? When going to an interview it’s important to make a good impression on your potential future employers, so if you’re in doubt dress up and not down. Although most people don’t enjoy job interviews (who wants to feel like they are being judged?) they are an important process that allows a company to learn more about who you are and allows you to learn more about what the job entails. As part of this process, it is important to create a positive impression by dressing appropriately. While this can mean different things for different jobs, it can be difficult if you’ve been out of employment for a while and need to purchase a fresh outfit for the occasion. This is especially true if you’re trying to pay the bills and cover your regular expenses at the same time.   One solution that can help tide you over is  Matched Loans, a fast online loan matching service that caters to those who are unemployed and need cash quickly! Obviously, some positions require more formal wear.   And some can go either way, such as an event coordinator.  However, if the company prides themselves on uniqueness, the position requires you to do a lot of communicating with the public, or if the dress code is non existent, it may be okay to break the interviewing rules. Go with your gut and always stay professional, even if you decide to show up in a pair of jeans. What Type of Jeans to Wear Now a days jeans sometimes look just like slacks, so if you happen to find a dark pair of jeans from NYDJ that will pass as slacks, then they should work just fine to wear to your interview. Wide leg jeans and trouser jeans are two types of jeans that look professional and trendy. If you wear a button up top or a nice looking blouse  your interviewer probably won’t even notice your jeans. However, since most companies take note on your interview appearance, be safe and wear jeans that look just like slacks. Choose Uniqueness over Dress Code Occasionally you may interview for a company who encourages uniqueness, and perhaps breaking the dress code is just what you need to get yourself in the door.  Don’t be sloppy, but make a lasting impression on your interviewers. Companies like Facebook for example have important people who hardly dress up for the job (or special events for that matter), and they still make a good impression. Initially you should be cautious with your ensembles if you get hired for the job, but it’s a safe bet that if the employees are showing up in jeans and a tee shirt then you can show up to your interview in a nice pair of premium jeans for women and a nice shirt with a v-neck button up sweater. Your Job will be Outdoors If you’re a substitute teacher who is interviewing for the recess hours, or an event coordinator who will be spending a lot of her time at a resort or private office, it’s safe to say that jeans will be fine to wear. However, when you’re interviewing, go with your gut in regards to whether you should dress up or down. Later, if you receive the job, dressing in a more casual outfit on a daily basis should not be a problem. Find out what the dress code is for the company and go from there. Comfort and style can always go hand in hand.

The 5 Craziest (and Not Always Clever) Stunts That People Have Pulled at Work

The 5 Craziest (and Not Always Clever) Stunts That People Have Pulled at Work Whats the craziest thing youve done at work? Used the office printer for personal use? Pulled a sickie because you had one drink too many on a week night? For most thats probably about as wild as it gets; however  youd be surprised what some people have got away with at work and the stunts that have been pulled! Here are a few of the craziest things that people have done at work, to avoid work and to find work: The man who skipped work for 6 years For six years, a building supervisor in Spain continued to receive his $41,500 salary, without working a single day! It  wasn’t until he won an award for his 20 years of loyal service that anyone noticed that he was still on the pay-roll despite not showing up for work at the  water treatment plant for years. When questioned about his absence, Joaquín Garcia’s reportedly blamed bullying at his previous workplace for his absence, as it had led to him taking a new  role at the Water Plant, where he found there was no work to do. García was recently fined $30,000 for the long holiday that he issues himself,  which is the maximum penalty government officials could deliver; however, this is nothing in comparison to the earnings  he has totalled up over the years! The AirBnB host who lived in his office George Tzortis was eager to quit his job as an editor at the U.S. Department of Energy; however in order to afford to do so, he first needed to save up some money. He came up with the idea that he could earn a bit of extra cash if he rented out his apartment to strangers on Airbnb; however this left him with no where to sleep himself. The answer? He started to live in his office, stocking the communal fridge with frozen meals and storing  a pillow and bedding at the office that he would whip out after the cleaners left each night.  He ended up saving more than $25,000 in six months and managed to quit as planned! The guy who landed a job with a Google ad How often do you Google yourself? If you say never, I dont believe you! After struggling in his job search, Alec Brownstein realised he was going to have to step up his game and do something special to get himself noticed by employers. He came up with the genius idea of taking out Google ads with the names of Ad Execs who he wanted to get the attention of. When any of them Googled themselves they were faced with his request at the top of the page that read  â€œGoogling your self is a lot of fun. Hiring me is fun too.” Over the next couple of months, Brownstein received calls from all but one of the creative directors whose names he had purchased ads on. Looks like the stunt paid off! The I Quit video girl Back in 2013,  Marina Shifrin decided enough was enough and it was time to quit her  job  at the Taiwanese viral news video company, Next Media Animation. Seeing as she spent her days making videos, she felt it fit to say her final goodbye with a video of her own. The video features her dancing around an empty office to Kanye Wests Gone  on one of her night shifts, while her reasons for leaving scroll across the bottom of the screen. The video soon went viral and she even received an invitation to appear on the Queen Latifah Show, which then even led on to a job offer to become a digital content producer for the program! Among all the hype  her former company also went on to  create  their  own tongue-in-cheek parody of the video in response to her resignation. Sachsgate Comedian turned  presenters Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross were famously forced to leave the BBC in 2008, after they crossed the line with a prank involving actor Andrew Sachs, famous for playing Manuel on TV show Fawlty Tower. Brand and Ross were due to interview Andrew Sachs on Brands Saturday night Radio 2 show, however when Sachs  failed to answer the phone, they continued to leave a number of inappropriate messages on his answer phone, including a series of crude comments about Brands relationship with Sachs granddaughter. The stunt led to thousands  of complaints from the public and politicians, which lead to Brand and Ross being  suspended from their posts. Brand later resigned from the BBC and Rosss contract unsurprisingly was not renewed when it ended the following  year. [Top Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Federal Resume Writing Services Groupon - Working With A Great Source

Federal Resume Writing Services Groupon - Working With A Great SourceFederal resume writing services group has been very helpful for many people. The company has always been a great source of help for those who have started a new job but have no idea what to write on their application.There are companies that offer services like these groups, so you need to take a look at the various offers before you sign up with any company. Don't go ahead if they don't seem to be what you're looking for. This is your chance to find a good business.Resumes are used by people who want to know how to get the right job and how to get it faster. People who want to make sure that their application gets seen by everyone need to have it up in front of anyone who might be reading it. If they don't, they may not get the job that they want.People also need these important documents. A written resume is one of the best ways to show that you have done all the required paperwork to get the position. Some positi ons even require an oral interview, which means you'll have to be interviewed. Writing a good cover letter is a great way to stand out from all the other applicants and show that you're qualified.There are many different job applications out there and some of them look much more professional than others. It can be difficult to see through them and identify exactly what is going on. When you get hired, your written and spoken resume will show this on your first day, when you meet with your supervisor or when you meet with new co-workers.Resumes should also show your knowledge and qualifications for the job you are applying for. If you get hired, you will need to do some work in order to continue with the job. Your experience and the kind of job you want will determine exactly what kind of resume you need to make your job easier.Some people will prefer to have a resume designed for them by a professional service so that they can make their resumes stand out. Others may not want to bot her and just rely on resume templates. If this is the case, don't worry because there are plenty of places to get resume writing services.If you haven't learned any new skills or have only been looking for a new job, you probably don't have much of a resume to show for it. You may be tempted to sign up for a job posting, but that's not the way to go. Don't waste your time with resumes that don't work and don't waste your money by getting a job posting that doesn't apply to you.

When I hurt, you hurt - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

When I hurt, you hurt - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Researchers at Stanford University have found, that when we see other people get hurt, our brain shows some of the same reaction as when we get hurt ourselves. Researchers at Stanford University in California obtained their findings from studying peoples brain activity while they watched videos of other people being hurt, such as clips of sporting injuries or car crashes. The authors found that similar areas of the brain were activated both when people watched another person getting hurt and when they, themselves, experienced modest pain during a subsequent experiment. Read the whole article here. It seems that empathy is hardwired into us at a very fundamental, neurological level. All in all, Id say that the traditional mental image of humans as competitors in a dog-eat-dog world, constantly fighting for survival, is looking less and less real. There is now hard scientific evidence, that traits such as empathy, generosity, fairness and cooperation are built into us at the most fundamental level. I really like this view of humanity, and here are some past posts, which talk about some of this: * Review of Non Zero the history of cooperation * Review of The web of life more cooperation * Being excluded hurts * Monkey fairness * Review of The generous human Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Dealing with Change

Dealing with Change What is it about change that scares the pants off of some people?I dont really care for change much myself. I get very comfortable in my routines and surroundings. I rely on them as a source of stability. When things aroundme are changing so quickly, I sometimes dig in deeper to hold on to my routines and surroundings. Is it human natureperhaps for some. But change is inevitable. I think what scares so many people is the fact that the change happened and they had no control over it- or did they? They felt like they had no control. Now they are forced to make new choices. That is difficult. Whether it is a lay off, restructuring, being passed over for a promotion or raise, these conditions force us to adapt to change. We can rise to the occasion or wallow in self pity. Take the high road and embrace this wonderful new opportunity. If we are serious about our careers and lives, we should be looking at ways to change ourselves regularly. When we are in control ofchange, it feels better as well as prepares us to manage unforeseen change more comfortably. Is managing change a skill? The more practice you have, the easier it generally is. So practice handling change. Expect change. Being comfortable with ourselves professionally and personally may not be, no definitely, is NOT a good thing. We need to continue to learn, develop, grow and modify ourselves, sometimes even re-invent in order to survive in todays volatile world of employment.