Know Yourself
Write down all of your strengths and weaknesses.
This may be difficult since many people are modest about their strengths
and loathe reflecting upon their weaknesses.
The best cv
Be
honest with yourself and push aside any modesty or humility. Your
strengths and weaknesses are what defines you and are some of the
qualities that potential employers are going to look at.
You are
going to write your strengths in your curriculum vitae (CV) and
communicate to employers about them in interviews and e-mails. It is
important that you understand your own strengths before you even try to
tell potential employers what you have to offer. The key here is to
prove to the employer that you are worth more than the salary they are
willing to offer. This way the employer sees you as a worthwhile
investment and not a potential drain on company resources.
Next, take time to consider what you would like to do. What is your ideal job or position?
Is
it in graphic design or maybe something in sales? If you are lucky you
already have experience in the field you are most interested in but
chances are you are on a career path that you did not want.
This is the time to figure out what you want to do!
Once
you have an idea of what you want to do and are armed with a solid
concept of what you have to offer employers it is time to go out there
and find a job. It is no longer the time to be passive about the job
hunt. You have to be the hunter and not the prey. It is all up to you.
Time for Action!
Take time right now and write down 10 strengths and weaknesses.
After you do so take a look at your weakness and think on ways to improve them.
You
can format this list like the above example with a line down the center
of your paper and two columns; one for strengths and the other for
weaknesses.
About the brand name
Along with developing a strong CV
you also have to develop your brand. Your brand is what people perceive
you as. While many consider brands only for companies or products you
have to remember that while looking for a job you are essentially
selling your skills and assets. In this way you are a company trying to
convince others to buy your product.
It is important that your brand
has integrity since it will be the first thing employers will look at as
they are reviewing your CV. If your brand is weak but your CV strong
chances are high that you will not receive any interview requests.
You want to make sure that everything about you is geared towards getting you a job.
That
means you and your brand must be positive. Too many people fail to
consider this as they apply for jobs. Social media like Facebook and
Twitter grants employers an unprecedented look into the personal lives
of applicants.
Before you begin applying for jobs take time to go
through any social media networks and remove all the embarrassing photos
and content that is posted. These can be devastating to your efforts of
establishing your brand.
The Qualities that are Sure to get you Noticed
Simply
developing your brand is not enough. You want to make sure the brand is
something that is attractive to employers. Employers are looking for
people that embody qualities that are compatible for the company.
Consider these qualities and ask yourself if the brand you are developing for yourself reflects these qualities.
Leadership
No
matter the position you are applying for, whether it is an executive
position or one in sales, leadership is highly prized. Excellent
leadership skills demonstrate that you are able to examine a multitude
of situations and motivate others to work towards a common goal.
Leadership skills will surely impress employers who place great value in this ability.
Remember that being a leader is more than simply telling people what to do.
A good leader demonstrates;
· Integrity
· Enthusiasm about the task at hand
· Confidence
· Focus
· The ability to make decisions, especially difficult ones
· Superior communication skills
While
being able to delegate tasks is important. a leader that also inspires
those around him or her is a valuable commodity. Make sure you let the
employers know that you have what it takes to be such a leader.
Communication Skills
Communication
between departments, clients, and management is essential for a
successful business no matter the industry or field. Demonstrating that
you have excellent communication skills will give you an upper hand over
other applicants who failed to understand the importance of this skill
set.
Even if you believe that you are competent at communicating take some time to review these tips.
Passion
Passion
means that you put your very heart and soul into what you do. You take
pride in yourself and your job. Employers want passionate people working
for them and it is up to you to show that you are a passionate person.
If you believe it is impossible to be passionate about a job than you are in the wrong job.
Remember,
you want to find out what it is you want to do and then pursue it.
Going through the motions in the workplace will not get you ahead so
instead, find a position that you can get excited about. That excitement
is infectious and if potential employers notice that you are honestly
and truly excited about a position they will be more prone to hire you
over your competitors.
Without passion for what you are doing then everything else falls flat.
Employers
will be able to tell if you are passionate about the position you are
applying for. Who would you rather have working for you? The person who
is excited about the opportunity or one who is just going through the
motions?
Control your Voice
We often fail to consider how we sound
when speaking to others yet we notice how others sound. A whiny voice
is one that will not likely inspire much confidence and a soft, small
voice will often be ignored. However, a strong and assertive voice will
show others that you are confident and you know what you are doing.
Speak Clearly
Mumbling
will get you nowhere. How will anyone know what you are talking about
if they cannot hear you? Enunciating your words is critical for
communication especially in a field where you are handling clients and
customers. Being able to speak clearly demonstrates that you are
knowledgeable and confident. Mumbling may be perceived
as laziness and even a slow wit.
Vocabulary
People
judge you by your vocabulary. If you use slang in a professional
setting or if you use words incorrectly you may be viewed as
incompetent. Employers do not want to hire incompetent people. This also
means that you need to use the right words at the right time. If you
are uncertain about what a word means then just do not use it. While you
may want to impress an employer or a client it is better to use a small
word then a large one incorrectly.
Eye Contact
The importance of
proper eye contact when it comes to communication cannot be overstated.
You will be judged by your ability to make and maintain eye contact
while speaking. Those unable to do so will be perceived as incompetent
or even dishonest.
Remember, you want to inspire confidence through
your communication skills and if you fail to make eye contact all of the
other efforts will be for nothing.
Action
Employers are looking for people that are able and willing to take action. By
demonstrating
your willingness to do what needs to be done you will surely get
yourself noticed as you search for a new job or career.
Avoid ”What If’s”
For
many, taking action is a terrifying experience. After all you are
putting yourself on the line. What if your decision is the wrong one?
What if the decision you make is unpopular? What if the decision you
make ends in disaster?
Avoid all those ”What if” questions. This will
only lead to a panic attack. Instead examine the situation before you,
weigh your options, seek input from those around you and act.
Be Accountable
Accountability
is important when taking action and making decisions. This shows that
you are willing to stand behind decisions even if they end up being the
wrong ones.
Own the choices you make and you will inspire confidence.
Employers are looking for people that are willing to step up and act.
Remember, we are all humans and humans are imperfect beings; we all make
mistakes.
Seek out Opinions
If you are faced with a tough choice
and find that taking action is difficult then do not be afraid to seek
input from others. Employers appreciate employees who are able to take
in various sources of information and opinions to form a plan of action.
The best cv
One Company, One Goal
You
must be a team player. Lone wolves might look cool but really they are
the ones less likely to get hired. While independence is important you
want to make sure that is measured against the goals of the company. You
certainly do not want to act against the goals, agenda, and, mission of
the company. This is a good way to sabotage your job hunting attempts.
Demonstrate
through your past actions and speech that you understand the importance
of acting in line with the company’s agenda and how you plan to add and
improve upon it. Employers are certainly not going to hire someone whom
they feel will cause more harm than good.
The best cv
