15 Things You Should Do To Make Your CV Winning

15 Things You Should Do To Make Your CV Winning

1. Never use multiple colours in your CV, they are very distracting.
2. Have a section for professional summary, where you can highlight your key achievements, skills, key selling point, and competencies in two brief paragraphs
3. Keep your CV to 2 or 3 pages for it to be ATS Compliant. But 2 pages can be more impactful.
4. Use an inverted pyramid structure to write your CV, From most important to less important
5. Categorise your skills in terms of technical skills, hard and soft skills, in a listed format, don’t explain.
6. Bullets per position should not exceed 6-quantifiable duties/responsibilities
7. Remove irrelevant content e.g. age, hobbies, height, etc for your CV to be impactful.
8. Let your key skills and achievement pop up on the first page
9. Do not include your referees, the hiring manager may call them and yet you have not notified them about the same. You can provide them after they have shortlisted you.
10. Let the first page highlight a catchy professional summary, key skills, key achievements, and first-position experience that has been quantified.
11. Do not put more emphasis on your earlier position, emphasize the most 2 or 3 recent positions, the remaining record them as ‘other position held’
12. Do not just state the duties or roles, but rather quantify them so that they can bring out your value in those organizations you have worked for.
13. Use strong active verbs when writing your experience, eg. Initiated, managed, spearheaded, created, collaborated, orchestrated, etc.
14. Avoid Passive verbs, like responsible for, ensured, and in charge of…..
15. Always tailor Your CV for a specific JD, this is very key if you ever wish to get a job.
    [24/04/2024 08:47] Simon: 10 Essential Questions Your Resume Must Answer to Land Your Dream Job

Creating a resume that effectively communicates your qualifications and convinces employers you’re the ideal candidate for your dream job requires addressing these 10 key questions:

1. Who Are You?
   Your resume should clearly state your name and contact information, including your phone number and email address.
   Start with your name and contact information. For instance, “John Smith | Email: john.smith@email.com | Phone: (123) 456-7890.”
2. What Are Your Career Goals?
   Include a professional summary or objective statement that outlines your career goals and aspirations.
   Example: “Results-oriented marketing professional aspiring to lead a dynamic team in a fast-growing tech company.”
3. What’s Your Relevant Work Experience?
   List your work history in reverse order, emphasizing roles pertinent to the job. Example:

• Marketing Manager, XYZ Company (2020-2023)
• Project Coordinator, ABC Corporation (2018-2020)

1. What Have You Achieved?
   Use quantifiable achievements to demonstrate your impact in each role. Employers want to see tangible results.
   Highlight your accomplishments. Instead of saying you “managed a team,” demonstrate with, “Led a team of 10, achieving a 20% increase in productivity and surpassing quarterly targets by 15%.”
2. What Are Your Key Skills?
   Highlight the skills that are most relevant to the job, whether they are technical, soft, or transferable skills.
   Example: “Key Skills: Digital Marketing, Data Analysis, Team Leadership, SEO, and Content Strategy.”
3. Do You Have the Right Education?
   Include your educational background, including degrees, institutions, and graduation dates. Mention any relevant certifications or licenses.
   Example:

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of XYZ, 2018
• Certified Project Manager (PMP)

1. What Sets You Apart?
   Mention any unique qualities, such as awards, publications, or extracurricular activities, that make you stand out.
   For instance: “Recipient of the Marketing Excellence Award in 2022 and published author in industry journals.”
2. Can You Adapt and Learn?
   Showcase your ability to adapt to new challenges and learn new skills. Describe instances where you quickly acquired new knowledge.
   Example. “Rapidly acquired expertise in emerging social media trends, resulting in a 30% boost in online engagement.”
3. Can We Trust You?
   Include references or indicate that they are available upon request. Highlight any professional memberships or certifications that demonstrate trustworthiness.
   Example. “Member of the Kenya Marketing Association and holder of a Security Clearance.”
4. Are You a Cultural Fit?
   Use language that aligns with the company’s mission and values, and mention any volunteer work or hobbies that reflect shared values or interests.

Example. “Passionate about sustainability, involved in community clean-up initiatives, and a member of the local Green Energy Alliance.”

By thoughtfully answering these questions in your resume, you create a compelling document that resonates with potential employers. Remember to tailor your resume to each specific job, emphasizing the most relevant information and using keywords from the job description to make it even more compelling.
[24/04/2024 09:11] Simon: Things you should never say in a salary negotiation

⬇️

❌ “My current salary is KES 50,000 ”

Never disclose your current salary because it will kill your chances of future negotiation.

Say this instead:

✅ “I’d prefer not to disclose my current salary. Would you be able to share with me the salary range for this type of role?”

❌ “I’m looking for KES 100,000 if that would be ok?”

Asking for validation makes you sound unsure of yourself and undermines your credibility.

Say this instead:

✅ “Based on my market research and expertise, I’m looking for something between KES 70,000 – KES. 100,000.”

❌ “I need more to cover my expenses”

Bringing personal details like this into a negotiation is oversharing and demonstrates a lack of professional boundaries.

Say this instead:

✅ “With my 8 years’ experience and skills in Accounting, I was aiming for KES.80,000. Is there anything we can do to get closer to that number?”

❌”This salary is too small to pay my rent, fair ticket, and sustain my life.”

Avoid discussing personal expenses as they can make the negotiation seem self-centered rather than value-driven.

Say this instead:

✅ “I’ve reviewed the compensation, and considering the scope and responsibilities of the position, along with industry standards, a salary of KES 95,000 would better align with my professional qualifications and the value I anticipate bringing to the team.”

❌”If I knew this was your offer, I wouldn’t have wasted my time coming.”

This statement can come off as disrespectful and may burn bridges.

Say this instead:

✅ “I appreciate your offer, though it’s quite different from what I was expecting based on the role’s requirements and industry norms. Can we discuss adjustments to the compensation package that reflect the complexity and demands of this position?”

❌”The salary is too little for the roles I will be doing.”

Although it’s important to negotiate based on role responsibilities, phrasing matters to maintain a constructive tone.

Say this instead:

✅ “Given the responsibilities outlined for this role and my professional expertise, I believe a compensation package closer to KES 100,000 would be more commensurate with the demands of the position. Let’s explore how we can make this offer work for both of us.”

❌ “Can we wrap this up quickly? I have another offer waiting.”

Rushing a negotiation can signal desperation and may reduce your bargaining power.

Say this instead:

✅ “I’m currently exploring a few opportunities, but I’m particularly interested in the role your company is offering. Can we discuss the compensation package that would make this a perfect fit for me?”

❌ “Is that the best you can do?”

Challenging an offer in this way can seem confrontational and may put the employer on the defensive.

Say this instead:

✅ “I appreciate your offer. Based on my experience and the industry standard for this role, I was anticipating a slightly higher range. Could we explore the possibility of a salary closer to KES 90,000?”

❌ “Sorry, but I really need more money.”

Apologizing in your negotiation makes your request seem like an imposition rather than a professional requirement.

Say this instead:

✅ “Thank you for the offer. Given my track record and the responsibilities of this position, I believe a salary of KES 95,000 would reflect the value I bring to your team. Could we discuss this further?”

❌ “I was expecting more based on the job description and what we discussed.”

This statement can be perceived as vague and lacking constructive feedback.

✅ Say this instead: “Thank you for your offer. Based on our discussions about the role and my understanding of the key responsibilities, I anticipated a different compensation package. Could we revisit the salary figure to better align it with the complexity of the tasks and the impact I am prepared to make?”