Tips

What is a curriculum vitae (or CV)?
A CV is a Latin expression meaning "course of life" in other words, a resume. It is a special type of resume traditionally used within the academic community. Earned degrees, teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, and related activities are featured. Unlike a resume, a CV tends to be longer and more informational than promotional in tone. Some useful tips to create a bullet resume:

  • Use Titles or Headings That Match The Jobs You Want
  • Use Design That Grabs Attention
  • Create Content That Sells
  • Quantify and Use Power Words
  • Analyze Ads and Job Descriptions to Identify Key Words
  • Identify and Solve Employer's Hidden Needs
  • Sell the Benefits of Your Skills
  • Create An Image That Matches The Salary You Want
  • Prioritize the Content of Your Resume


    • Some more tips to complete a bullet resume:
  • Correctly Identify & Market Your Skills
  • Analyze Job Ads to identify top skills employers need
  • Prove How Your Skills solve those needs
  • Replace Weak Titles with skills that match the job
  • Write Powerful Content to quantify achievements
  • Use Design That Directs attention & sells in seconds
  • Graph Resume Titles & Skills to determine if they make your image go up, down or match the image of the job you want!


    • Interview Tips:
    Types of Interviews: There are different types of interviews that employers use for assessing candidates. Some examples are Structured Interviews, Panel Interviews, and Group Interviews.

    Structured Interviews: The structured interview is the most frequently used method of interviewing. The interview is a one on one meeting between the employer and the candidate. Questions are based on key selection criteria such as qualifications, work experience, key responsibilities, achievements, reasons for career change, motivation, team work, adaptability and aspirations.

    Panel Interviews: Panel interviews are often conducted by large organisations, particularly in the public sector. The panel may include a Human Resource practitioner, a line manager, senior manager, consultant or an employee who has the relevant technical expertise. The panel usually consists of 2-5 people.

    Group Interviews: Group interviews are also conducted by large organisations where several candidates are brought together to discuss work related issues and to provide a solution in a simulated business environment. It is designed to assess candidates on workplace behaviours, team playing, leadership, human relations, communication and presentation skills, and problem solving abilities. Group interviews are often assessed by one or more Human Resource practitioners.

    Common Questions:
  • Have you ever worked within a team? Can you describe what it was like?
  • How would you perform in an autonomous role?
  • Tell me about your experience as an account manager, customer service officer…
  • Tell me about an incident in your last position where conflict existed with a peer or a manager. How did you resolve it?
  • At times, when dealing with customers, things can go wrong. How would you deal with an unhappy customer? Can you give me an example of this situation and how you resolved it in the past?
  • What is your technical experience?
  • What are your major achievements?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Why did you leave?
  • How would your peers view you?
  • What would your referees say about you?
  • Why would you like to work for our company?
  • Where would you like to be five (5) years from now?


    • NEVER say this:

  • Derogatory comments about previous or current employers
  • Exaggerating
  • Irrelevant comments
  • Questions about salary, holidays, bonuses. However, be prepared to answer these questions if need be
  • Lack of interest
  • Showing any discouragement if you feel the interview is going badly.
  • Consistent and courteous responses will assure the employer that you are a professional. It may also help you to turn the interview around