Get that Job - it's a measure of your success!

Find who you would be working for!

Most job-seekers search for work online these days. Whilst this can provide you with an ocean size market of vacancies, it is usually frustrating and time-consuming as you send your CV to hundreds if not thousands of potential jobs.  

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The answer to successful job hunting lies with you, the job hunter, not the person finder! Success in Getting that Job lies with you. Your CV is your calling card - it should reflect you to the extent that anyone reading it - would immediately recognise it as your CV the moment you meet them! Here are a few dos and don'ts.

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The length of your CV should match your experience. Only the extensively experienced (like me!) should have a two-page CV; otherwise, it's one page - that's it! The hirer will not have time to read a life story about someone they have never met! So one page is enough for most people. A CV isn't social media, so no photos or videos unless appropriate for the job you aim to win! If it's a portfolio of your work or a video of your acting experience - good; otherwise, keep it simple.

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After your name and contact details are at the top of the CV, ensure you have a boxed paragraph summarising who you are, what you are fabulous at, and why you are suited to this particular vacancy. Tailor your CV to the position you are applying for - generic CVs don't win. 

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Here is the crucial paragraph of my CV - in the box:

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"International Chairman, CEO & Author with a reputation as a catalyst for strategic change, critical people development, sales and profit growth in the Corporate, Private Equity & Small Business environment.

International General Management experience. Results-oriented, profit-focused, and

innovative business planning skills with a passion for getting things done.

An International Award-Winning Business Leader."

 

Lists your achievements; hirers want to see what you have achieved and what relevant experience you have. After listing your accomplishments,  list your education and qualifications. That's it! Be prepared to give the interviewer as much information as they need, not what you think they need! If you need an expanded CV, have it available  - and use it as a reference point. Your CV is a building block, a springboard to catapult you as a candidate the hirer must see.

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Get in front of the hirer.

Employing people is the most critical task an organisation undertakes. If you believe you can do the job, find out whom you will work for - and call them. Ask for a meeting and tell them why they should see you! Remember, nobody gets a job until they first meet the actual employer! Never work for someone you have never met! Leaders want to meet new people; they are always looking for new talent, knowing that is their best route to future success for the business or organisation. I once went for a short walk on holiday and ended up with a new job there and then! You can read the story in my book "it does matter" - I can still see my wife's expression when I returned to our car after my "walk" to declare that I had just been offered and accepted a new job in a new city! 

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Preparation avoids perspiration!

Research the organisation you want to join. Nothing impresses employers more than having an outsider sit in front of them who already knows much about their organisation. Do your research; when asked, explain in detail the results of your study. Be bright, tidy and interested in their organisation; first impressions are critical when hiring new people. Your goal is to impress the guy you will work for; if you come over as somewhat unique, bright and ambitious, you might not get the job you are applying for, but a Leader will find one for you! Ask questions, but don't be too inquisitive; keep the questions relevant to the position and the company. 

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Be a little early for your interview; it shows you can tell the time!

Good Luck.