By Florence Mukunya

I know you have probably read a thousand articles on how to write a good CV on what to include and what you cannot dare include. But have you ever asked yourself what employers actually look for in a CV?

In any given application an employer is likely to receive from around 500 CVs, says Carolyne Kariuki a Recruitment Manager at Corporate Staffing Services .

“Out of these applications the employer only needs to meet around 15 candidates to determine who is best suited for the job,” She adds

So what do employers really look for in a CV to determine whether you are qualified for the position?

5 Things Employers Look For in a CVs

1. Relevant experience

The first thing that an employer looks for in your CV is relevant work experience. This refers to any past or current hands on experience. Now, the mistake many job seekers make is failing to include some of their past experiences as some tend to favor what they are currently doing either because it pays better or just because they like the company. The number of years you have worked also matters as it’s used to measure the amount of expertise you possess.

Remember, employers are looking for experienced candidates as it saves them time to train and also they know the candidate is likely to bring in some expertise from the companies they are coming from.

2. Companies you have worked for

You might find this not very important, but employers are actually interested on companies you have previous worked with. For example say an employer is in the banking industry, if they are looking for a Sales Representative, they are mostly likely to go with a person who has previously worked as a sales person in the banking industry.

Reason being, the candidates in the industry already possess the knowledge of how the banking industry works.

So the next time you are writing your CV make sure you include the names of the companies you have worked with

3. Consistency

There is no employer who is looking to employ a candidate whose CV does not portray consistency. Now, if you keep changing jobs after every few months the employer might not have confidence in you, Says Ms. Kariuki.

She advises that when writing a CV, candidates should ensure that they point out clearly on the duration they have worked on different companies, that is inclusive of years and months.

For the jobs where one has worked for short periods, for example a contract, she says that one should note in brackets that it was a contract.

4. Age

Well, this might be a point to debate about, but employers are also keen on a candidate’s age. Some positions especially the senior ones are looking for mature people, same goes with entry level jobs, where employers will mostly be looking for young graduates.
When writing your CV ensure you include your age.

5. The CV format

You might agree with me that a good CV may include all the above but then it needs to be put in a neat professional format. Ms Kariuki says that every time she concentrates on well formatted CVs she is sure to get qualified candidates from the batch as opposed to badly done CVs.

She concludes by advising job seekers on keenly scrutinizing their CVs and the jobs they are applying for before making an application. Failure to include details that are relevant to the job will cost you.

She further and gives an example of an employer who is looking for a sage accountant, well, even if you have the experience working with Sage and have not included that on the CV, then employer will just skip your CV to the next.

By Michelle Wanjiku

Most people do not know what to say when asked this question; they don’t know how to start or what to talk about. Sadly this is one of the questions you need to answer well if you have any hope of landing the job. After all, if you do not know anything about the organisation, then why should they even hire you?

Researching and finding out more on the company before the interview will show the employer that you take initiative which will give you an edge in the end.

According to Perminus Wainaina Head of Recruitment at Corporate Staffing Services,

You should avoid giving visions and mission of the organisation. Pointing out the mission and goals is not important and adds no value. So, there is no point in cramming them because it shows you didn’t really take time to learn about the company but instead just copied what was on the site.

How to Answer the Question

Talk about products and services

Take this opportunity to show you are well versed on the products and services offered by the organisation. Before the interview, take time to study what the company does. The employer wants to know that you are both interested in and conversant with the company.

Being able to talk about the company’s products and services will make a good impression on the employer which then increases your chances of getting the job.

Talk about management

You can even go further and talk about the management of the company. What you found out about its management in terms of style. This not only proves that you know about the company but it also shows that unlike others who skimmed on the surface you took time to learn more about the organisation which is a great way to show that you are a fit for the position.

News items

If the organisation has been in the news for good reasons, you can mention a few stories you came across. For example, if the company recently won an award you can mention it briefly. This shows the employer you are truly interested in the organisation which will come in handy when they are selecting a candidate.

Talk about being a customer.

If you happen to use one of their products or have been a customer at a certain time then this is a good time to mention it. Keep in mind that you should not lie because you might be asked questions that you cannot answer on the product which will ruin your chances at getting the job.

Talk about why you use their product and why you like it. This will build more faith in you.

Remember the more you know the better however, there should be a balance, you cannot spend more than three five minutes talking about the company. Keep your answer brief but detailed. In order to answer this question well you need to have done a lot of research on the organisation and not just going through their website.

We are all blessed to have the internet today, where we can access all the information and help that we might need, including jobs.

The traditional way of looking for jobs 10 years ago was through Newspapers and you will admit that the competition when applying for jobs posted on the papers is very high because many people get to see these jobs, right?

Thankfully, we now have online media platforms that make it easier for you to get a job with different companies and organizations.

So, how can you become successful in your online job search? What must you take into consideration when hunting for your dream job?

Here are 5 great tips for a Successful Online Job Search

1.Choose job sites carefully

Even as you look for jobs online, you have to be careful about which sites you are using to conduct your search. Now that many people are using the internet to source for jobs, others are taking advantage of this by posting jobs that either don’t exist or jobs that require you to cough large amounts of money to secure a place.

With that in mind, ensure that you research on the companies advertised to be hiring. You can also go ahead and send an email to the company to confirm if indeed they are hiring.

Also, use your discretion when you come across a job that requires you to pay certain amounts of money. The majority of companies in Kenya do not ask for any fee to interview with them. Therefore, choose sites that have a good reputation online, sites that are known to post jobs that are true.

2. Set up Email Job alerts

Since vacancies are advertised everyday from different companies and organizations, you should subscribe to job email alerts.

This will make you automatically know of new job listings every day.  Another advantage of setting up job alerts is that you will have the advantage of applying for jobs as soon as they are posted.

This is bearing in mind that employers interview candidates on the basis of the applications made immediately. It’s always done on a rolling basis. The faster you submit your application, the better.

3. Keep your job search focused

To avoid getting frustrated in your job search because you are not receiving any feedback from the applications you have made, ensure that you only apply for jobs you qualify for.

Majority of the time, job seekers apply for jobs they are not qualified for and unfortunately, their job search becomes very stressful and unsuccessful because they fail to get any interview invitations.

With that in mind, be focused on jobs that you are 100% sure you qualify for in terms of working experience, education qualifications etc.

4. Write a Customized Cover Letter

It’s so important to write a Customized Cover Letter that shows how you will effectively deliver and perform in the roles outlined in the job advertised. This, you can do by providing information about your skills and expertise that will enable you to be the suitable person for the role.

5. Clean up your CV and Cover Letter

Having an excellent CV and Cover Letter is the most important aspect of job search. Use your CV to shine and make an excellent impression when the employer looks it.

Before you submit your application, make sure that there are no spelling mistakes and that the font type and size are the same for all the sections of your CV.

Have a clean and presentable CV that will make the employer want to interview you.

Also, update your CV with all the relevant information, including a short part time job you had, a volunteering activity you were involved in, or a short certificate course you enrolled in.

The goal here, is to make sure that you send a great CV with all the information up to date.

Searching for a job online should not be difficult. The internet has made it easier to land a job and all the information you need with writing your CV or Cover letter is available. With the above tips, you can make your online search a great experience and ultimately secure a great job.

By Susan Gitonga

Receiving feedback at the end of your interview is a good way to gauge your performance. However, not all feedback ends up being good. With that in mind, here are 5 things you don’t want to hear at the end of an interview:

1. “I called company ABC and they have never heard of you.”

Imagine the shock you will receive when your prospective employer tells you that they one of the Companies you had indicated in your CV and they said they have never heard of you.

It is possible that the people who knew you and worked closely with you in that company left, but in most cases the interviewer will not take that as an explanation.

The obvious reaction and assumption from your interviewer is that you lied. In an interview, lying is one of the character traits an interviewer is wary of. At the end of the day, they want to give the job to someone who is honest and is full of integrity.
To avoid this from happening, ensure that your seniors at work know you enough to remember you.

2. “I’m concerned about the spelling errors and mistakes on your CV and cover letter”

Spelling mistakes might mean that you rushed through when writing your CV and Cover Letter and you did not put much thought and care into the writing process. On the other hand it might also tell the interviewer that you are not good in English which might disqualify you from getting the job.

In order to have a good CV and Cover Letter to show the interviewer, ensure that you are keen when writing. You can also ask a friend to go through your documents and correct any errors that may appear on them.

3.” Are you sure this is the right opportunity for you?”

What the interviewer is trying to say is that after looking after your CV, they feel like you might not be a good match for the position.

When this happens, however, give the interviewer confidence to hire you by telling them past work experience and roles that are related to the position you are currently hiring for. This is your opportunity to say what you can do for the company once the opportunity is given to you.

4. “Actually my name is…”

It could be that the interviewer said what his name was at the beginning of the interview and because of how anxious you were, you happened to forget.

At the end of the interview, you might think that thanking him referring to his name is a good idea that will make you both appear to be friends and you end up calling him a different name that is not his.

E.g. “Thankyou so much Mr. Kamau,” you tell him. And he responds by saying, “actually my name is Wambua.”

This is something you don’t want to hear because the interviewer will assume you were not paying attention, so much so that you forgot his name. To avoid putting yourself in this position, avoid referring to his name, or better still, ensure that you not down his name to avoid forgetting.

5. “I was looking at your Facebook page and noticed…”

Do you remember the Social Media information you added to your CV? Well, believe me when I say that most of the time your interviewer will spare some minutes to see what you share online.

Imagine the interviewer saying that they noticed you are a party girl based from the photos of you drunk on Facebook. The interviewer might also comment about any negative information you have shared online which might make you appear unprofessional and questionable when it comes to your character.

That said, ensure that your social media profile is clean and simple. Remember that anyone can have access to the information you share online. Therefore, keep it clean.

I hope you enjoyed the tips and the enlightenment on the things you should ensure you don’t hear during your interview. All the best!

My first resume was just a half-page long and the only feedback I received was that I should’ve included more work experience. When I got home, I immediately did a Google search because I (admittedly) didn’t know what I was doing.

I went the other way for my next attempt and wrote my life story. It didn’t get me a single reply. I hated that feeling and decided to experiment until I found a resume that would give me results.

So, I started designing different templates. I tried various fonts, added images, and played with all sorts of colors and effects, until I created something I felt really proud of. As an arts major with design experience, I wanted to show off my particular skill set.

I sent out the revamped version, and the very same day I got a call for an interview. Fast-forward one month and I was working at a Ritz-Carlton resort. The first thing my manager said was “We don’t often get resumes like this in the hospitality industry, so I was eager to meet you.”

I’ve used this template with every application since. While I’m still relatively early in my career and I’ve shifted from hospitality to content editing, my resume has helped me get my foot in the door each time. I know that because I always get positive comments about it during interviews.

While I can’t guarantee that you’ll have the same results as me—this formatting might not be appropriate for every industry and role—I can share what I learned when I transformed mine from monotonous to eye-catching.

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In Washington, D.C., political jobs aren’t hard to come by. But landing one is another story.

I was 25 and in the running for a press secretary position with the Department of Transportation (DOT). These are the people who manage billions in tax dollars and make sure trains, planes, and buses get us from point A to point B in one piece. No biggie.

If you’ve never applied for a job in the realm of politics or the federal government, seven interviews may seem insane, but it actually comes with the territory.

By the final one, I’d already gone through a proverbial ring of fire—each meeting with a higher-level person than the last. But as the stakes rose, I grew more and more relaxed.

I figured for the last one, in which I’d be meeting with the chief of staff, I could finally relax and let my hair down. And although research had been a critical part of my prep up until that point, for the final interview I decided to wing it and didn’t do any. Instead I walked in confident and thought “Ursula, you’ve got this in the bag.”

Except I didn’t.

As you might imagine, when I received the rejection email, I was floored. I emailed the hiring manager who had guided me through the entire process and asked if he’d be willing to give me feedback on where I went wrong and what I can do better in the future.

Because people are busy and many employers aren’t necessarily at liberty to offer feedback, I didn’t expect a response—yet I got one. I’ll tell you this: The truth can be a hard pill to swallow. But after such a long process, I knew constructive criticism would serve me (and hopefully you) well.

1. Never Stop Hustling

I wish I could tell you after seven rounds you can stop hustling and take a load off. Unfortunately, multiple rounds typically mean you’re meeting with people higher and higher on the ladder. For example, your first meeting would never be with the CEO of the company, but your third one very well could be.

The process can be physically and emotionally exhausting, and by my final one, I was spent. But the person I spoke with never should’ve been able to sense that. Whether it’s your first or last meeting, you must maintain the same hunger and level of enthusiasm.

In fact, with each round, you actually need to be more prepared than the next. The same hustle that got you there will keep you there.

2. Always Be Professional

For most of my interviews, I had been meeting with men. When my last (and most important) round rolled around, I was relieved it was with another woman.

Upon meeting this very powerful person at the very top of the ladder, can you guess how I approached our introduction? Did I smile pleasantly, give her a firm handshake, and say “Thank you for meeting with me?”

Did I hand her a folder containing my resume, published press releases, and letters of recommendation?

Nope. Instead, I gushed about the giant engagement ring she had on her finger. I overlooked her rank, what she had done to get there, and focused on a personal fact that was absolutely none of my business.

Yep. I made small talk with the chief of staff. And in doing so, I’d presented myself as unprofessional. And I’d shown a certain amount of disrespect too. It’s OK to go off topic if it seems appropriate. Follow the lead of the person you’re meeting with. Let him or her drive the conversation.

3. Never Go in Unprepared

Confidence is great. But it can be dangerous when you’re walking the fine line between arrogance and confidence. Thanks to the internet, most of the information you need to know about the organization and who you’re meeting with is at your fingertips, but that’s no reason to get smug and assume you’ve got it all figured out.

I researched like crazy early on, but then, as my confidence grew, I started to slack off. I figured I didn’t need to keep trying so hard. Boy, was I wrong. My overconfident attitude led to me being underprepared and not on my toes.

After seven rounds, I learned the career lesson of a lifetime: The details matter. As you move further along in the hiring process, rather than getting comfortable, raise your level of preparedness, awareness, and professionalism. Because hiring managers typically can’t offer individual feedback on your performance, I don’t advise reaching out to them each time you don’t land the position. Instead, take a lesson from my experience and apply it to your next search. Because when the time came for a new round of interviews at a new company, I prepped for all three (not just the first one) and got the job.

Credit : themuse.com

You hate your job and can’t wait to be anywhere else—except twist, you have to stay for at least a little while longer. Maybe the hours allow you to care for a sick loved one, that promotion you’re in line for will set you up to qualify for different roles, or that quarter-end bonus is going to help you finally get out of credit card debt.

So, right now, your job search is a lot of hurry-up and wait. You want to be ready the very moment you can start applying, but right now, you have to bide your time.

Here’s how to be proactive—and patient—so you can strike when it’s time:

1. Revamp Your Resume

When’s the last time you updated your resume? When you applied for your current role? If so, it’s time for an update.

Many people wait to revise materials until they’re about to submit a job application, because they want to customize them for each role. While tailoring your resume is an important step, it’s actually the second one you should take. The first—and often overlooked—one is to create a resume you can send anywhere.

It helps you in two ways. One, you’ll have a strong, current jumping off point when you are ready to customize it. And two, if someone asks you to simply “send on your resume” the moment you share that you’re looking, you’ll have something to ready to go.

2. Polish Your Personal Brand

Need yet another reason to set up a personal website, start publishing on LinkedIn, or take on some other brand-boosting activity you’ve been putting off?

When it’s actually time to pound the pavement and send in numerous applications, odds are you’ll be too busy to also build a personal site or write a blog post, too. Additionally, hiring managers are more impressed by actions over time than the appearance that you became interested in being a thought leader the day before you sent in your materials for that new job.

So, start publishing now, it’ll pay off when you have weeks (or months) of work to your credit.

3. Warm Up Your Network

Sure, you can’t ask for a referral yet; but you don’t want “Can you get me a job?” to be the first thing you say to someone after you’ve fallen out of touch anyhow. If it’s been a while, make an initial effort to reconnect by sending on an interesting article or a note to see how the other person is doing. Bonus: The holidays are a great excuse to get back in touch!

Keep in mind, you don’t want to jump from ghost to stalker. It’ll seem insincere (and slightly bizarre) if you go from no contact in three years to suddenly messaging that person at your dream company each week like you’re BFFs.

Additionally, you don’t want to wholly bury why you’re reaching out—at the risk of seeming like you’re leading them on. So, while you may not be ready to announce that you’ll be looking for a new job, you can mention that you’re interested in learning more about the other person’s industry or role, and ask if you could send on a few questions. This positions you perfectly to ask further questions (like insider tips for getting a job!) when you are ready to start your search.

When you don’t like your job, it’s understandable that you’d want to spend your free time on hobbies, and wait to job search until you can actually make a move. However, taking these actions now will help you hit the ground running when you are ready to look—so you land a new role that much faster once the time is right. Not to mention, they’ll help you stay sane, too, because while you’re still stuck at your job by day, by night you’re already preparing for that role of your dreams.

Credit : themuse.com