Source: Jobs.ac.uk

You probably have dozens or even hundreds of CVs to shift and sort. So you’ll be lucky if your CV is read for more than 10 seconds.

Here then are ten ‘CV clangers’ to avoid that will help keep your CV in the in-tray and OUT of the bin:

1. Applying for a position for which you’re not qualified

You may look at a job advert and think, ‘I like the sound of that! I think I’ll apply!’ However, if you don’t have the right qualifications or experience, then it’s probably not the right fit.

Make sure you read the job description carefully and any other additional information that may be available.
Ask yourself, ‘I might like the sound of the job, but do I really have the right skill set and experience?’

If the answer to your question is still ‘yes’ then go ahead and apply, but if you don’t fit the bill then please don’t go any further. Save yourself the heartache of rejection.

2. Providing irrelevant personal information
You may be very proud of your personal achievements,but unless your personal information is relevant to the job you’re applying for, do not include it on your CV.

3. Burying important information
Remember, your CV will have little time to impress. The recruiter will look at your CV and think ‘Why should I interview this person? What will they bring to the organization?’

So when compiling your CV think ‘Benefits and make them obvious. That doesn’t mean putting them in all CAPS. It means making what you’d bring to the role easy to find, easy to understand and, above all, compelling.

4. Spelling errors, typos and poor grammar
This should be obvious. But it obviously isn’t. The number of CVs that recruiters see on a daily basis with spelling errors and other mistakes is terrible.

You’ve got a spell checker. Use it!

5. Unexplained gaps in employment
Having unexplained gaps in your employment history is a big ‘no no’. It makes recruiters nervous. If you’re lucky, they’ll briefly wonder what you were doing during that mystery period as your CV is folded and thrown towards the trash can.

6. Lying or misleading information
Recruiters are not stupid. They can spot information that doesn’t add up. For example, they’re always on the look out for inflated:Qualifications, Salaries, Job titles, Achievements.

Employers are conducting increasingly vigorous background checks on candidates. This can range from conducting a Google search on you to employing a specialist candidate checking service. Something that you think is just ‘bending the truth’ could really cost you.

7. A long CV
Keep your CV short, punchy and to the point. This means it shouldn’t be more than 2 pages of A4. When your CV is too long ,then this suggests that you’ve been either job hopping or you can’t write concisely.

For the older job seeker, focus on your recent experience and achievements. If you must refer to a job(s) from a while back, then you could create a separate ‘Previous Employment’ document and refer to it in your cover letter. This will show you’ve thought about your application and will put you in a good light.

8. Badly formatted CV
Format your CV so that it is easy to read on a screen.Stick with fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman at font size 10 or 12. Use italics sparingly and don’t use any colours, crazy backgrounds or, heaven forbid, flowery page borders.

9. Meaningless introductions
Your CV has got to make the recruiter get on the phone to call you and appoint you on the spot. Your CV has got to get you noticed and invited in for interview. So an opening paragraph that says everything and nothing at the same time is not going to do it.

10. The ‘So What’ CV
To give yourself the best chance of it actually being read, make sure that it ‘looks right’. Make sure that it’s not too long, that it’s laid out correctly, is properly formatted and so on. If you do all of these things then you have a chance.

Your CV has to sell you. It has to make you sound interesting. It has to make you sound as though you’ll fit into the organization and that you’ll make a quick and substantial difference.

Because if all your CV does is make the recruiter think, ‘so what?’ you’ll have dropped the biggest CV clanger of all.

By Selipha Kihagi

Getting a job is good news for every Kenyan job seeker, but no one wants to start at a new job only to hate it a few months later. People want jobs they can stay in and make enough money to sustain themselves, their family, live well and make investments or start their own companies.

It is for this reason that job seekers are advised to be cautious of the jobs they accept. With the stressful job market in Kenya, it would be easy to accept any job that comes a long. However, smart job seekers will know what jobs to say yes to and which ones to turn down.

A job seeker who turns down a job offer can be mistaken as being choosy or selective, but if your reasons are justifiable, then you need not worry if you made the right decision.

4 Justifiable Reasons To Turn Down A Job Offer

1. The salary you are being offered is half what was advertised
You could run into a situation where what you are being offered as salary in your letter of appointment is much less than what was advertised. The fact that your employer is already lying to you as you come into the office should raise eyebrows on what is to come.

The letter could promise an increase after a certain period of time, but this should not be your reason for staying. For all you know, it could be just a way to suck you into the position.

2. Your position became vacant after the previous person was unfairly dismissed

It is always important to research on what happened to the previous person who was holding the position you are being offered. Sometimes it will be that a worker was wrongfully fired and this could bring up a lot of complications for you; there could be a law suit pending or fraudulent activities that you will be left dealing with.

3. Your job description is still not clear after the interview
Some job advertisements may have scanty details on what it is you will be required to do in your new role, and this could also extend to after the interview. Maybe you asked what your role will be and still do not have a clear understanding. In such a case, it is justifiable if you decided to turn down the offer and avoid future disappointments.

4. You are not comfortable in the work environment
Working environment is a contributing factor to emotional stress that could lead to you underperforming in your new job or even hating it before it begins. To avoid this, ensure the job you are accepting is in an environment you can easily adapt to but don’t be too choosy either.

Jobs are not easy to find, and landing good jobs is even harder but with a strategy and focus you won’t be sorry.

By Selipha Kihagi

Job interviews can cause you anxiety, even when you least expect it and this can lead you to say things you didn’t plan on saying or can live you dumbfounded when you can’t seem to remember why it is you want the job.

To avoid this anxiety, it is important that you are in the right mood for your next interview. A calm and focused nature will help you increase your chances of landing the job.

So, how do you get yourself in the right mood for an interview?

1. Research, Research And Research
This had to go first in the list. How you do your research will determine whether you will pass the interview or not, it shows how prepared you are going into the interview and is sure to either disappoint or impress the interviewer.

Do your research well to avoid awkward silence when you don’t know what to say or looking like a joke. Not preparing well is bound to keep you on the edge throughout the interview and might cost you the job.

2. Rehearse Your Answers
There is no better preparation than anticipation the questions that will come up and having answers ready. Why? Because you will appear like you know exactly what you are talking about, even when you don’t know for sure what the answer you gave really means.

It will also guarantee more confidence and less panic because you already know the basics, which will also help you in answering what you did not prepare for.

3. Look The Part You Are Interviewing For
You may have been told that looks don’t really matter, and that what really counts is what you have to offer. Well, that is not entirely true.

You will be judged the minute you walk into the room, and seeing the interviewer stare at the shoes you decided not to dust off or the juice stain on your blouse that you concluded is not that visible will only make you more anxious. So, be sure not to give the interviewer a reason to judge you wrongly.

4. Ensure You Take A Light Meal

Whether your interview is at 8.00 am or in the afternoon, you must ensure the meal you have before is not heavy. Some foods are bound to keep you lazy and sluggish, while others will give you energy for a while only to disappoint you when it’s your turn. Most importantly, do not experiment with new foods or you’ll be sorry you decided to eat in the first place.

Going for an interview demands a lot of readiness and composure if you are to come out a victor, so ensure to take note of the little details that will influence your performance. Also try and listen to your good-mood music on your way to the interview, don’t allow any distractions whatsoever.

By Sera Kazungu

Starting from scratch is not a new concept, whether you are a fresh job seeker or you have been in a career that you do not really feel like you fit into. The most difficult part of this is usually how to find your footing.

“I am in a profession that I never really studied for. Going to work these days is more out of obligation than anything else,”says Eric Wamugunda via email

You should be in a career that you have a passion for. This is the only way to achieve success and happiness.

How To build Your Career

1. Change your mindset
To succeed at whatever you choose to do, you have to train your mind to focus only on the positives. Strive to build on the strengths that you have. This will go a long way in enabling you to network more and have a focus on where you want to be.

2. Make a list of your goals
Making a list of all your goals will help you keep a focus on what you want to achieve. It will ensure that you do not get lost along the way.

Your goals should be as specific and realistic as possible. This will make them easier to achieve and will put less pressure on you.

3. Rewrite your CV
The CV is always the first impression that a potential employer gets of you. Edit your CV to highlight those specific skills that go in line with the career path that you have chosen. Keep it as updated as possible in order to ensure that it does not fail you.

Ensure that you also pick references that will speak highly of your abilities. You might want to give them a phone call to inform them that they are your reference.

4. Clean Up Your Social Media Account

Yes, don’t look surprised. Clean up all your accounts (Facebook, twitter,google plus, LinkedIn). That’s right, clean up the college party pics and get it looking professional.

Being the ‘digital age’ ,a lot of companies and recruiters are now using these platforms to recruit and find top talent. So get your profile up and running. Start following companies you would like to work for. Be a part of the community.

Starting a new career is never easy. However,following these simple tips will increase your chances of starting a new career . Try them out.

By Selipha Kihagi

LinkedIn is a social media site just like any other; the only difference is that it demands a more professional approach. You have to be careful about the kind of material you put up on the site. For example, you cannot share multiple photos of yourself or how you spent the weekend, like you would on Facebook and Instagram.

For this reason, it is important for every job seeker to have a well updated LinkedIn account, and what this means is your profile should be like your CV. You may have been told to use the site for your job search and brushed it away, but it is time you took that advice into action and this is why.

LinkedIn Does Actually Work

Corporate Staffing Services, a recruitment firm that offers job placement services and CV writing services, has used LinkedIn at one time or the other to find qualified candidates for open positions.

Perminus Wainaina, a Recruiting Manager at the company with over 10 years experience in Human Resource Management, says in the last month alone he has selected at least 3 qualified candidates from LinkedIn, for different positions.

“A lady contacted me via email about a job placement after getting my contacts from my LinkedIn account. I was also able to engage two other gentlemen on job offers after being impressed by their LinkedIn profiles,” says Wainaina.

Justus and Terry are among the candidates who received job offers from Perminus Wainaina. They share their experience on using LinkedIn to find jobs, engaging with potential employers and have something to say on why every serious job seeker should be on LinkedIn.

Why LinkedIn Should Be Every Job Seeker’s Friend

1. You don’t need to search for jobs, the jobs come to you
Being on LinkedIn, you are assured to get job alerts depending on your field of study. The site will let you know which company is hiring in your field, without even having a connection with the companies.

“The HR industry is changing and long gone are the times when people used to hand-deliver their applications. It’s high time you embrace the change and go online. LinkedIn is real and through it your chances of getting a job stand at 80%,” says Justus.

He believes that with an up-to-date profile and the right connections, one cannot go wrong in finding jobs. One is able to receive solid job alerts from established connections, and with the age of hand delivered applications drifting away, Human Resource experts are now leaning towards online sites like LinkedIn.

2. Some employers will advertise open jobs on LinkedIn only
You may have heard that a company you dream to work for is hiring, but you can’t seem to come across the advert. This could be because the ad was only posted to LinkedIn and only those on the site have access.

“Anyone who is keen and willing to do what they must for a job should be on LinkedIn. It is where job opportunities are today, especially because some of the employers are now advertising job openings exclusively to LinkedIn. You will not find these positions on other sites,” says Terry.

Terry has been an active user of LinkedIn for 2 years now, and says the site has worked in her favour on several occasions. She has reached out to employers directly and had employers reach out to her for open positions.

“Any serious job seeker should invest in a LinkedIn account, it may take up your time in the updating process but at the end, you will be glad you did,” she adds.

3. It is the site where all employers are
Have you tried searching for a company on Facebook or Twitter to see if they have open jobs, only to find their last post was 5 months ago or more? Gone to their websites and their career page doesn’t have new postings either?

LinkedIn is where employers and Recruiting firms are now spending their time. They understand it is a professional site for job seekers who are serious about getting jobs.

“As a recruiter, apart from Sundays, I normally spend a minimum of one hour on LinkedIn. I spend 15 minutes replying to messages and posting job vacancies. The remainder is spent either headhunting or engaging candidates with job offers,” says Wainaina

4. LinkedIn tops all other local job sites
“LinkedIn is a professional site for people who are looking to grow their careers. It bests other Social networks as it stands on its own in a professional way. As long as you are on LinkedIn and anyone was to do a search on you via Google, your LinkedIn account would be first on the list,” says Justus.

According to a recent study, LinkedIn is the 17th most popular site ahead of Brighter Monday, Career Point Kenya and other job sites you know. What does this mean to a job seeker?

It means that it is the one platform you should be on. You may like the thrill of being on Facebook all the time and sharing your photos with strangers on Instagram, but it will be wise to spend this time engaging potential employers on LinkedIn.

How To Make LinkedIn Work For You

You may already have an account with LinkedIn, but if it’s not up to date then it is of no use to you. LinkedIn will require that you update your educational background, work experience, skills and even your interests, among others. It is more or less like your own CV, but better because it can be viewed by multiple people, increasing your chances to land a job.

“I have been on LinkedIn for 5 years now, but only decided to update my LinkedIn profile about 2 years ago when I was looking for a job. I was not getting opportunities on mainstream sources and when someone referred me to LinkedIn, I decided to give it a try,” says Terry. “I can say I was glad I did.”

To get the best from LinkedIn, here are a few things to consider;

1. Establish connections with the right people
Just because you are desperate to get a job does not mean you establish connections with every Tom, Dick and Harry, you must identify with people in your profession. The employers you want to work for and HR firms that are on the site.

“You can engage a HR manager or employee who works for an institution you are interested in, instead of following Bill Gates and Richard Branson. Get in touch with individuals who can add value to your career,” says Perminus Wainaina.

2. Participate in various professional groups
While on LinkedIn you’ll find an array of groups, each with a different topic of discussion or professionals. Identify those you can relate to and join.Whenever Justus has extra time, he reads postings from various LinkedIn professional groups, of which he is a member.

The groups are a great opportunity to find out what is happening in your relevant field or profession. If there are any jobs open, be sure to find them in these groups.

3. Engage with employers and recruiting firms
“Having an up-to-date profile gives you an edge. People are more likely to contact you or start conversations with you. It increases your visibility to recruiting officials and lets you talk to them about your job search or any other career advice you may need,” concludes Terry.

Job searching can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. Do your research on best strategies to land a job and implement them. Don’t be the kind of job seekers who insist on sending CVs to employers or recruiting firms when there is no opening, more often than not they will go unnoticed.

It is important that to know exactly what you want, identify the right people or companies to talk to and brand yourself on every social media platform. Let employers see you for the professional that you are or want to be.

By Sera Kazungu

“I have been applying for so many jobs, but I have never got any positive response. I am still job searching. It is so frustrating,”shares Karume Mugo via email.

His sentiments are shared by many job seekers out there. The most interesting thing is that what they do not know, is that the fault could very well be theirs. Did you know that the way you respond to a job advert matters a great deal?

What To Consider Before Applying

1. Only apply if you match at least 75% of the job qualifications.
The truth is that applying for a job that you do not qualify for is like winking in the dark;it will have no effect whatsoever. You have to remain realistic in your job search.

Being ambitious is a good thing, but don’t overdo it. Keep your search limited to the experience and qualifications that you know you possess.

2. The location of the job
Most job seekers neglect to pay close attention to the location where the job is being offered. It has to be around where you live. You cannot ,for example apply for a job in Busia when you reside in Mombasa unless, you have no problem with moving.

Carefully consider the cost, implications and requirements for moving before taking such a big step. Remember that you are only starting out and savings go a long way in ensuring your comfort.

3. Is the advert still valid
Have you ever stumbled upon a job advert and immediately applied for it, then later realized the application date has passed? Be keen to check all the details in a job advert before rushing to respond to it.

Can you imagine how long you will have to wait for a response? To avoid frustration and waiting in vain, ensure that you scrutinize every detail in an advert before applying for it.

4. Is there any payment that you are required to make
Sometimes the need to get a job may stand in the Way of clear judgement. If you see a job advert directing you to part with some cash, chances are that it is not a genuine job. You will part with your cash and all you will be left with is bitterness and joblessness.

Do not apply for jobs that require you to deposit any amount of money for whatever purposes. Real employers will offer you competitive salaries,not ask you to line their pockets.

Be a smart job seeker. Keep your head up and eventually you will land that job.wishing you the best in your job search.