How long should my CV be?” This is a question that has been pondered for years by jobseekers and is still a cause of debate across the recruitment industry. Although there is no single, definitive rule, the general consensus is that you should try to keep it as close to two pages as you can.

This can be difficult to achieve, especially when you have years of experience you want to show the prospective employer. So, to create an interview-winning CV, it’s vital that you understand the importance of CV length and theWhy is brevity important?

To understand how the length of your CV affects your ability to land job interviews, you have to look at it from the point of view of the recruiters. The average recruiter can easily sift through hundreds of CVs a day, so they simply don’t have time to read anything too lengthy. Your document, therefore, needs to be short and sharp to get your message across quickly.

Your CV is like a piece of marketing material that advertises your services to potential employers. You need to ensure that it connects with its audience and tells your story without boring them.

Pare back older roles

One of the easiest ways to shorten a drawn-out CV is to cut descriptions of your older roles to a brief summary. Recruiters do not need to know about what you did 10 years ago in great detail, so there’s no need to go into it. Your recent roles should contain the most detail to highlight the value you can bring to a new employer, but older roles are really just included to show your career path and background. If you’ve got a lot of experience, you can simply list your oldest roles to save space.

Filter out irrelevant details

If you have a broad skill set and lots of career achievements then it’s only natural that you will try to cram them in to make a big impression. However, many jobs will actually call for a very niche set of skills, making some of your attributes surplus to requirement.

Take a good look through the job adverts that you are applying to, and find out what the most sought-after requirements are – if you find that your CV includes a lot of skills or experience that are not being asked for, then you can cut those areas down or remove them from your CV altogether.

If you are applying for a broad range of roles, then it’s OK to have more than one CV, with each tailored towards a particular niche in your industry.

Avoid cliches

The use of cliches is unfortunately quite common in CVs and hugely disliked by employers. Typical expressions include “works well in a team or individually” and “go-getter with an entrepreneurial mind set”. The reason they are so disliked is that they don’t actually tell the reader much about you and they are often not backed up with any proof. Instead of writing “excellent team leader”, give examples of occasions where you have led teams and highlight details of the results. This way you can prove that you’re an excellent team leader without wasting valuable space on meaningless and overused phrases.

Don’t waste space with personal details

The only personal details that need to be on your CV are name, phone number, email address and rough geographic location – using minimal space at the top of your CV. Recruiters just need to be able to contact you and know roughly where you can commute to – prior to interview, they don’t need to know things like your date of birth and full postal address.

You should only include hobbies and interests if they are relevant to the roles you are applying for or if you have any major achievements that might impress potential employers. If you do include interests, keep the section very brief and at the bottom of your CV.

Credit : theguardian.com

A recruiter can be your short cut into a new job. With a good understanding of industry trends – and insider knowledge of that particular employer’s preferences and needs – a recruiter will be briefed to find exactly the right candidate with a specific set of skills, experience and qualities. To even be considered for the role, you need to make sure that your CV hits the right notes with them.

Recruiters can be generalists working in a number of sectors or headhunters specialising in one, but there are a few pet hates they all share. Avoid these and you’ll be giving yourself a better chance of getting into the yes pile each time.

Functional or quirky formats

Functional (or skills-format CVs) are often recommended for career changers, or those who have taken a break in their careers. These layouts typically have an enhanced skills section at the beginning of the CV, with a brief work history following.

But recruiters generally hate these layouts. Roseanne Stockton of Nu-Recruit and Chester Businesswoman of the Year 2013, says: “Unless you’re going for a quirky/design led job, use a traditional style as it makes the task of sifting so much easier.”

Think about layout from a recruiter’s point of view. A recruiter will be looking for similar experience or a solid employment record to prove your ability to do the job. This is most easily achieved in a traditional chronological format, where job titles and employer details are prominent, and achievements and career progression are in context.

Lack of relevance

Zena Everett, director and career coach at Second Careers and career guru at Mumsnet, has researched how headhunters, recruiters, employers and HR professionals screen CVs. She found that they all – without exception – looked first at the most recent work experience and job title. These must be relevant for the CV to get a second look in a competitive job market.

For recruiters to put you forward to an employer, they need to see that your background matches the role. A simple way to ensure that you’re giving your CV the best possible chance is to search the job description for key criteria, then make sure you include relevant details on your CV that show you’re a good match. Remember to quantify your achievements and be specific about how and where you added value to an employer.

Relevancy also means using the right keywords. This is especially important if you’re applying online, where your CV might be automatically filtered at the initial stage of the recruitment process. Check that you’re using appropriate terminology for job titles, skills, responsibilities and achievements. If the job description is short on keywords, look at a range of similar roles to get an idea of what’s commonly required.

If you’re aiming to change career, make sure your CV supports your new goals. Learn to extract the most relevant details from previous experience, minimising what’s not relevant. You may also need to tweak job titles to more closely reflect the job you aspire to. Don’t just rely on recruiters in your job search: networking, voluntary work or side projects are other good strategies for career changers.

An unclear focus

At the higher end of the job market, it’s essential to have a clear career goal, advises Zena. Headhunters are interested in people who know what they want next in their career, but who aren’t desperate to move at all costs. She says: “If you want to be headhunted, position yourself as a passive candidate. You will move for the right role, but aren’t actively on the market.”

A weak profile

Cliche and fluff (phrases such as “innovative problem-solver”, “dynamic individual”, etc) can detract from an otherwise strong CV, says Zena, while a strong initial statement can improve a weak one: “A personal statement should summarise what the candidate has done in the past, what they want to do next and the skills/knowledge/experience that bridges the two.” Aim for a brief, factual snapshot, backing it up with examples in the rest of your CV.

Missing, inaccurate or hard-to-find information

When recruiters are dealing with hundreds of CVs, the time they can allot to each is severely limited. Don’t imagine that they will be settling down to study yours in order to work out where to place you. Instead, they’re briefed to find candidates for a particular role, so make the key details clear and easy to find. Check before you submit your CV that it can pass a “five-second” test: is it obvious from a quick scan what role you’re applying for? Have you included relevant keywords and factual evidence to support your application?

Don’t make a recruiter have to work to piece together information. Roseanne says that dates are often forgotten, but are essential. Give the months and year of employment – not just the year.

It sounds obvious, but spelling and grammar errors can also get your CV discounted, she says. Keep your CV to two pages and clarify any unusual jargon or terminology.

Generic cover letters

“More candidates get knocked back by having generic cover notes than CVs, as they show you haven’t read the job spec,” warns Roseanne. Make sure yours is relevant and brief, showing how you match the role requirements. Make it the body of the email, attaching your CV as a Word document.

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There’s nothing like that hallelujah moment when the perfect job posting makes its way to you. You eagerly scroll through the details, while picturing your shiny new desk and awesome new colleagues.

But wait (and cue the record scratch sound)—you don’t quite meet the required qualifications. You know you’ve got what it takes, but your resume tells a different story.

Whether you’re making a career change or just pushing yourself to the next level, there are plenty of times you may find yourself applying to a position you don’t fully align with. Here’s the good news, though: There are plenty of ways to paint a picture of yourself as a qualified candidate. Besides the obvious—tailoring your resume, submitting an unforgettable cover letter, really explaining in the interview why they should hire you—here are five tricks that will make the hiring manager excited to learn more about you.

1. Use Your Connections—or Make Some

A connection is how Christine Wilson, founder and CEO of MtoM Consulting, ended up hiring a financial analyst as a social media strategist for her agency’s hospitality accounts. Turns out, this number cruncher had been open with his employer, a real estate holding company, about his aspiration to move into a more creative field. So, his boss helped him make a professional shift by recommending him to Wilson.

As Wilson explains, “Getting a referral from someone who has a lot of respect and credibility can make a world of difference.”

Even if you’re not making a major career change, having that personal connection will make it more likely that a hiring manager will be willing to chat despite a few missing qualifications. If she already trusts you—or someone she trusts trusts you—she can feel more confident taking a bit of a risk.

Just make sure to make it as easy as possible for that person to recommend you. Besides being a great employee, this means having some easy materials—such as a resume in tip-top shape or a sharp personal website—that the person referring you can send along to his or her contacts.

If you don’t have a connection, well, now’s the time to start building some! Reach out to recruiters and ask if you could chat about how your qualifications might fit into roles you’re looking for, ask your existing networks if they know anyone relevant they could introduce you to, or cold email someone from the organization you’re hoping to get into asking for an informational interview. Don’t ask for the job outright, but start by building a relationship and see where that takes you.

2. Look Beyond the Obvious Skills and Experience

Despite that daunting list of specific qualifications, unique functions of your current job (or previous roles) may translate really well into the one you want even if they aren’t listed in the job description. These are called “additive skills,” career expert Sara McCord explains, and they are “something unique that you bring to the table—in addition to everything that’s expected.”

“Think about it,” McCord says, “If you’re slightly underqualified, there’s a reason why. If you spent the first two years of your career in a different sector, you bring experience from that industry.” So instead of shying away from the skills and experiences that make you different than the desired profile, find ways to spin them to your advantage!

Or, maybe a casual hobby has given you the real expertise the company is looking for, even though it’s not something you’ve been paid to do before. For example, the financial analyst Wilson hired had a talent for taking amazing photos of his adventures and had the Instagram posts (and following) to prove it. Wilson explains, “Because he used his personal work to show us that he could do what we needed, I was far less concerned that he never had a day on the job we were hiring him for. We can help him build a lot skills, but he already has an eye for the visual, and that’s something we can’t teach.”

Another awesome addition to your resume (that job seekers often overlook!) is volunteering. According to the 2016 Deloitte Impact Survey, 85% of hiring influencers are willing to overlook resume pitfalls when an employee includes volunteering on a resume—but only 30% of resumes include volunteering!

Long story short, you may have more to bring to the table than the full-time positions you’ve been paid to do, and it’s your job to show hiring managers why what you’re bringing is exactly what they’re looking for.

3. Get Their Pain—and Show You Can Solve It

To show employers you really mean business, invest your time in their business. Putting the effort into doing work on the company’s behalf during the interview process reflects your passion and gives a sneak peek into how you could benefit the organization.

Start by doing a deep dive into the company’s online presence, keeping tabs on the key players in the news, and chatting with anyone you know who works there to identify pain points or growth opportunities—things that are holding the organization back now that you think you could help it do better. Then, rather than a typical cover letter, write a “pain letter,” outlining what you see as one of the team’s biggest problems and the solutions you would bring to the table if hired. This reinforces that you’ve done your homework and are excited about hitting the ground running.

Or, take it up a notch and do a pre-interview project that showcases your abilities in a splashier way. For example, when Nina Mufleh was hoping to get a job at Airbnb, she created a thorough report on the global tourism market with recommendations on where the company should focus next. Not only did she clearly spend time on the work, but her passion for the company and desire to contribute was infused throughout the content.

There are so many directions you could take this: prototyping a redesign of a mobile app that solves usability issues, outlining a content marketing plan that you think could help a company grow its audience, providing potential solutions to pain points in a company’s customer service experience, or anything else you feel like you bring to the table.

But whatever you do, you should consider publishing your project online, using a simple website building platform like Squarespace. Even if you don’t get the job, sharing your impressive work with the world is likely to help your personal brand (and maybe even attract other hiring managers). Mufleh, for example, shared that while her project did get her an interview with Airbnb, the ultimate value was much bigger, driving 445,000+ visits to the project website, 14,000+ LinkedIn profile views, and interviews with dozens of other high-impact companies.

4. Make Your Online Presence Shine

One place that hiring managers might go if they’re intrigued but uncertain about you? The internet. So you should make sure your online presence represents the person you want them to think you are.

Just like you tailor your cover letter and resume, you can tailor your online presence. For example, creating a personal website brings your career story to life and connects the dots for a potential employer as to why you’d be the right fit. According to Aliza Licht, founder and President of LEAVE YOUR MARK LLC and author of Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It in Your Career. Rock Social Media, “A personal website is really the new resume. Of course, you should have a good LinkedIn profile that’s filled out to perfection. But a website—especially in a visual industry—is where you can share your work and park everything you have done.”

Plus, with a sleek site, you’ll look professional and legit. Unless you’re a developer, use a service like Squarespace to make a stunning site without a lick of coding knowledge. Start small with a single-page site and continue to enhance it over time.

Employers are also likely to scope out your social media profiles, so be sure that what you post enhances their perception of you. This can be as simple as making sure you’re not just posting pics of your lunch, but also sharing links to relevant industry articles or opinions on what’s happening in your field.

5. Show Your Passion

From the very first email correspondence to that final interview, if you’re really passionate about the position and the company, make sure you show it! When hiring managers can feel your excitement, they’ll be more excited to continue the conversation with you over more qualified (but less enthused) candidates.

Kristy Nittskoff, a recruiting expert and founder of Talent-Savvy, recalls making an unconventional hire when she worked at a startup. A woman with 15 years of experience in education wanted to join the team as a database developer. She took courses on the side, and her motivation to dive right in was clear.

“We weren’t necessarily looking for a junior database developer, but she wanted it so bad, had the right personality, and enough of the groundwork in place, so we decided to give it a shot.”

In short: Be genuine, be excited, and learn some ways to show off your passion without coming off too strong.

Finally, remember that if you try all of these tricks but don’t get an offer, sometimes it’s not you, it’s them.

No matter how well you clicked, how eager you are to learn, or how spot-on your skills are, Nittskoff says that some companies just don’t have the resources or structure to invest in someone who needs more training, coaching, and mentorship than they can provide. But don’t let it get you down. Look for other places where you can take your skills and grow, and make sure to stay in touch to evolve the relationship as you evolve in your career.

Credit : themuse.com

Interviews are difficult enough without attempting to answer the question of what your desired salary is. Many interviewers won’t ask this question during the first interview, but some will, so you need to be prepared. It’s a tricky question to answer because you don’t want to underestimate your own worth, but you also might want to avoid being taken out of the running if you request too much. Once you get to the negotiation part of the interview process, there are several ways you can attempt to negotiate a higher salary. However, in order to get to that point, you may need to answer the question first. Your answer may depend on where you are in the interview process, but you should be ready to answer in any situation.

Consider the context

If you see a question about salary on an actual application, you may need to answer it; otherwise you will simply leave the spot blank. You can go ahead and leave it blank if it isn’t required, but if it is, consider these options from CareerRealism: You can answer $0, you can answered a desired salary based on your market research, or you can answer a range (this is probably the best option if the form allows you to enter it).

If you are asked about your salary during an interview, then you will have to answer the question. You want to avoid undervaluing your worth, but you also don’t want to ask for an unreasonable amount. Some companies will have a set salary that they are going to offer. If the interviewer tells you this ahead of time over the phone, or during your first interview, then you should respect that number. If you are uncomfortable with the amount, then you may need to look for a different job.

Of course, there’s always a chance that they are simply checking to see how little you would work for, but if a hiring professional is working with a set salary offer that you can’t accept, you will waste their time as well as your own if you string them along.

Avoid the salary question if possible

You can try to move away from the question by asking for more specifics of the job requirements. You could also ask about the benefits package, and take that into consideration when it comes to your desired salary. It also might help to give a range because that way the interviewer will know if they can afford to hire you, but you won’t be locked into a specific number that you might regret later.

You can also try to turn the question around by asking the interviewer if they have a range in mind. They may answer you outright, or they may bring the question back to you. According to PayScale, you shouldn’t give the first number, and the answer to this question is almost always to avoid answering it if possible. You can also respond by saying that you are looking for a good fit, and that you are confident that their pay is comparable to the rest of the market.

It’s also important that you complete research about the market for your field. Sites like Salary.com and Glassdoor can be a great way to help you determine your current worth. Knowing how much your skills and education are worth can also be a strong negotiating tool.

How to answer it if necessary

In the end, you may have to answer the salary question or risk seeming difficult to work with. However, if you can turn the question around and avoid answering it, usually your best bet is to try to do so. The exception is that if you really will only accept a job for a specific salary, you might as well tell the interviewer.

At some point you will have to answer the salary question, but if you can avoid answering until you are further through the interview process (ideally at the end after the company gives you an offer) you will probably be in a better place for negotiating the salary you want because you will be sure the company wants you to work for them.

What differentiates those who are successful from those who are not? There are lots of ways to approach that question, but one of the most powerful is also one of the simplest.

It’s a matter of habits. In business and in life, if you truly want to succeed, there are some habits that work and there are other habits that never should be repeated.

If you’re not as successful as you want to be and you know you can do better, copy the habits of those who are successful.

Just as important, eliminate any of your own habits that are holding you back. Here are seven top candidates—habits that successful people never allow:

1. Believing You Can Please Everyone

Once you truly understand that it’s impossible to please everyone, you learn not to even bother trying. It’s nothing but a recipe for disaster, misery and frustration—and one of the biggest keys to failure.

2. Repeating What Didn’t Work the First Time

Whether it’s in business, a job, or a relationship, successful people do not repeat the same mistakes. If it didn’t work the first time, they don’t try again expecting a different result. Successful people know that mistakes are for learning, not for repeating.

3. Accepting Short-Term Contentment Over Long-Term Value

Successful people know that things take time, and it’s the daily grind that in the end will get them to their dreams. It’s the small painful steps you go through day by day that will benefit you in the future. If you can make it through the pain, you will get to the gain.

4. Compromising Themselves to Fit In

Successful people never try to adjust themselves to fit in to the crowd. They understand that who they are is what they are, and they don’t try to change themselves for others. The bad news is that if you want to succeed, you are not going to fit in with everyone. The good news is that the great ones never do.

5. Trusting Something That Looks Too Good to Be True

No matter how great something looks on the surface, successful people do their due diligence and make sure that what they are looking at has actual value and is worthy of their time. They know that when something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

6. Taking Their Eyes Off Their Vision

One trait virtually all successful people share is focus. They never take their eyes off their visions, dreams, and goals; they do what they need to do, and they do it with meticulous determination. People who are successful know where they are going, and because they do, they succeed. It’s as simple as that.

7. Disconnecting Appearances and Reality

Who you are on the inside should be what is reflected on the outside. The moment there is a disconnect between the two, there is dis-ease within yourself. Success requires that you bring all parts of who you are—inside and out—and that you keep everything in sync. It isn’t easy, but the people who are most successful never fragment themselves to be successful.

Start today to examine your own habits, determine what’s leading you toward success and what’s in the way, and make the changes you need to—for the sake of your future.

Credit : inc.com

South African Square Kilometre Array is awarding postgraduate-level research (doctoral and masters) bursaries programme for 2016-2017. South African applicants or citizens of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia are eligible to apply for these Bursaries.

The South African Square Kilometre Array vision is to participate, through its role in the field of higher

education and scientific research, in the creation of a unified, developed and advanced South African Nation.

The Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope – or SKA – will be the world’s biggest telescope – and one of the biggest scientific projects – ever.

Course Level: Bursaries are available for pursuing Postgraduate-level research (Doctoral and Masters) programme.

Study Subject: Bursaries are awarded for the topic relevant to the scientific and technical goals of the SKA and MeerKAT radio telescopes.

Scholarship can be taken in South Africa

Eligibility: The South African SKA Project will consider applications from academically excellent students who wish to undertake postgraduate-level research relevant to the scientific and technical goals of the SKA and MeerKAT radio telescopes, and who are:

• South African citizens, and permanent residents of South Africa; or
• Citizens of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia.

Nationality: South African citizens and permanent residents of South Africa; or Citizens of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia are eligible to apply for these Bursaries.

College Admission Requirement

Entrance Requirements: Applicants must have their previous degree.

How to Apply: The mode of application is online.

Application Form Link

Application Deadline: Bursary application deadline is 29 July 2016.

Scholarship Link

South African-German Centre for Development Research (SA-GER CDR) awards Master and PhD scholarships in the field of Development Studies, Public Administration, Public Policy. Applicants from Sub-Sahara Africa can apply for these scholarships.

Scholarships are designed for those planning a career in the field of Development Studies, Public Administration and Public Policy economic.

Within the framework of cooperating in masters and PhD programmes, the aim of the African Excellence Centre at UWC in Cape Town is to prepare the next generation of leaders to meet the typical economic, social and political berlinchallenges arising from the development process.

Applicants must provide evidence of proficiency in English, both written and spoken. This can be TOEFL test or a similar standard test or a letter from an academic institution.

Study Subject: Scholarships are available for pursuing masters and PhD programme.

Study Subject: Scholarships are awarded in the field of Development Studies, Public Administration, Public Policy.

Scholarship Award: Monthly allowances of 650 Euro plus travel allowances for master candidates and 900 Euro plus travel allowances for PhD candidates.

Scholarship can be taken at: The University of the Western Cape (UWC), Cape Town, South Africa

Eligibility: Applicants should have an outstanding academic record – at least 70% for last degree.

Nationality: Applicants should be from Sub-Sahara Africa.

List of Countries: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Ghana, Cote ‘lvoire, Gabon, Benin, Mozambique, Senegal, Togo, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Angola, Djibouti, Sudan, Burundi,

Botswana, Madagascar, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mauritius, Cameroon, DR Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, Gambia, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde

College Admission Requirement

Entrance Requirement: Applicants must apply within 6 years of having completed their previous degree, which must have been completed at an internationally recognised university.

Test Requirement: No

English Language Requirement: Applicants must provide evidence of proficiency in English, both written and spoken. This can be TOEFL test or a similar standard test or a letter from an academic institution

Supporting Material: The required components for complete application packet are as follows:-
-a letter of application, motivating application
-a copy of passport or ID
-a CV, also indicating relevant work experience as intern or as employee: Please use the europass CV
-an academic transcript from last university
-certified copies of all academic certificates
-an academic reference and if applicable a professional reference.
-MA applicants will have to write a one page paper about 1 of 4 topics given on the website
-PhD applicants have to submit a Research Proposal of their PhD project in line with the focus topics of the Centre given on the website.
Certificates and transcripts that are in another language other than English or Afrikaans must be submitted together with an English translation thereof that has been certified by a Public Notary

How to Apply: All applicants have to fill in an online application form.

Application Form

Application Deadline: The closing date for application is 15 July, 2016.

Scholarship Link