Effective CV Making and Interview Skills

1. Effective CV Making and Interview Skills

2. Step:1 Effective CV Making

3. What is a CV? A “curriculum vitae” or CV, is a document that contains a summary or listing of relevant job experience and education. The résumé or CV is typically the first item that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is typically used to screen applicants, often followed by an interview, when seeking employment

4. Types of CVs Types of CVs: Functional CV Chronological CV Combine CV

5. Functional CV : In this CV skills and achievements are emphasized. Your employment history is summarized or avoided altogether. Your skills and previous experience are presented at the beginning of your CV. They organize so that the employer can see, How your skills relate to the job position, you are applying for. The functional CV can be particularly effective if your education and working experience has been in similar way. It will allow you to highlight your talents, skills rather than itemize what might look like a one dimension history. It may take more referred to write a functional CV, but you are force to highlight your talents instead of your recent job experience.

6. Chronological CV This is the most common CV style because it's the one that most employee prefer. In the chronological format, the emphasize is placed on education and employment experience. The applicant's educational qualifications are presented in the reverse order, with the most recent placed at the top of the list. The chronological CV is good if your recent qualifications and experience are relevant to the job. Despite its popularity, there are some reasons why the chronological format may not be right for you if you are entering in the work force for the first time. There is a record of part time job. if you are re-entering the work force after the couple of years.

7. CombineCV Combination : The combination CV is simply a functional CV with a brief employment history added. Skills and accomplishments are still listed first, employment history follows. You need to reveal where you worked, when you worked and what your job position was. This will allow an employer's worries about your experience and still allows you to emphasize your talents and how you would use them for the job you are applying for. While most employers might still prefer a chronological CV, this is a  good alternative for the functional Cv. Note: Whatever style you choose keep in concise.

8. Important CV making Guidelines Keep it short—one page if possible, two pages at the most. Include your name, address, phone number, education, and work experience. You may also want to include job objective, awards/honors, clubs/activities/sports,volunteerexperiences, and/or contact information for three references (*Always ask for permission before using a person’s name as a reference). Be neat—print resume on Proper paper.(Never use its photocopy) Spell out words. Do not use abbreviations.

9. Important CV making Guidelines PROOFREAD and SPELLCHECK your resume. Do not solely rely on the computer. Have someone check over your resume before submitting it. Be honest about your skills and work experience. Don’t lie on CV. Be concise. Use action words and phrases when describing your experience.

10. Important CV making Guidelines State accomplishments and results, not just duties. Include dates of participation. Data should be organized in time sequence with most recent education and experience first (reverse chronological order). If you are using bullets, italics, bold, or any other formatting, you must be consistent. Do not put bullets under one area, then paragraphs in other.

11. Fida AliHouse 26, XYZ colony0345-2222222Fida_Ali@yahoo.com Picture Optional ____________________________________________________________________________________ OBJECTIVE To obtain a position of _______ in ___________ EDUCATION 2005 - 2007 MBA in Finance from XYZ University 2003 – 2005 B.Com from Karachi University EXPERIENCE 2007- Present : Bank AlFalah limited Banking Officer Provide services to over 300 customers Handle critical account worth over 2 million Analyze and Make reports for top management 2005-2007 : The City College Teacher Taught Commerce, Economics and Mathematics to intermediate students SKILLS • Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point • Team Player

12. CV cont.. _______________________________________ INTERESTS • Cricket • Reading Books • Watching Documentaries • Web surfing CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAININGS • Completed XYZ Certification courses • Attended XYZ Seminars • Attended XYZ Trainings REFERENCES Available on Request

13. Step 2 An effective CV received by employer for a relevant vacancy will get you an Interview call. Effective Interview skills are more important than effective CV. Professional CV will get you to the interview room, Professional Interview skills will get you employed!

14. Effective Interview Skills

15. What Market Needs • Objective (What is the objective / purpose of the position?) • Education (Desired education level for the position?) • Academic • Professional • Work experiences (what type of experience should the position holder have?)

16. What Market Needs • Competencies • Professional - (Areas of work - Specialization required) • Personal - (Interpersonal Skills) • Computer skills • Responsibilities • (Key duties / responsibilities of the position)

17. What Market Needs • Processes Ownership • Main output for which the position is responsible • Where this position participates • Other Skills • Presentation Skills • Communication Skills • Analytical Skills

18. 1. Presentation and Manner

19. First Impression, General appearance, Confidence, Posture, Cleanliness

20. Positive Indicators • Neat and clean formal business clothes • General cleanliness, trimmed facial hair • Upright posture, agility, enthusiasm, pleasantness Negative Indicators • Casual clothes, denim jeans, stained or soiled • Soiled, dirty or unkempt appearance • Drooping or sluggish posture

21. 2. Attitude, Stability, Maturity

22. Sense of responsibility, Attitude towards work, society and family, Self discipline, Work ethics, Friction with previous employers, peers, colleagues, Frequency in job change, Relationships with friends, peers.

23. Positive Indicators • Builds positive relationships with people • Seeks to understand expectations • Tactful and diplomatic • Maintains relationships in difficult situations Negative indicators • Difficulty in building relationships • Inappropriate handling of problems • Emotional and erratic • Insensitive to others

24. 3. Communication

25. Expression and Clarity of thought, Concise manner, Listening skills, Understanding and responding to questions.

26. Positive Indicators • Communicates clearly and concisely • Appears friendly and personable • Shares information • Listens and responds appropriately to questions asked • Comes across as relaxed & easy to talk to Negative indicators • Hesitant in speech, lacks clarity, inappropriately brief response • Strays from the point • Doesn’t answer the question

27. 4. Motivation and Ambition

28. Self-direction, Energy in work, attitude and clarity about future goals and direction, Areas of interest and candidates effort towards achieving goals.

29. Positive Indicators • Clear understanding about personal career & goals • Plans a strategy towards achieving desired results • Aware about personal strengths & shortcomings • Works towards self development Negative indicators • Confused and unclear in personal goals • Haphazard and irrelevant goals • Indecisive

30. 5. Leadership potential

31. Previous leadership experience, degree of assertiveness, confidence level, ability to motivate others, sincere effort to reach mutually agreed and workable goals, empathy with others.

32. Positive Indicators • Has experience of leading others • Has experience of working actively in groups • Demonstrates ability to motivate and support • Manages own time effectively • Looks for evidence to substantiate personal opinion and views • Achievements as a leader Negative indicators • No experience of sharing information with others or team work • Lack of understanding about team shared goals • Lacks planning / organisation • Doesn’t show interest in others view • Insecure about own opinions and views

33. 6. Problem solving skills

34. Analytical abilities, Articulation and organization of thought, Mental alertness, Grasp of ideas, Problem solving ability.

35. Positive Indicators • Provides considered answers in tackling questions • Demonstrates sound judgment and reasoning • Gives examples of analyzing and resolving problems • Comes up with lateral solutions to problems • Describes situations of his/her good decisions Negative indicators • Is not logical, structured and coherent in describing problems • Does not demonstrate a logical and consistent approach • Does not tackle problems at an early stage • Does not anticipate issues • Prefers to refer problems to others over taking self initiative

36. 7. Business understanding and Interest (Relevant to the position interviewed for)

37. Basic understanding and requirements of the task, Previous achievements in the area, future development plans.

38. Positive Indicators • Demonstrates interest and understanding of business • Demonstrates understanding of the industry • Keen interest in general business and financial issues • Speaks enthusiastically about studies and previous jobs Negative indicators • No understanding of the Industry and role of the professional • Does not demonstrate understanding of wider business factors • Lacks understanding of how a company operates • Lack of interest in general business and financial issues

39. 8. General interests

40. Participation in extra curricular activities, Active pursuit in hobbies, Attitude towards life in general

41. Positive Indicators • Physically maintains his/her self • Active in social and/or public events • Constructive and intellectual hobbies • Has a positive attitude towards self, society and life Negative indicators • Apparently physically unfit • Remorseful towards self society and life • Lacks interest in any activity

42. Interview Preparation Do your research:Research company you are interviewing with, visit company website to learn about their industry, business, products, and their competition. Look sharp: Dress professionally. Be on Time: Don’t be late or too early, be there 10-15 minutes before schedule. Make sure you have specific directions to location a day before. Turn off your cell phone before entering interview room.

43. Top rules for Interview Give a firm handshake: Show enthusiasm: Don’t lean back on chair. Be confident: You may be nervous, but try to be calm. Don’t be afraid. Listen: Make sure you hear everything interviewer says. Let him complete the questions. Ask him to repeat question if you didn’t hear properly. Answer the questions with examples: Don’t give vague answers. Concentrate on highlighting your accomplishment. Choose words wisely: Don't talk negative about your previous work experiences. I will give bad impression.

44. Top Rules for Interview Ask Questions: Your Questions indicate you are interested in job. Employer appreciates interest. Be yourself: Employer wants to know how you behave on daily basis so don’t pretend or act like someone you are not. But don’t use slang language and bad manners. Express Thanks: At the end of interview, thank and appreciate interviewer for his time. Follow up: An email to interviewer saying “thanks for the opportunity” shows that you are interested.

45. Common Questions asked in Interview Tell me about yourself. Do you enjoy working in a group or independently? What are your greatest strengths? What are your biggest challenges? Give me an example of a time when you had to apply good judgment in a challenging situation. Tell me about your current (or last) job. What are the reasons you are leaving (or left)?

46. Common Questions asked in Interview Why do you think you are a good fit for this position? When you have free time, how do you spend it? What is one thing about yourself that you would most like to change? What are your salary requirements? Do you have any questions for me? (*Your answer should always be “yes” and followed up with your questions!)

47. What Interviewer looks in You Appearance : Dressing, Grooming, posture Sociability: Friendliness Confidence: Eye Contact, Handshake, Responses: Honesty, seriousness, appropriateness, ability to convince Courtesy: Ability to show respect and interest

48. Thanks & Allah Hafiz Questions?