YOUR RESUME/CV!

Please take your time to go through this information!

What is a CV?

A CV is an official document that contains the profile, educational background, and career background of a person.

CV and résumé mean the same thing in our part of the world, but in other parts of the world, they mean completely different things. Some of us have been submitting CVs for what seems like forever, and yet we don't get interview invites. The problem is that your CV is not passing what is known as the "30 Second Test."?The "30-second test" simply means that an employer or interviewer will decide if he's going to employ you or not within 30 seconds of perusing your CV.

The Do's?and Donts of CV

1. Never start your CV with "Curriculum Vitae". Start with your name boldly written in a larger font.?

2. Ensure the address on your CV is the same as the location of the job. It will make interviewers consider you faster. e.g, if the job is in Harare, apply with a Harare address. If you don't stay in the same location, look for someone you know who stays in the same location.?

3. Don't use a childish email address. Use an email address with your name. Don't use an email address such as sexybecky4u2luv@gmail.com. It says a lot about your maturity and professionalism. You can use nyashachidaushe@gmail.com or nyasha.chidaushe@gmail.com. If the name is already taken, add some numbers, e.g nyashachidaushe263@gmail.com

4. Under personal data or profile. Some entities like date of birth, state, local government, and nationality are not compulsory. As a matter of fact, if the age they need doesn't favor you, take off your date of birth. Keep the interviewer in doubt. Rather sell your skills.

5. Under educational background and dates, simply write your school, your course of study, and then the year you graduated. Take off the year you got admission. Some people started school in 2005 and graduated in 2012 for a 4-year course. It might not be their fault but employers wouldn't take it that way since you're not there to defend it. So I repeat, include only the graduation year.

Also, there's no need for your grade (First class, 2.1, 2.2, etc). Unless specified in the job ad.

6. Professional Certification is another area that's making people lose out on job search in recent times. Under this section, most people don't have what to put and it pisses off most employers. It means you haven't done much to add value to yourself. If you are a volunteer, try to do one or two professional courses during your service year, or else you will be submitting what we call a blank CV'. For those working, you can use your weekends to achieve the same. It will help you in your next job search.?

Under your work experience, you are expected to state where you worked, your job designation, and your responsibilities. If you are no longer working in the firm, write your responsibilities in the past tense. The current place of work can be written in the present tense.??

However, only the work experiences that align with the job you are applying for can to go on the CV. You can also involve in jobs that have transferable skills.

Under your hobbies and interests, you need to be careful of your choices. I once saw a CV that had, playing video games as the applicant's hobby. I quickly discarded the CV. Your hobbies should be researching, fishing, meeting people, playing scrabble or chess, mentoring, and traveling. But be sure you are into the hobbies as they could be placed before you one day.

9. Under your referees or references, please you are expected to have your referee's name, address, phone number, and email address. You need at least 3 referees.

10. An ideal CV should be in black and white not colored except on two occasions: if you are applying as a graphic designer and you want to wow your employer or when your CV has the logo of the company you've worked for before under your job experience.?

11. Never forward a CV from your inbox to another employer. Open and compose a fresh mail then upload your CV and send.

12. When sending your CV, make sure the subject carries the job role you are applying for.

13. Don't save your CV on your laptop or phone as 'My CV' or Edited CV'. Simply save it with your full name, e.g Nyasha David Chidaushe.

14. When sending your CV, don't leave the body blank. Copy your cover letter and post it on the body. Forget the usual 'Sir, kindly find attached herewith for your consideration statements, express your intention of interest for the job.

15. You don't need to insert your passport photo on your CV except if the employer requests for it which is quite rare.

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