JOB HUNTING - IS YOUR CV WORKING FOR YOU OR AGAINST YOU?

Good day Readers,

I was thinking yesterday about a vacancy I recently posted online. I still cannot believe some of the responses I got. CVs written so badly I couldn’t get past the first sentence, rude email addresses; hostile language through out the CV, and long rambling personal statements. So many people were disqualified before I even had the opportunity to know whether I could consider them for the job because their CVs were so horrible.

You may be at home right now wandering why you are not getting called back for interviews and it could be a simple reason of your CV not making it past the secretary's desk, much less passing HR's scrutiny and here are 22 reasons why:

• A recruiter,  manager or HR manager can’t get the gist of you and your story in less than 10 seconds
• You can’t stand to look at your own résumé because you dislike it so much.
• It is loaded with buzz words and meaningless words you copied from the Internet.
• Your CV looks like a template.
• Your CV is longer than two pages and you have only worked in 2-3 places.
• It doesn’t sound authentic – like you’re a real person who solves real problems.
• Your CV contains lies of any variety – big or little.
• Your CV contains exaggerated job titles.
• Your CV doesn’t showcase your key successes, achievements and accomplishments.
• Your CV doesn’t integrate a present-future focus along with your past employment record.
• Your CV looks like 2500 other résumés in the pile.
• Your CV doesn’t sound like you.
• Your CV lacks a flow and good organization.
• Your CV reads like a job description.
• Your CV is unattractive and in some cases, downright difficult to read.
• Your CV has a boring account of your work history.
• Your CV doesn’t provide direct evidence (proof) as to why your qualifications warrant an interview.
• Your CV contains errors (One of the worst offences).
• Your CV doesn’t represent you with excellence in your absence.
• Your CV gives the reader reasons not speak with you.
• Your CV doesn’t exemplify the very best of you and your amazing brand.
• Your CV doesn’t generate any action for you.

Culled from http://www.careerhubblog.com/main/2012/05/does-your-r%C3%A9sum%C3%A9-suck-22-things-to-consider.html

So darling readers, going thru the above points, did any of them jump out at you that you may be committing one or more of these offences on YOUR CV? If your answer is yes, it's time to redraft your CV and do let me know if you need professional advice, I'm always happy to help!

GETTING A JOB AFTER SCHOOL – POWERFUL INSIDER TIPS

Almost every university graduate faces the same issues when searching for a first job: How do you demonstrate you possess the necessary qualifications for a job when you haven't had a "real job" before? With more and more people returning from overseas with both foreign degrees AND work experience, coming into an interview and announcing you are a fresh inexperienced graduate is no longer acceptable. In fact, stating you have no real skills and training in this age of more people than jobs is no longer acceptable or pleasing to most employees. As unfair as this sounds, it is our present reality. However like everything else in life there is a way round this situation and here's how you do it:

·         Drop the ridiculous email address: having the email address hashtagbeautifulbabe@yahoo.com might work in uni or high school but not in the job market. If you have to, open a new email address and keep it simple. For example my first out of school email address was enkoyo@yahoo.com (combination of my first name and first letter of my surname) it looked professional then and it still looks professional now.

·         Drop the objective statement: Most objective statements ("Go-getter seeking sales position") say more about what a job seeker hopes for in a job than why that person would be a good fit for the position. So ditch the objective statement and create a summary section instead. It's a brief rundown of your skills and qualifications, targeted to the company and opening. For example: "Economics graduate with experience gained through internship with a reputable PR firm. Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including expertise in Excel."

·         Create a combination CV: Instead of submitting a traditional chronological CV, consider a combination CV. This format allows you to place more focus on your professional skills by grouping them near the top of your document. You might, for example, have a section titled "Computer Skills" or one called "Supervisory Experience." Don't limit yourself to abilities you've honed through full- or part-time jobs. Skills you've gained through internships, volunteer work, or even clubs or social committees can be just as relevant.

·         Focus on transferable skills: Think the years you spent waiting tables, helping in your mother’s company, working in your dad’s firm, or volunteering in an uncle’s ICT firm won't help you land a job? Think again. This experience may have prepared you for your career better than you realize. If you supervised some other staff members, for example, you have managerial experience to add to your CV. You could also highlight your strong customer service and communication skills. Almost every employer values these abilities. #freetip: provided you are not losing money, take advantage of each and every volunteer and paid work experiences that come your way. HR and Management are always on the lookout for value adders not value reducers. A fresh graduate with relevant skills will almost always get a job over someone with more years of “irrelevant” work experience.

·         Include keywords: You can increase your chances of getting an interview if you look at the job listing and use words or phrases from it in your own CV. Use these keywords to describe skills you possess -- as long as they are accurate, of course.

·         Create a LinkedIn profile: creating a profile on LinkedIn or a similar professional networking site may help in your search for employment. Many hiring managers and recruiters search sites such as LinkedIn to find job candidates -- and the trend is growing.

Take the time to create a quality document that shines a light on your most marketable skills and experience, and you'll give yourself the best shot at landing an interview and, ultimately, your dream job.

Have a great week everyone!!

Succeeding In A Small Business - Take Care Of The Details

I can't count how many times I've met entrepreneurs (myself included) who feel like they must make a certain amount of money before they decide to formalise their business operations. After losing out on a couple of major jobs, I respected myself and re-branded. Why? Because just like you would never go shopping without a list, you should not be in business without a plan!! If you have made even one hundred thousand naira profit from your business idea, I implore you starting this weekend to take the following actions:

 1. Register your business - Look for a lawyer and register your business. Did you know cannot access certain funding and opportunities if your not registered with CAC? Now you do so go find a good lawyer and register your business.

 2. Brand your company - You can carve a niche for yourself as a consultant in your field but today start thinking about the services you want to provide Nigeria within the next fifty years and create a business name and logo. Hint: if you're stuck, go online and check out names/logos of companies doing what you want to do so you can create generate ideas in order to create your own unique brand

 3. Create a business and marketing plan - You will not succeed if you are jack of all trades unless you are a handyman. Decide on at least one service you'd like to do. Research what is available already in the market and find a way to do your thing differently. When this is done, create a 5 year business and marketing plan. Learn more about doing this here https://www.dropbox.com/s/0r93sfygdd5yudb/BUSINESS%20PLAN%20FORMAT%20003.doc

 4. Hire at least an intern - I have learnt the hard way that I can not be in ten places at once but you don't have too. Starting today, keep your eyes open for a young woman/man that can help you achieve your goals and objectives who is waiting to serve or just finished school. Set aside a stipend each month to cater for them and build a weekly plan of action for them. Hint: don't think you must do 9am - 5pm and kill your intern in the name of saving a naira. If you need them to work 12 hours a day, stick to that and work out a plan that is right for your business and interns. If you'd like help setting up an internship programme, please feel free to write me at insitefulsolutionsconsult@gmail.com

 5. Use your smart phone smartly - you may not be ready to get a website but you can open a twitter account or group on your blackberry.

 6. Get a mentor - find someone who is not risk adverse and beg if you have to so that they will find time in their busy schedule to provide you advice and listen to your problems. Even if this happens for 2 hours a month, if you receive sound advice, it will make a big difference before the year runs out.

 Ok readers, these are my top six tips for ensuring you increase your profit and build your business within the next seven months. Follow them and I guarantee success! If you need any help, please do not hesitate to contact me at insitefulsolutionsconsult@gmail.com Have a great evening everybody!

Common sense HR tips for Managers in Nigeria

Hi folks, In this day of too many workers and too few jobs, many managers have made the mistake of under utilizing their staff and turning into corporate bullies simply because staffing has become less of an issue. However, we lose millions each year in possible earnings when we refuse become effective leaders. Effective leaders recognize and appreciate our people. Becoming an effective boss doesn't mean you become a push over or over emotional, it simply means you start utilizing your staff properly in order to improve productivity, increase income, and stop wasting hours used to manage unhappy staff. These are a few tips you should keep in mind to becomee and effective boss in 2014. #HRtipsforbosses Organizational success is not determined by your fastest learners, but your slowest. Be a leader #HRtipsforbosses your workers are not mind readers, make your plans known and disseminate goals to the last level in your organization. #HRtipsforbosses people can't reach for the stars if they don't know where the sky is. Let your people know what you expect from them. #HRtipsforbosses Nepotism will kill your business from the inside out. If you must hire family, ensure their skills align with your need. #HRtipsforbosses Don't think because the unemployment rate is so high you can treat people unfairly. Your bad reputation will speak louder than any sales efforts and will eventually drive away both staff and customers. #HRtipsforbosses treat people fairly and be honest. #HRtipsforbosses you have to walk the talk. Be an example to your staff or hire an MD who will. #HRtipsforbosses if you know you can lead a business, but not people, hire a manager who can. Not all leaders make effective bosses. If as a manager, you want to discuss any of the tips further, do buzz me at insitefulsolutionsconsult@gmail.com Have a great day everybody!!

THE FUTURE OF WORK SERIES #1: 'HOW NOT TO MESS UP AN INTERVIEW IN 10 MINUTES

Good evening everybody!!

 It’s another beautiful gorgeous Friday in the beautiful city of Abuja and I and my interns are hard at work already. Now one of the goals we had this week was publishing and marketing posts by guest bloggers and we have our 1st one!! Hurrah! It comes from Obasa Olorunfemi aka Femi who is the co-founder of The Fleuri Academy; an on-line start-up designed to provide learning on the go using chat applications and live interactions and co-founder of restless Versatility - A social media and blogs management outfit.  Femi has a background in water resources management with professional certifications spanning Music, Safety, Environment and Project Management and has earned his battle scars and working experience in Environment assessment, Design and Recruitment. He will be writing an ongoing series on best practice recruitment tips which will include real life case studies and best practice responses to various situations job seekers face in Nigeria. Now on to the first article:

The Future of work

 #1: ‘How “NOT” to mess up an interview in the first 10 minutes’

Please tell me about yourself?

This is the first question usually asked at interviews. I believe it helps the recruiter analyze your fluency in English, your level of intelligence and most importantly to get you relaxed for the subsequent conversation.

In my short time with candidates, I have heard over a dozen infuriating, comical and often wrong answers to these questions. Let me share some of them:

Case #1

Q: Please tell me about yourself
A: My name is Tolu. I am the First son of my parents. I am humble, caring and kind. My favorite food is rice and beans. My favorite color is pink. I am born-again.

Case #2
Q: Please tell me about yourself
A: I am Jane. I am a Jobless girl from a family of five. I studied econs at gwagz.

 Please note that while I have left out parts of the responses, I have not edited either. I have also only illustrated with two so you do not think I am making an attempt at comedy. In the ever-growing distance in-between what the labor market wants and what our universities need, we will continue to have this challenge.

In my experience the correct answer to the above question includes a summary of your education and work history delivered in a precise and professional manner. The smart candidates find a way to include relevant character information not present in their CVs but key to their engagement. I’ll also advice less experienced job applicants to rather opt for a brief summary of educational, work history as well as skills sets when asked the question during an interview.

and there you have it folks. In interviews at some point you will be asked tell me about yourself. I've had people blush, start to cry, stammer, and begin to narrate their CV back to me, all in the name of telling me about themselves. This is wrong, wrong, wrong! Practice what you will say in accordance to the tips mentioned above and we look forward to you joining us for the next series article next week Monday: “Deadliest responses to interview questions heard in 2014.”

That's all folks! if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them. Have a wonderful weekend