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PRIVATE COMPANIES/ RECRUITERS:

Hints and Tips For Applying and CV Tips:

Submitting your CURRICULUM VITAE for a vacant position is an important step in your career, so it makes sense to ensure that your CURRICULUM VITAE is accurate, has all the correct information, and that you only apply for positions that match your skills and experience.



Remember that your CURRICULUM VITAE is SELLING you!

You are part of a group of potential applicants of 20 to 30 and sometimes as many as 200 to 700 people, who all applied for the same vacant position. You therefore need to make yourself stand out.



How do you do this?

Below are some common problems the Recruiter/HR/Employers come across, which could lead to you being declined for a position.

Accuracy of information

Most of the advertised positions state that ‘‘accuracy and attention to detail’’ are a required competency. Can you imagine a Recruiter/HR/Employer’s impression on reading a CURRICULUM VITA with spelling errors in the first sentence? That doesn’t say much for your accuracy or attention to detail, does it?

As important are the facts that you state in your CURRICULUM VITAE! Ensure that the employment dates stipulated are correct and that there are no gaps as this will raise queries with the Recruiter/HR/Employer. If there are genuine gaps of unemployment, state them as such so that it is clear and that the flow of dates is uninterrupted.

How to ensure accuracy:

• Double check your CURRICULUM VITAE

• Print it if possible and read it

• Edit it on the system by using the “Managing your CURRICULUM VITAE” functionality if you have registered it (CV) in Recruiting Websites.

• Before applying for a position, re-read your CURRICULUM VITAE to ensure that it makes sense

• If a job specification states that certain specific skills or experience are required and you have the necessary skills or experience, ensure that this detail is reflected in your CURRICULUM VITAE

• Ensure that all the details you have put down are true (remember, these details will be verified)

Interesting Fact:

Did you know that it is considered FRAUD to lie on your CURRICULUM VITAE?

Appropriate amount of detail

As stated previously, reading your CURRICULUM VITAE is the first opportunity a Recruiter/HR/Employer has of getting to know you. Therefore you should ensure that you include as much detail as possible, where appropriate.

Bad Example:

Title: Administrator

Duties: General administration duties

Good Example:

Title: Administrator

Duties: Daily monitoring of statistics on the system (Paradigm)

            Updating and creating spreadsheets on Excel

            Responding to correspondence received (email, post and fax)

             Filing and faxing as required

             Updating and maintaining client files

             Dealing with telephonic client queries

How do you ensure good detail?

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Does the list of duties I have included, accurately reflect what I do during the day?

• Does what I have written make sense?

• Have I put in too much unnecessary or irrelevant detail?

• Are the words and/or phrases I have used, understandable to anyone reading my CURRICULUM VITAE?

• Have I avoided using meaningless jargon?

Include your current salary bracket (Prevalent on Recruiting Websites- Many Government Organs are using them)

This indicates your salary expectations. It is very useful to the Recruiter/HR/Employer to see what salary you currently receive. This will give them an immediate indication whether the job you have applied for will be appropriate for you. Also remember to be realistic when asked for your required annual package, as your CURRICULUM VITAE will be declined if we cannot meet your expectations. R750k+ refers to more than R750 000.00 per annum.

Remember your contact details!

We need to be able to get hold of you. This relates both to accuracy and details above, but is commonly overlooked. Ensure that your contact details are correct and if they change, remember to update them on your CURRICULUM VITAE. If we can’t get hold of you, we can’t consider you for a position.

References

"Ask your referees’ permission"

It is good practice to ask permission to put someone down as a reference. It is not a good indication to a Recruiter/HR/Employer when a referee is contacted and the person is not willing to give a reference. Also, if your referee’s contact details change, remember to update it on your CURRICULUM VITAE.

Meeting minimum requirements

One of the most common reasons for declining an applicant

Always make sure that the position you are applying to is relevant to you and that you actually meet all the minimum requirements. If you do not meet the minimum requirements outlined on the job specification for the position, your CURRICULUM VITAE will be declined by the Recruiter/HR/Employer screening your application.

Submission of your CURRICULUM VITAE for more than one position

This could count against you!

It might be a concern to the Recruiter/HR/Employer to see a candidate has applied for a variety of positions, from Administrator to Manager Level. This is an indication of ‘floating’ and might count against you. It is not a reason for decline in itself, but coupled with not meeting the minimum requirements, would be an indication that the candidate is not sure of their career path.

3 comments:

  1. Soon other private companies will be included in the Vacancy Circular and Suggestions are most welcome! Suggest a site of your choice to be put in this list for your convenience! We want to put all up-to-date information you need in one place.

    ReplyDelete
  2. No posts on Dept. Justice better try next year!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Most departments were closing on or before 28 December 2010.

    ReplyDelete