Johannesburg - Having a good qualification and a great track record provide compelling reasons for employers to consider a candidate for a position, but many with those crucial qualities never even make it to the interview list because of simple but persistent mistakes.
That’s the view of Lillian Bususu, an employment expert at the Independent Institute of Education, who says because of the difficult economic climate, job applicants often apply for scores of positions before being shortlisted.
“Graduates and those seeking to further their careers often pay 99 percent of their attention to the big things on their CVs: their academic performance, employment history, achievements and so forth,” says Bususu.
“But those things mean little when a company receives a CV addressed to the HR manager of their rival, which is a surprisingly prevalent but unforgivable slip-up.”
Bususu is the national graduate development manager of the institute’s Rosebank College.
Her team assists thousands of students and alumni in their job search annually.
In addition to the insights gained from helping these young people tailor and polish their applications, the Career Centre’s collaboration with some of South Africa’s top employers also means that they are privy to regular and valuable feedback from the marketplace.
Bususu says a few avoidable gremlins consistently appear.
“Spring is an excellent time to start working on your CV, so that it is ready to go when you spot a fantastic vacancy in January,” she says.
“But make sure your application is not guilty of the big five CV sins.
“A lot of time and effort go into searching for the right position, so spending an extra 10 minutes on every application before you hit send is an investment you won’s regret,” she says.
Bususu says each CV should be scrutinised for the following before responding to a job advert.
The who and the what
What is the name of the company, and what is the position you are applying for? Make sure that you have the correct details everywhere, and that any references correspond to the correct information.
It seems like a basic thing, but employers receive CVs daily from people applying for a job in their organisation while addressing the application to another organisation recruiting at the same time.
The why Is it clear that you understand what you are applying for, and that you are responding to the criteria raised in the job advert?
If you are sending out the exact same generic CV for every vacancy, you can be sure that your application will lack the character required to stand out.
You have to customise your CV and covering letter for every application - and that goes beyond getting the company details right.
The how
How you approach the drafting of your CV will make a visible difference. Did you take the necessary time and effort to ensure you have covered everything relating to your qualifications, academic performance, experience and background?
Were your CV and covering letter proof-read to eliminate typos and grammar and spelling mistakes? Does the layout and formatting look professional? Are your dates, reference details and contact details accurate and complete?
It’s well within the rights of a company to question why you would be professional and pay attention to detail if hired, if you can’t be that when selling yourself.
The what
Competition is tough out there, but never be tempted to massage the truth on your CV.
Even in the unlikely event that a false claim is not picked up, you will never be able to settle into your position without constantly having to worry that it will come back to bite you. If you have an experiential or qualifications gap, there are other ways to rectify the situation.
The what now
Things are tough for those looking for work, but things are also tough for companies looking to survive in a challenging economy. Employers want the best talent. It does not look good when your CV shows you graduated two years ago and have been sitting at home.
Show you are industrious, that you value your own time and are committed to personal growth. Seek out activities that will prove your value even if it doesn’t relate 100 percent to your area.
Volunteer your services in your community, tutor students or cultivate a complementary skill.
In addition to ensuring there are no gaps on your CV, these activities could open doors for you.
“Quality and quantity go hand-in-hand,” says Bususu.
“In a difficult job market, it is important to treat the job hunt as a job in itself.
“So you should spend enough time daily searching and responding to positions for which you are qualified, to improve your chances of getting a foot in the door. But if you are just going to adopt a spray-and-pray approach, you are wasting your time.
“Stay positive and confident, and take pride also in the application process. Employers will see that you take them seriously and will treat you as a serious contender if your CV is part of the small percentage that don’t fall foul of the non-negotiables of professional applications.”
THE STAR