CV (curriculum vitae)
( Resume)

It is the first thing companies/firms see/know about you.
Should be: * Well written * Straight to the point * Neat and well formatted * Honest * No spelling an grammar mistakes * One page long if under 27 years old * Informative (as it is a snapshot of who you are)

Should contain: 1. Contact information: name, address, phone number, e-mail, websites e.g blogs, twitter, etc. (only if it is relevant) 2. Career objectives: a statement used to focus a CV when you know what position you are interested in a. Stay short, two lines are all you need b. Be specific but not too specific c. Helps you get the position 3. Education and training: d. Reverse chronological (newest to oldest) e. Keep GPA to yourself, unless really excellent f. Don’t describe your education, keep it for the interview 4. Don’t include anything that may put you at a disadvantage 5. Format: month year-month year
Job title
Department, company name city, country
OR
Degree of education
School city, country 6. Skills: g. Computer skills h. Language skills i. Soft skills 7. Other useful information: j. Volunteer work, include what you have gained out of it and how it has benefitted you k. Awards and accomplishments that are relevant l. Hobbies (acts as a good ice breaker for interviews and adds a personal touch, one line max) 8. The CV should be a reflection of who you are, so be honest but also try to be unique (read over your CV and see if you can change the wording to make it sound more unique and stand-out) 9. References: name phone number
Position, company e-mail 10. Always update your information! 11. Don’t use different fonts 12. Don’t include a personal picture 13. Do not color code your CV 14. No religion or marital status 15. 11 is the smallest font size (you are pushing the envelope) 16. If you are organized enough to keep track of several CV’s with different objectives for different firms, do keep several CV’s for maximum benefit at each separate firm

Cv’s are the first step to getting an interview and should be treated as a seld-marketing tool
It should stand out
CV has about 7 seconds to make a visual impression

Interviews skills:
Preparing for the interview: * Learn about the organization * Research * Prepare for “Why do you want to work here” * Think ahead about the questions * “Tell me about yourself” * Tell me about your work experience * Where do you see yourself in 5 years * What do you think are your weknesses * Plan questions of your own * Polish your interview * Style (mock interview) * Plan to look good (look professional) * Men’s attire: suit (solid color, preferably dark grey or navy) and shirt, tie, dark socks and conservative shoes, little or no jewelry, neat hair, limit aftershave or cologne, neatly trimmed nails, copies of cv, notebook and pen * Women’s attire: suit, skirt should be long enough, conservative shoes, don’t go overboard on makeup or jewellry * Be on time and ready when you arrive * Be sure you know where it will be held * Verify route and time needed to get there * Use waiting time to review key messages and notes * Know your strengths and weaknesses as well as your views on any issues relevant * There are many standard interview questions which you would be able look up online and have a mock interview with someone else (and replicate the seating arrangement) * Practice good posture and correct/ proper enunciation, tryh to tape your practices, and prepare for interview questions * Plan questions of your own * Ho, how often, and by whom will my responsibilities and performance be measured? * What are the goals of the department in the coming year? * Relax and have fun * Avoid ‘ums’ ‘ahs’ ‘you know’ * Be assertive and give a firm handshake * Address people by their names * Body language is very important * Sit up straight in the chairs * Don’t fidget * You can talk with your hands but don’t wave them around * Don’t be creepy: look in the eye but don’t stare, and don’t look away * Ask for clarification if you don’t understand the question * Be thorough yet concise * Be honest and be yourself * Don’t make excuses; take responsibility for your decisions and your actions * Don’t make negative comments about previous employers and professors * Talks about mistakes if something ever went wrong * Honesty is the best policy
After the interview: * Send a thank you letter * Make notes right away