July 2020 – skzem

04Jul

How to Write a CV for Malta

Did you know that an average HR person inspects a CV for around 12 seconds before determining if the applicant fits the role or not? Just 12 seconds. After all the sleepless nights editing and perfecting that piece of document, you have spent. But there is a sure way to make your CV as good as possible to attract the recruiter’s eye. A professional CV is like your business card, spend a little more time on it, and your chances of getting a cherished position will increase significantly. So let us take you through the process.

First Things First: What is a CV?

A CV is a short description of the applicant’s professional skills and personal qualities. It includes your previous job experience, education, training, professional expertise, and other information, giving an employer a better idea about your qualifications. Here are some tips on structuring it, what you should mention, and how to make it presentable.

Must-have Sections to Include in Your CV

First, read the job offer carefully and understand what requirements you meet. These are your strengths. For example, can you offer a successful sales experience for the sales manager role? Then you can try your luck and apply for that vacancy. Besides considering your strong points, you must add mandatory data to your CV.

Basic info. Add your contact information, including full name, mobile phone number, website links, and email. You want employers or recruiters to reach out with ease.
Photo. It is better to avoid including a photo to avoid prejudice against your candidacy. However, if you add one, choose a professional photo to show you have serious intentions.
Job experience. Always start from the last place of work to the first. Include all the relevant positions you had before and reduce the importance of ones that do not connect with the job you are applying to. It is essential to describe your duty and how you perfected it. Don’t forget about your achievements. Please keep it simple and use keywords.
Education. Start with the highest degree and finish with the lower one. If you completed your degree with merits, it is worth mentioning it. It will give the potential employer a good impression since everyone wants to see the best people in his team.
Make a section of “Language skills” separate. Ensure that your language knowledge is sufficient for daily interaction with future colleagues. The more languages you speak, the better. Do not be humble; indicate everything you know.

Certifications

Each candidate is unique, so it is their CV. Apart from mandatory information, you can include other helpful things, like:

Grants, scholarships, certifications, courses, or seminars. Show that you are continually improving. Employers want to see a dynamic employee who is willing to develop professionally. Read the job description carefully and understand which additional information might be useful. For example, there is a vacancy for a sales representative, and one of the requirements is to have a car. This section can indicate that you have a driving licence and own a vehicle.

Which Professional Skills Should You Include?

Professional skills have to correspond to the position. Enter only the knowledge you possess. Your deception will become apparent sooner or later in the workplace or during the interview Remember that you can always earn experience and acquire the needed skills. During the meeting, you can assure the employer that you are ready to work hard and learn the missing skills. Professional skills employers look for in their future team members are:

Negotiation skills. It is the ability to negotiate with potential clients or partners, establish the right contacts with customers, and build communication for long-term cooperation.
Business representation skills. It is knowledge of business etiquette and the ability to portray your company professionally. Maintaining your organisation’s positive image wherever you go gives potential clients and partners an excellent impression.
Technical skills. Mention the names of the programs that you had to work with before.

Additional Sections

If there are any additional skills not mentioned in the previous blocks but you think can complete the overall picture and describe your uniqueness, be sure to emphasise them. Look for skills that you have in addition to your primary curriculum. It can be:

Adaptability. Today’s world is all about being fast and flexible. Yesterday’s information is usually outdated and irrelevant. Show your employer you are alert and always ready for plan B.
Teamwork. This ability is essential if the job requires you to work in a big team, where you have to be subordinate or take a leadership role.
Decision-making skills. It also includes problem-solving and analysis. For example, every day at work, you must identify a problem, collect information, and find a solution.
Interests. For example, mention in your CV if you like to play football. A potential employer can offer you a job with many advantages, plus there is an amateur football club in the company. You will probably not waste your time looking for another enterprise to work for.

Find a complete compendium of competencies here. You might want to use similar definitions and any meaningful insights based on past work experience.

Once Your CV is Ready

Here is a complete list of steps to follow once it is ready and now you know how to write a CV for freshers:

Ask one of your friends to read your CV before submitting it, or use the online spell check service.
Avoid long phrases.
Select the necessary headlines.
In the description of the workplace, verbs should be in the present tense: I work, I design, I manage.
Previous job descriptions should include past verbs.
There has to be one story style throughout the CV, which applies to abbreviations. Therefore, if you used abbreviations once, use them throughout the text (although it is better to avoid acronyms and write names completely).
The format should be easy to read (large margins, sufficient distance between the lines).
Use good-quality white paper for the printed version.
The CV should fit on one or two pages maximum.
If necessary, you should be able to confirm all the information you have included in the CV. Sometimes HR can ask you to send a copy of the diploma or certification you mentioned in the CV.
Don’t overcrowd it; keep your CV simple and easy to navigate.

04Jul

The Best Way to Prepare for a Job Interview

Congratulations on landing your job interview!

Interviews might be nerve-racking, but we guarantee that preparation will help you feel more at ease, confident and ready to go for your next interview.

We’ve listed 8 things you can do to prepare yourself before your job interview!

Carefully go through the job description
Know why you want this job
Thoroughly research the company and role
Practice. Practice. Practice.
Know your salary expectations
Prepare questions
Know where you have to go and how you’re going to get there
Know your worth

Carefully go through the job description

The job description highlights what the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate and can also give you an idea of what questions will be asked throughout the interview. So use the job description as your guide when preparing for the interview.

Make a list of your assets and match them to the job requirements. Think of quantifiable examples from your past work experiences that prove that you have these qualities for this role.

Know why you want this job

The first question in any job interview is usually: ‘Why did you apply for this role?’ Be prepared. Before the interview, reflect on why you want the job and what makes you the perfect candidate.

Thoroughly research the company and role

Researching and showing a genuine interest in the company will give you a competitive advantage. It will also help you provide context for your conversation during the interview and help identify thoughtful questions you might want to ask your interviewers. Here’s a couple of things you should research:

The role: Make sure you understand all the requirements and responsibilities in the job description and determine whether this is the position for you. Prepare any questions you might have for the interviewer, for example, what your day-to-day responsibilities would look like or how performance is measured.
The company culture: Companies will seek to hire people with similar values, and it’s essential to reflect on whether the company’s values align with your own. If you have questions about any procedures, policies or software used internally, you can ask during the meeting.
The products or services they offer: Even if the role is not directly related to the product or service, it’s essential to understand what the company provides. There is no need to stress over the product details, etc., especially if you’re not applying for a technical role, but it’s good to have some basic knowledge. Furthermore, it might also be beneficial to know who their main competitors are and their primary competitive advantages.

Practice. Practice. Practice.

It’s a good idea to go through some common interview questions and practise how you would answer them. Don’t study these answers by heart. You don’t want to sound like you’re reciting a script during your interview. But practising will help you feel more prepared and calm.

Mock interviews are also highly beneficial. Some main advantages of such discussions are:

They will help reduce interview stress and anxiety.
They will boost your self-confidence, as you will have time to re-evaluate your interview weaknesses.
You can get constructive feedback in a low-stress environment from an interviewing professional.

If you’re unable to attend a mock interview, you can always ask a trusted friend or family member to ask you some typical interview questions. Or you can even practise in front of a mirror. Practise aloud to make sure that you sound articulate and confident. You can even record yourself and listen to yourself back to see where you can improve, what you can add to a specific answer, etc.

Know your salary expectations

Before attending the interview, you should have an idea of what your expected salary is. If you’re unsure about what the market is paying for a specific role, you can check through a salary calculator. Here you can calculate the potential salary range for all types of jobs.

Prepare questions

Before concluding an interview, most interviewers will ask: ‘Do you have any questions for us?’ It’s good to prepare 2-3 questions to show that you’re interested, and their answers will help you make an informed decision should you receive a job offer. Here are some questions you can ask in an interview:

What do you love most about working with this company?
What does a typical day look like for a person in this position?
I’ve enjoyed learning more about this opportunity. What are the next steps in the hiring process?

These and similar questions will be relevant to all job vacancies, including marketing research jobs, sales executive jobs and risk fraud jobs.

Research the office location

Job interviews are stressful enough on their own. Add spending an hour in traffic or trying to find parking at the last minute, and you’ve got yourself a panic attack waiting to happen. The biggest tip we can give is to leave early and aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview begins. If you arrive before your interview starts, find a quiet place, go through your notes, clear your mind and relax before going in.

Before attending the interview, ensure you have the company’s contact information. Sometimes things happen that are out of your control, which might cause you to be late for an appointment. Letting people know in advance with a reasonable explanation is always better than showing up late trying to explain yourself.

Nowadays, certain companies might conduct online or phone interviews. Companies use different software for meetings, such as Zoom, Google Meets or Microsoft Teams. Most companies will email you the link before the meeting. Add this to your calendar, download the application you need before the interview and test the link if possible. Ensure you have someone’s contact information, just in case the link isn’t working or you start experiencing connectivity problems.

Know your worth

Go to the interview with 2-3 selling points in mind. Ask yourself: What makes you the best candidate for the position? Take note of skills you possess that relate to your role, and brainstorm which experiences contribute to your overall goals. Sometimes numbers speak louder than words. A great way to sell yourself is to quantify your accomplishments or growth during previous roles. For example, you can mention that you increased monthly sales or social media engagement by X%.

It’s perfectly okay not to know an answer to a question during the interview instantly. Ask the interviewer for a moment and think about it. It’s better to reflect than to answer carelessly.

What’s next?

Consider following up after an interview, as it shows your potential employer that you are genuinely interested and allows you to mention things you might have forgotten during the interview.

04Jul

What to Say about Yourself in an Interview

We’ve all been caught off guard when asked: ‘Tell me a little bit about yourself’ during an interview. We know – this question can be quite ambiguous and challenging to answer, that’s why in this article we discuss why employers ask this question and how you should respond.

Why do employers ask this question?

In short, it allows the interviewer to ease into the actual interview. Some might use it as an icebreaker question to get to know you a little, while others will move directly into other interview questions after you answer.

A short, summarised version of your background and skills gives them insight into what experiences and qualifications are most relevant to the position you’re applying for. In addition, this is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your communication skills and how you present yourself professionally.