Career Services to offer free CV checks

MEDIA RELEASE

5 July 2010

Career Services to offer free CV checks at Job Expo

Experts to critique CVs ‘Antiques Roadshow’-style

It’s one of the most important documents you’ll ever write in your life and can make the difference in winning your dream job; but many jobseekers still don’t know how to properly write their curriculum vitae (CV).

Career Services – New Zealand’s leading career experts – says that many jobseekers are falling at the first fence of the job applications process because their CVs are not written to meet modern employer expectations or match the type of job they are applying for.

“Without question, the first step towards getting a job interview is a well written CV,” says Janine Begg, Northern Area Practice Leader for Career Services, based in Mt Eden, Auckland. “It’s essentially a marketing document to get you an interview which should answer every employer’s question, which is ‘How will I benefit from employing you?’”

“A CV should be closely targeted to the role you are applying for; just long enough for the reader to get a good summary of your key skills, relevant work history, qualifications and achievements and clearly demonstrate how you could add value, without detailed pages of unnecessary history.”

Ms Begg says that Career Services invites attendees at the Job & Career Expo in Auckland on 17-18 July to have a free, personal session with a Career Services consultant to critique their CV.

“It will be like Antiques Roadshow, except that our valuations will be based on how effective your CV is for securing you that all important job interview!”

“Career Services consultants will be available at the Expo over most of the weekend to provide feedback on the style, content and layout of your CV. There will be no facilities on site to print or view CVs electronically, so be sure to bring a printed copy with you.”

To pre-book a 20-minute CV critique session with a Career Services consultant, visit www.careers.govt.nz/nzjobsexpo

Ms Begg says that a key thing they will be advising jobseekers on is how employer expectations of CVs have changed significantly over the past decades.

“In the 1980s, it was thought that the longer your CV was, with highly detailed, chronological information on your career, the better. In the 1990s, the view shifted more towards a ‘less is more’ approach, and that a CV should be no longer than one page.

“These days we know that keeping a CV to two to three pages, and writing it in a personal and engaging style will be most effective in communicating key skills and attributes to employers and ensure that your CV doesn’t end up in the ‘No’ pile,” says Ms Begg.

She also says that guidelines for CV writing vary widely around the world, and that job seekers who move to New Zealand need to be aware of what Kiwi employers want to see on CVs for job applications, rather than what they are used to providing overseas.

“It’s important to find out how much information your prospective employer needs when creating your CV as that can influence the style of CV that will most likely get you an interview.”

Ms Begg says it’s vital to make sure your CV reflects the job description of the particular role you are applying for.

“If the job description asks for five main qualities or competencies in the ideal candidate, make sure those are clearly there on the first page of your CV.”

Ms Begg says that Career Services provides a CV builder and templates for a range of CV styles on its website, including Modern, Simple and Traditional styled CVs.

Visit Career Services’ web site www.careers.govt.nz or phone their advice line on 0800 222 733 to find out more.

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