In Part 1 of my blog series I talked a little bit about the requirements you will need to address as you submit your application for a vacancy. Today, I’ll tell you what a professional network means and the advantages of building and maintaining one. I’ll also advise you on how to write the best CV and cover letter to attract an employer’s attention.
NETWORKING SKILLS
Active professional networking means reaching out to and maintaining contact with those individuals who can provide you with information about your career field and potential opportunities. These efforts may open up leads to positions you weren’t aware of, jobs that are filled through referrals, and opportunities that are so new they haven’t been advertised.
Networking can take place in a variety of ways and result in both helpful information and assistance.
- Contact your previous employers, internship supervisors, and other individuals who may be aware of your skills and experience. Let them know that you are in school, or a recent graduate, and what type of employment you are seeking.
- Join and participate in relevant professional groups, both formal and informal, that are made up of people working in your field, and that involve discussions about trends and employment. Keep in mind that joining is just the first step in networking with groups — you’ve also got to take the initiative and actively participate in the events and conversations.
- Ask for help. Let your network know you are looking for a job and what you are looking for in the way of information and assistance. Be as specific as possible with your requests. Ask for an introduction to a valuable contact, for example.
- Thank those who are helpful to you. Express your appreciation for their efforts and consider how you might offer similar assistance to others in the future.
Hopefully you’ve already begun to engage in these kinds of activities, but if not, now’s the time to do get started. Not every networking contact will result in helpful information, but you will continue to build skills through active participation in the process. Select several ways in which you are comfortable interacting and add these networking activities to your schedule and job search strategy.
CVs
There is a wealth of advice on how to write CVs and cover letters available online. The function of the CV is to attract an employer’s attention to your qualifications, show how you fit their needs, and hopefully prompt them to invite you an interview so they can find out more about you.
There are several key considerations before moving forward. Take a look at these guidelines and plan for how you will proceed with your own CV:
- Organize. There are two primary ways in which traditional CVs are organized: chronological (listing your experiences in a time sequence) and functional (listing your experiences by skill set). There’s no right or wrong here. It’s about presenting your information in the best possible way, which may even be a combination of approaches.
- Summarize. Your resume should be a summary of your qualifications and may include sections such as Education, Work History, Skills, Activities, Awards, etc. The list of possible categories is endless, but they should all work together to highlight your most relevant experience.
- Focus. Present your achievements in past positions instead of basic job descriptions. Use action verbs and quantification to describe what you have done in the past. Be as specific as possible. For example, “Managed an annual marketing budget of £50,000″ is more informative than “Responsible for managing finances.”
- Format. Will you be mailing, emailing, or uploading your CV? Or all of the above? It will probably be necessary for you to have different versions available in terms of file format. A PDF may be helpful when sending as an email attachment, a word processing document for printing hard copies, and a text file for cutting and pasting. Readability is critical and document formatting such as bolding, and italicizing may not convert well when uploaded or cut/paste into an online system, so have several options available and look for specific instructions from employers. You may also want to consider setting up a virtual CV through an online system or as part of a personal website.
- Review examples. Find examples of CVs and explore the variety of possible styles and approaches that are being used. CV writing experiences trends that come and go, so it is beneficial to look at current practices.
- Get a critique. Have at least one person, but preferably more than just one person, review your CV and offer a critique. Is there someone in your network who could provide a review and make suggestions?
Your CV will be unique to you. While it may adhere to accepted practice in terms of organisation and format, you should ensure that it is accurately reflecting your qualifications.
COVER LETTERS
Cover letters, also known as letters of intent, letters of interest, and job search letters, work with your CV to help you get an interview. Your cover letter should be your introduction to hiring managers and persuade them to read further.
- Be brief. These letters are just part of the screening process and should ideally be kept to one page in length. Don’t repeat information in your CV. Instead, highlight the most relevant parts of it and address your interest and qualifications in the position.
- Tailor the information. Each cover letter should be written for the specific employer to whom it will be sent. It’s tempting to create one letter than can be sent to everyone, but that approach will result in a letter that is not as relevant or focused on each vacancy and company, and therefore not as effective.
- Review examples. Looking at sample cover letters can be helpful to get a better idea of what is expected. There are different formats, which you can find across the internet, to consider as well.
- Get a critique. Just as with your CV, having others review your cover letter and provide suggestions will ensure it is professional in nature and helps you say what you need to say.
As you can see, the job search process is quite complex…And there are many more things to talk about and learn on this subject. So, stay tuned as I am about to tell you about the interview process and job offers in part 3 of this blog series.