We have always insisted in
our articles that an employer meets you first through your CV and if he does
NOT like you in absentia then he can’t contact you. In HR practices especially
in this entry level jobs up to middle level management, please stick to a
simple CV of 2-3 pages. Make it as attractive as possible to persuade the
employer to call you to an interview.
However, for you to make a
very good CV there are things that you need to avoid. Do you remember the
article we did on personal details; we said that you should never give away too
much information. Let the employer be curious to call you for an interview. At
the same time you should not give too little because it may down play your
serious intentions to get the job.
1. ‘Curriculum Vitae’ or ‘CV’ –
It’s as unnecessary as putting ‘This is a piece of a paper’ at the top of a
piece of paper. Writing CV doesn’t add value, I can’t ask for a CV and you send
me a report.
2. The word ‘Résumé’ –
You might think it sounds posh or more international– but don’t use it unless
you’re applying for a job in the US. Here in Kenya use the word CV!! Anyway
know this resume means a simplified CV, maximum of two pages. CV can be as long
as ten pages. (Look at our earlier article on CV and Resume differences)
3. Photo – What you look like has no
bearing on how well you can do most jobs. Chef’s and models and airline staff
exempted here.
4. Current work phone/email address –
Provide your personal email and mobile phone number as your contact details.
Don’t use employer assets to search for another job. For personal email it must
be sensible and reflect you in a mature manner. Emails like Mwangi-sonko@gmail.com or Sexyachieng@yahoo.com don’t
reflect the kind of professionalism employers are looking for.
5. Having your ID Number or passport– Not relevant…Driving license too (Unless you’re applying for a
driving job.
6. Nationality – is there a need to
say you’re Kenyan if it’s a local job? Look at our article yesterday on what to
avoid under ‘Personal Details’.
7. Religion – As above, although
you aren’t obliged to reveal this at any stage of the recruitment process.
8. Details of your children –Don’t
say, married with two kids! They’re hiring you, not your entire family.
9. Reason for leaving your last company – It looks like you’re making excuses.
10. List of subjects/degree modules –
Unless you’re a school leaver or are applying for an internship role, you
should write the number of exams you passed like this: ACCA F8. Most employers
won’t understand specific module titles – only include them if they are
relevant to the job spec. So don’t go on breaking down all the course units
that you took.
11. Waffle – Don’t waste space
with unnecessary or repeated information. To put it another way, it is very
easy, indeed too easy, to include sentences or paragraphs that tell the reader
little or nothing of value. One example of such waffle could be: “I am a
motivated, outgoing self-starter who is able to work on my own or as part of a
team who is an excellent timekeeper with people skills”.
12. Hobbies such as reading, walking or watching movies – How do these universal activities make you unique? You
might as well write sleeping or breathing. Check your CV now and write sensible
mature hobbies!
13. Languages - Unless you have taken
French, Spanish or Chinese, writing English and Kiswahili is a huge waste of
time. The worst are those who include mother tongue. What value does it
add for me to know you can speak Luo, kikuyu or Taita?
If you look at the above
suggestions, I can assure you to find a lot of unnecessary details in your CV
that even do not matter. If you are a fresh job seeker, I can excuse you but if
you have been in the job industry and looking to shift career and doing this,
all I can say is OOOOOhhhhhhhhhh. I suggest you open your CV at this time and
check out these mistakes, correct them immediately.
If you clean your CV of
such errors, it may be attractive again.
All the best.
HCC
