MAY 26 TH 2023

CV WRITING &
INTERVIEW SKILLS
Facilitated by: Laura Minde
 CV WRITING & COVER LETTER
OUR
• Importance of a well written CV
DISCUSSION
• Purpose of a CV
TODAY • Difference between CV and
Resume
• Layout and presentation
• Putting your message across
• Typical errors in CV writing

OUTSTANDING SOLUTIONS LTD

DID YOU KNOW?
 PURPOSE OF CV/RESUME
FOR JOB SEEKERS

To win an interview NOT to get you a job

01

To show why you are the perfect

02 candidate. Impress!

How do you impress?

• Offering what she/he is looking for
• Sending out the right signals e.g.,
Confidence, Enthusiasm,
Achievement, Adaptability Position yourself
• Demonstrating your communications
skills
 PURPOSE OF CV/RESUME
FOR EMPLOYERS

To evaluate the qualifications, skills, and

01 experience of job applicants.

To decide whether to interview you or

02 NOT.

Make informed decisions about which

03 candidates to hire for the job.
Hire right
candidates
 CV VS RESUME
It is typically a longer, more detailed It is typically a 1–2 pages document
LENGTH LENGTH
document that is short and straight to the point

Used for academic or research

positions, fellowships, or grants, as Used for the business world and
PURPOSE PURPOSE
well as some international jobs or focuses on a person's most relevant
joining the staff of a university. work experience and skills.

Emphasizes education, publications, Emphasizes on a person's work

CONTENT experience, skills, and education, as CONTENT
research projects, and other
accomplishments. well as any relevant achievements or
accomplishments.

Always begins with education and can Organized by functional area or skill
FORMAT FORMAT
include name of advisor and set, with sections such as "work
dissertation title or summary. experience," "skills," and "education."
 Similarities
Both documents summarize your professional
history, education, skills and achievements.

Both documents are used for job applications: CVs

and resumes are both used to apply for jobs,
internships, and other professional opportunities.

Both documents include personal information

such as your name, contact information, and
sometimes your photo.

Both documents should be tailored to the job you're

applying for.

First Impressions matter

Overall, both CVs and resumes are important tools for job seekers, and it's essential to
tailor each document to the specific job and employer.
 What to included on CV/Resume
Personal Details
Your name, contact information (phone number, email address, mailing
address), and professional social media profiles (if applicable).
Professional Summary/Objectives
References A brief statement that summarizes your
Contact information for at least two career goals, skills, and experience.
professional references who can vouch
for your qualifications and work ethic.

KEY Work Experience

Professional Affiliations Previous employment, including job titles, dates of
COMPONENTS
Any memberships in professional OF A employment, and responsibilities. Use bullet points to
organizations or industry associations. RESUME/CV describe your achievements and accomplishments in
each role.

Certifications & Trainings Education

Any relevant professional certifications or Your academic qualifications, including
training courses you have completed. the institutions you attended, degrees
earned, and any honors or awards.
Skills
A list of your skills, including technical
skills, soft skills, and any languages you
speak.
BEFORE YOU START
WRITING YOUR CV, READ
THE JOB DESCRIPTION.
 BEFORE APPLYING FOR A JOB, ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:

What is the employer

Does the job fit your What do I know
What specific position looking for? Which
long term career about the company
are you applying for? core function am
plans? culture?
expected to perform?

Do I know anyone Does my online

Is the commute Have I customized my
who works at the presence support my
reasonable? CV and cover letter?
company? career story?

Do I want to work for

a large organisation
or small? Private or
government?
 Large organization VS Small
organization
01 02
Size and structure Opportunities for advancement
Large organizations are typically more Large organizations may offer more
hierarchical, with clearly defined roles and opportunities for career advancement,
departments, whereas small with clear career paths and well-defined
organizations are often more flat in job roles, while small organizations may
structure, with fewer levels of hierarchy have fewer formal career advancement
and more opportunities to wear multiple opportunities but may offer more
hats.
04 03 opportunities for staff to take on new
responsibilities and develop new skills.

Resources Culture
Large organizations often have more Large organizations may have a more
resources, such as bigger budgets and formalized culture, with strict policies and
specialized teams, while small procedures, while small organizations
organizations may have more limited may have a more informal culture, with
resources and rely on staff to be more fewer rules and more opportunities for
flexible and versatile. staff to shape the culture.
IDENTIFY RELEVANT
COMPETENCIES

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

and Personal Attributes
 Competencies
Skills
Specific ability or technique that can be
learned and applied to a job or task.
Knowledge
Education, training, certifications, or licenses
that demonstrate a person's knowledge and
expertise in a particular field.

Abilities Competencies
The innate or acquired capacity to perform a
specific task or job.

Attributes
Personal characteristics, such as personality
traits, attitudes, and behaviors, that contribute
to effective job performance.
COMPETENCIES • Critical competencies
MAY BE • Characters
DESCRIBED AS: • Dimension
• Keys to success/Successful
candidates will …
• Required skills
• Responsibilities/Job duties

OUTSTANDING SOLUTIONS LTD

Question 1. Years of experience required
Question 2. Required experience (refer to
responsibilities)
Question 3. Required Skills (Essential vs
Preferred)
Question 4: Required Knowledge
Question 5: Abilities
Question 6: How to apply & deadline
PUTTING YOUR MESSAGE
ACROSS
 Contact details Personal Experience, skills
profile/career and employment
The key things that statement history
your CV should
have

Education and other Reference HONESTY

qualifications
 Personal statement
aka personal profile
aka career objective

Personal statement is a brief

paragraph or section at the
top of a resume that
highlights your skills,
experiences, and career
objectives.
 Steps to write your personal
statement
Show your career
goals.
Highlight your End your personal
achievements. statement with a brief
sentence that
Use action verbs. Use specific examples of demonstrates your
achievements to career goals and how
demonstrate your skills they align with the job
Tailor your statement Start your personal and experience. Quantify you are applying for.
to the job. statement with an action your accomplishments
verb, such as whenever possible, using
Identify your key Use the information you "Experienced," "Skilled," numbers or percentages
skills and experience. gathered in step one to or "Motivated." This will to show the impact of
write a personal make your statement your work.
Review the job statement that directly more impactful and
description and make a addresses the job you engaging.
list of the key skills and are applying for. Focus
experience required for on the skills and
the position. Then, think experience that are most
about your own skills and relevant to the position.
experience that match
those requirements.
“Driven and ambitious recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in [Your Major].
Passionate about [industry/field], I am eager to apply my knowledge and skills
to make a meaningful impact in a dynamic work environment. With a strong
academic foundation and a track record of academic excellence, I possess a
keen eye for detail and a drive for achieving results. During my studies, I
actively sought opportunities to gain practical experience, participating in
internships and extracurricular projects that allowed me to develop strong
problem-solving and teamwork skills. I am a quick learner with a strong work
ethic, ready to contribute my enthusiasm and determination to contribute to the
success of your organization. With a focus on continuous learning and
professional growth, I am excited to bring my passion and dedication to a team
that values innovation, collaboration, and making a difference in the
[industry/field].
“Motivated recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in [Your Major]. Passionate
about [industry/field], I am eager to launch my career and contribute to a
dynamic organization. With a strong foundation in [relevant skills/subject
matter], I possess the ability to analyze complex problems and provide
innovative solutions. Through internships and coursework, I have developed
effective communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. I excel in fast-
paced environments, adapting quickly to new challenges. As a detail-oriented
individual, I prioritize accuracy and quality in my work. With a drive for
continuous learning, I am committed to staying up-to-date with industry trends
and advancements. My goal is to leverage my academic achievements and
enthusiasm to make a meaningful impact within a team-oriented organization
focused on growth and success.”
 "Experienced digital marketing professional with a proven
track record of increasing online engagement and revenue.
Skilled in developing and executing targeted campaigns
that drive results. Motivated to join a dynamic team where I
can continue to grow my skills and contribute to business
success.”

"Experienced project manager with a proven track record

of delivering projects on time and within budget. Skilled in
managing cross-functional teams and stakeholders, and
adept at mitigating project risks. Seeking a challenging role
in project management where I can utilize my skills and
experience to drive successful project outcomes."
 Education & other certification
EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration, ABC University

Concentration: Marketing • Degree or diploma: Mention the degree or

Graduated: May 2020
diploma you earned, such as Bachelor of Arts,
Master of Science, or High School Diploma.
• Field of study: Indicate the field of study you
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, XYZ University pursued, such as Marketing, Computer Science,
Graduated: May 2017 or English Literature.
• Name of the institution: List the name of the
RELEVANT COURSEWORK: institution where you obtained your degree or
diploma.
Consumer Behavior, Market Research, Advertising, Brand Management
• Highlight any academic achievements, honors, or
coursework that are relevant to the job you are
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS: applying for.
Dean's List: Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020 • Graduation date: Provide the date you graduated
or plan to graduate from the program.
SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS:
• GPA (optional): Include your grade point average
(GPA) if it is above 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or if the
Google Analytics Certified
employer specifically requests it.
HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certified
 Experience & employment history
• List your work experience in reverse
chronological order, starting with your
Experience current or most recent job.
ABC Company, Sales Manager June 2018 - Present
• Include the company name, job title,
dates of employment, and a brief
• Increased sales revenue by 25% over two years by implementing new sales description of your role and
strategies and building relationships with key clients. responsibilities.
• Supervised a team of 10 sales representatives, providing training and
guidance to ensure sales goals were met.
• Provide a brief summary of your
• Developed and executed marketing campaigns that resulted in a 30% increase responsibilities and accomplishments in
in website traffic. each role. Use bullet points to make this
section easy to read.
XYZ Corporation, Marketing Coordinator January 2015 - May 2018
• Use action verbs and quantify your
• Coordinated marketing efforts for multiple product launches, resulting in a achievements with numbers and data
20% increase in sales. wherever possible.
• Managed social media accounts and grew the company's Twitter following
from 1,000 to 10,000 followers.
• Tailor your experience to the job you're
• Created marketing materials including brochures, flyers, and email campaigns applying for. Highlight experiences that
that helped the company win several industry awards. are most relevant to the job and industry
you're interested in.
LAYOUT & PRESENTATION
■ Preferred fonts are basic book print fonts like Arial,
Verdana, Calibri, and Times New Roman. These work
well. As for the font size it should be between 10 -12.
■ Don't overuse capitalization, bold, italics, underlines, or
other emphasizing features. Again, basic works best. Be
consistent in your formatting.
■ The key sections should be in bold, so a recruiter can
skim through quickly.
■ Start with an outline that shows who you worked for and
what the job was about, then list your responsibilities in
short bullet points then round it up with your key
achievements.
■ Your most recent roles should come first, and older roles
come later and can be shorter summaries (Note:
recruiters are mostly interested in your current work
because that is what can gauge your capabilities.
■ Aim for two pages of length.
■ 99% to 100% of your hobbies and interests have no
influence whatsoever in the hiring decision unless they
are directly relevant to the job.
■ Use footer with page numbers and your last name, in
case pages get separated.
TYPICAL ERRORS IN WRITING
A CV
 TYPICAL ERRORS IN WRITING A CV
Not Doing your research

CV not targeted to the role

Too much information (Age, Marital status, religion)

Unexplained gaps

Generic cliché (“Hard-working team player.” “Innovative forward thinker.” “Go-getting people person.”)

Grammatical and spelling mistakes

Inconsistent layout

Not following instructions

Lies
 TYPICAL ERRORS IN WRITING A CV
Quotes That Are Cringe-Worthy

Claims with no basis (“the best salesperson in the country” )

Unprofessional Email Address (sexylady29@gmail.com)

Concentrating on Responsibilities, not Accomplishments

Bad file name (CV.dox)

Generic Interests (Cooking, Gardening, Sleeping)

Incorrect or Lacking Contact Information

Lack of Action Verbs

Sending the Same CV to All

 COMMON MISTAKES –DIGITAL APPLICATION

Instructions were not followed

No contact information

Subject line is blank

Position is not referenced

 COMMON MISTAKES –PAPER APPLICATION
Resume is folded

Resume is stapled

Resume is put in a binder

Non professional paper is used

Errors are present

 CONTACT
INFORMATION

FA C E B O O K L I N K
OUTSTANDING SOLUTIONS TANZANIA

EMAIL ADDRESS
info@outstandingsolutionstz.com

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+255 756 716 496