CV's for Africa (2024)

27/10/2016

Your online professional profile speaks for you. While you are actively looking for a new job, your online profile silently works for you behind the scenes.

28/03/2016

I've graduated, now what?
March 27, 2016

Research graduate programmes on offer.
Identify the companies offering these programmes in your area of speciality. What are the requirements and when are the submission dates. Is there a real person you could speak to? If there is someone, call them, introduce yourself, tell them why you should be considered. This is not the time to be retiring and sensitive. Take the initiative and show that you are proactive; it will count in your favour. Rest assured that there will be other applicants will be doing just this, and if you don’t, how would you expect to stand out?

Connect with recruiters who specialise in graduate programmes.
Google them, connect with them on LinkedIn, and if possible call them directly. Meet up with them. These are the people who will compile a shortlist of gradates for submission to their clients.

Is your CV a good reflection of what you have to offer?
Make sure that your CV is in good shape, that it promotes you properly. Simple things like layout, spelling mistakes, and bad formatting will probably exclude you immediately from any recruitment process.

Get visible.
Update your LinkedIn profile. Register on popular job boards. And remove those terrible pictures from Facebook, or intstagram. You will be Googled.

Consider upskilling yourself.
Find out what the hot skills are, what are companies critically crying out for. Consider getting them. Take an internship, sign up for on-the job training. It may take a little longer to get into the job market, but it will be well worth the time taken, in the end. Please do make sure that the qualification is recognised in the market place.

Use your network.
Ask everyone you know for their help, to keep you in mind, and who else they know that they can introduce you to.

How are you selling yourself?
Make sure that you present a positive image, in your CV, on the telephone and in person. You need a proactive and can-do attitude. Nothing should be too much trouble. This is not a time to be fussy and choosy. Make sure that you present a professional image, shave, don't smoke just before the interview and remove those piercings, hide that tatoo.

Keep trying. As if it’s your first time. Everytime.
This is the most important thing to remember, and the hardest to achieve. Until you get a job, your job is to look for a job. And you need to treat every application as if it is your first one. It’s hard to keep your spirits up, when it seems as if your CV has disappeared into a black hole, and no-one will talk to you. Remain positive, protect yourself against despondency.

Open your mind.
The perfect job may not exist. What else could you do? Open your mind to other possibilities, look in other areas, ask for advice, and adjust your search accordingly.

17/06/2015

How do Head-Hunters Really Find Candidates?
An "Insider's" view

There was a time when recruiters used to place an advert for a position and then wait for applicants to respond. That simply does not happen any more. These days, nearly all candidates are sourced pro-actively.

The pressure on a recruiter has become quite brutal. Their clients are usually quite specific in their job requirements and most assignments are highly time sensitive. On top of this, recruiters are working on several roles at once, each which has to filled on time.

They need to deliver a short-list of exactly the right candidates and they need to deliver them quickly.

In order to be successful modern day recruiters need to single-mindedly and actively seek out candidates that are suitable within minutes of getting the job brief.

They have several approaches which they can rely on. They can contact other people in the same industry and ask for referrals and scan their own list of previous contacts for matches. However, one of their best and most important tool - by far and away - is LinkedIn.

The importance of LinkedIn for a candidate cannot be overstated. In order to be found by head-hunters and recruiters, a candidate wishing to found needs to be connected on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn-savvy recruiters not only search through LinkedIn connections, but they also post jobs available on the LinkedIn Groups.

When you are first approached, the recruiter obviously thinks you could be an ideal match to what they are looking for. Remember, the initial approach is designed to gauge your interest in the job only. The first approach is not an offer, so you could well find that the recruiter will be no position to reveal too many job details to begin with. Those issues are dealt with later in the process.

Maintain a relationship with your recruiter connections, keep in touch. The more they get to know you, the better your chance of finding that perfect role.

14/06/2015

The importance of a LinkedIn profile
Who really needs a LinkedIn profile, anyway? Is it not just a lot of effort for something that just, in the end, a waste of time?

Not so much. Not at all, in fact.

LinkedIn is how recruiters and headhunters source all their candidates today, especially passive candidates. Passive candidates are those that are not actively on the job market but would entertain being approached. The best people recruiters find are often passive candidates.

Who would not want to be approached, to be found and introduced to better and greater opportunities? Without an effective LinkedIn profile that can be searched by recruiters, you will remain invisible to them.

A LinkedIn account is more than just a place to find work. It is an excellent networking tool. LinkedIn has over 340 million users, of which 40% actively log on every day. Every one of that 40%, or 136 million active users, have over 500 connections each. With this sort of coverage, your network coverage is largely automatic.

Why network? What is the point? What are the benefits?

Networking in your industry is how you get noticed, recognised and rewarded. Networking gives you the right sort of exposure by telling a huge and interested audience who you are and what you are about.

Unlike other social networks, negative exposure is all but eliminated by LinkedIn’s strict usage policies. Unwelcome approaches from scammers and the like are quickly blocked and seldom happen.

Having a large network is an invaluable asset. Even if you feel you do not need it now, it will prove useful in the future. Start now, it takes time to build up a network. Be prepared, be active and stay in touch.

Develop your profile. Join industry groups and interest groups. Share your opinion and publish your work. Promote your abilities. Build your network and reap the rewards.

10/03/2015

What comes up when you type your name in Google?
Where do you rank?

In this digital age, crowded with social media, you really need to own the first page of Google. When someone Googles you, all the results on the first page should be pointing to you. In a good way, that is.
People are Googling each other all the time, for a whole host of reasons. Potential business partner will check you out online. Head-hunters and potential employers will Google you before they make contact.
So how do you go about, what can you do?
There are many things you can do, here are a few of them...
Own your domain. If it’s still available, snap it up. Make it your home page. Get an email address at the domain.
Sign up on online networks, such as Flickr, Google+ and LinkedIn. A complete and well written LinkedIn profile with relevant keywords will rank higher in search results than one with less information.
Be Consistent. Keep your information the same across the networking sites.
Use your name. Tag yourself, mention your name in your posts, comments, submissions and shared documents.
Keep it relevant. Update your information regularly, make sure that it showcases you professionally.
Google yourself often. Just be sure to sign out of Google first, to get a better result.
Be patient. It takes time to develop a strong online presence.

02/03/2015

Job Search Tips
Looking for a new job? So you have sent out tons of emails and job applications. How do you get noticed and stand out from the crowd? How can you maximise your chances of getting a response ?
Take the time and trouble to showcase yourself properly. It is hard enough to get noticed, so really it’s worth the effort. You need to market yourself.
Perhaps these tips will help.
Firstly you need a good CV. One that reflects your skills and experiences properly. A full CV, not a half thrown together summary that expects the reader to have some kind of second sight. Leave out the tables and fancy text. Plain, simple and to the point is best. Nothing spells lacklustre more than a half completed CV with spelling mistakes, poor formatting, and loads of grammatical errors. Make it easy for the reader to identify the important stuff.
Secondly, make sure your Linkedin profile is up to date and complete. Let it also reflect your skills and experiences properly. This will work behind the scenes, head-hunters are continually scanning Linkedin for new talent. Make connections, join groups, ask for recommendations. You should be constantly tweaking it.
When you reply to an advert, write a new cover letter for each application. Don’t use the same, bland generic one for all your applications. Keep it short, simple and use the job description as a pointer and highlight your skills accordingly. Follow the instructions in the advert.
Make it your job to find a job. It may take time, but the process will go nowhere unless you drive it. Check job boards, create job alerts and connect with people who are recruiting in your area of experience. Send your CV to companies who may need your skills and expertise.
Be pushy, follow up, and ask for timelines. Don’t be scared to find out what’s happened to your application. In fact, it’s positive and shows that you are taking the initiative, and that you are proactive.
Don’t let a regretted application get you down . It is difficult to stay positive when you hear nothing, or receive a regret email. Try to treat each new application as if it was your first one.
Stay positive, and best of luck in your search.

27/02/2015

Skype Interview Pointers
Skype interview? These are becoming increasingly more used as an international recruiting tool. They are quick to set up, much cheaper than flying a candidate vast distances and retain many of the attributes of a face-to-face discussion.
Try these tips so that you put your best “face” forward:
Set-up. Unless you use Skype regularly, download and test the Skype program a few days beforehand. If you are pressed for time, do it as early as you possibly can. Linux: Skype is still a little experiential on Linux platforms, so try use one of “Big Two” platforms instead - Windows or Mac.
Username and Profile Picture. Your Skype username is important. Ensure it does not have any weird or inappropriate connotations. Create a new, suitable Skype account if necessary. Use a flattering picture, as opposed to an avatar or a dirty coffee cup. Your picture must present a professional image.
Lighting. Play Movie Director and set the lighting to best show off your face and upper body. Be careful about making the light too harsh and bright.
Sound. Like any production, Sound is as important as Picture. Try to use earphones with an attached microphone rather than rely on the on-board speaker and microphone. This will improve your sound quality immensely .
Action. Test that all your equipment works as expected. Skype call a friend and find out how you sound, look and come across. Ask them about sound and picture quality.
Background. Check your background. Ensure it is as neutral as possible with no pictures or furniture that will distract from you or message. Untidy stuff lying around and in view is not a good indicator of your professionalism.
Internet Speed. Do what you can to optimise your internet speed. Shut down all other programs on your computer and ensure there are no other internet connections running in the background. Skype is quite bandwidth heavy, so ensure you have as much bandwidth available as you can for a smooth interview.
Do your homework. A Skype interview is like a face-to-face interview and requires the same preparation. Research the company and the interviewer on the web, LinkedIn and FaceBook. Read and understand the job description. Prepare questions as well as points about your achievements and strengths. Draft answers as to why you would want to work for the company and what value you could add.
Avoid interruptions. Close the door and ensure that no-one disturbs the interview. Close down the email client and any other other programs that may pop up with notifications and sounds during the call. Put all phones on Silent.
Dress the part. This is an interview, so dress accordingly. Not only does it give the right impression, it will also help to put you in right frame of mind. Even though only your upper body will be visible to the interviewer most of the time, avoid wearing a business suit with track-suit pants or pyjama bottoms. You may well have to stand up to fetch something and the image of you wearing a business jacket with polka-dot trunks would detract from your credibility somewhat.
Plug your computer into a power source. The last thing you need is for your computer to die halfway through the interview.
Focus. Look the camera in the eye and not at the image on the screen. Be attentive. Lean forward, listen, and be enthusiastic.
Time Lag. Often, there is an unavoidable time lag during a Skype call. This is best dealt with by waiting for the other party to completely finish before you talk.
Relax. Smile. Do not be too anxious. Remember this is also your chance to find out more about the company as well as they find out about you.
What’s next? At the end of the interview, ask what the process will be going forward. Ask them when and how you will get feedback. Remember to thank them for their time.
Make notes. Take a few minutes directly after terminating the Skype call to put your thoughts on paper. It is an invaluable tool to clear your thinking and will be useful as you progress to the next stage.
With all these things in place you will be able to focus on the call, put your best face forward and have a confident, professional interview. Good Luck!

26/02/2015

Telephone Interviews
Telephone interviews are happening more and more, and are often used to screen candidates in order to narrow the pool before a face-to-face interview, especially if distance and/or time are factors. Remember your goal with a telephonic interview is to get to the next stage.
Prepare in Advance. A telephonic interview can take place at short notice and there are a number of things you can do before hand to prepare yourself - so that you can be ready at short notice.
Have a hard copy of your CV readily available.
Think about possible questions, your accomplishments and achievements, your strengths and weaknesses, major projects, etc., so that when asked you have an idea of what you will say. Run through scenarios where you have dealt with difficult situations.
Review your LinkedIn profile. The caller will most probably have a look at it before the call.
Prepare a list of questions that you can ask. Some of these are generic and can be prepared in advance. These questions could include:
The company culture?
What is the best thing about working for the company?
How will your performance be evaluated?
What opportunities exist for personal development?
What is the time frame with regards to the recruitment process. For example, when can you expect to hear back?
Do your research. Google the company. Look at the LinkedIn profile of the person who will be conducting the interview. Read the job spec. Make notes and think of questions pertaining to these, especially those starting with something like, “I noticed on your company website that...” or “I see in the job description that...”. This will show that you have done your homework.
Choose and prepare the location carefully. Location is very important. You want to be able to focus completely on the interview.
The best place may be at home, or if you are in a busy office and unable to get away, in your car.
No distractions. Keep the dog and children out of the room. Turn off your cell phone. Turn down the sound on your computer.
Use a landline if possible. If you are on your cell phone, consider using earphones.
Keep a glass of water nearby.
Open the company webpage on your computer.
Have your CV nearby.
Do not smoke or chew gum.
Listen, and Speak Clearly. Answer the phone promptly, with your name. Try to relax. Make sure you understand any questions asked. It is okay to take your time to consider your answer. Enunciate your words. Give clear, concise answers. Keep to the point, and do not waffle. Ask questions. Show you are interested. Take notes for later revision.
Do not bad mouth your current or previous employers. This reflects badly, and may backfire on you. It also shows a lack of initiative, and an inability to solve problems.
Salary expectations. Do not bring this up. It will be addressed at an appropriate time. However, if asked about your salary, there are a few things to bear in mind.
Do not inflate your current salary. You could well be asked for relevant documentation.
When asked what you are expecting, say you are flexible and give a range, rather than an exact figure. This allows for negotiation later.
Say “Thank You”. At the end of the interview, make sure to thank the caller, use their name and ask what will happen next in the process.
Be professional throughout the call, remain upbeat and interested. Project yourself positively. And a telephonic interview means that you are one step closer.

25/02/2015

How to increase your chances when sending off job applications
Okay, so you have found a job that looks interesting, that is worth a further look. Armed with a killer CV, how do you now go about maximizing your chances, to progress to the next stage?
With over 20 years in recruitment, receiving and reviewing countless applications, I have drawn up a list of “do’s” and “don’ts” that will give you the edge, so that you will stand out from the crowd.
Do
Do include a cover letter. It serves as your introduction. It is your chance to make a good impression, make the most of it. Your cover letter should be professional, concise and to the point. Also, use the same font as you have used in your CV.
Do address it to the right person. If you do not know who that is, use a phrase such as ‘Dear Recruiter’ or ‘Dear Hiring Team’.
Do include the job title and/or reference number in the subject line. Recruiters work on a number of jobs and receive many emails every day. A reference number or job title on your application helps prevent it from falling through the cracks.
Do highlight your skills and/or experience. This is your opportunity to showcase your achievements relative to the role. It strengthens your application.
Do research the organisation. Make sure you understand the job and requirements then target your cover letter for each application.
Do use the email body as your covering letter. Sadly, a busy recruiter may not open your cover letter if it is sent as an attachment.
Do follow the instructions in the job advert. If asked to give an explanation of why the company would employ you, make sure you do. If you found the advert on Linkedin and it requests you to email your CV, do not respond with ‘Please look at my profile’. This may well be a test and will show you up in a bad light if you can’t follow simple instructions.
Do apply only for jobs that match your skills and experience. It is unlikely that you will get a job if you do not have the required skill set and/or experience, even if you are looking for a change of career.
Ask for the interview. Do this in the closing paragraph, and do not forget to include your contact details.
Proof read your letter. Print it out and get someone else to read it. Take care when writing the letter. It is the first thing the recruiter will see. Make a good impression.
Don’t
Don’t use the same cover letter for each application. Chances are if you do, your letter will not hit the mark and leave the reader bored and uninspired.
Don’t address the cover letter to the wrong person (or forget to change the name from one application to another). If you do, you give the impression that you don’t care.
Don’t use the same email to apply for more than one job. Nobody wants to see their name with a long list of others in the To or CC line.
Don’t make spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. After all, where is your attention to detail?
Don’t use meaningless phrases or inane clichés. Everyone assumes that you are ‘hardworking’ and ‘loyal’ anyway. Don’t waffle.
Don’t apply for a job that does not match your skills and profile. I cannot emphasize this enough. Even if you are desperate, it will not make a good impression. Recruiters are focused on filling a particular role, if you really want to work for a company, find another way to approach the right person in the organisation.
Don’t include your salary. Unless asked to, that is. Rest assured this will be addressed at a later date.
Don’t be too formal. Allow your personality to shine through.
Don’t just repeat what is in your CV. Use the opportunity to match yourself to the specific job requirements.
Don’t assume that you will hear back on every application you send. You can maximize your chances though, by following the do’s above.
Finding a new job is challenging and requires commitment. It will happen for you. Good luck!

CV's for Africa

27/10/2016

28/03/2016

17/06/2015

14/06/2015

10/03/2015

02/03/2015

27/02/2015

26/02/2015

25/02/2015

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