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Making the first impression count

The details in your CV can sail or sink your boat
Sure enough there have been times when you have sent your CV to organizations feeling confident that with your credentials you would definitely make it to the interview. But, soon to your dismay, hopes turn to despair when you see months go by and you get no call. Chances are that your CV got lost under the stack of other "ordinary" ones and you lost the opportunity just because your resume wasn't impressive enough!
By now it's quite evident that the CV is the first impression an employer gets of you; in short your first (and probably last ifyou screw it up) chance to advertise yourself.
In case I'm scaring you, writing a CV is not rocket science. Just keep in mind a few things and you're good to go.
l.Tailored objective for every occasion
The objective is basically an attention grabber. If you can pull off a decent objective, the chances of your CV being read further increases. State your aspirations: what you expect to give and get from the workplace. But be sure you tailor it every time you send it to another employer. Remember to mention the sector you're applying for; this gives the impression that you are serious enough about the position and not simply forwarding your CV to every possible company.
2. Personal details should be kept mostly personal True your personal information is necessary, but do not go writing your birthday, parents' name, their occupation etc; after all it's a professional CV to get you a job not a biodata to get you a spouse! Only include your name, phone numbers where you can be reached, home address and email address. However, do remember to have a professional email address; iamdon2010@.... or cutiepie@... is an absolute no-no. It's always best to use your name.
3. A little creativity can do wonders Every employer prefers prior experience in the relevant field, and it's only logical for a fresh graduate
or someone who wants to switch to a different field to have none. Think how you can relate club activities during university, internships or other voluntary jobs with the requirement. I know someone who has been a volunteer in a club recruitment program and mentioned in his CV that he has experiences in recruiting and hiring. However, that doesn't mean you have to lie. Chances are you will be asked questions regarding this in your interview and it won't be long enough before you make a total fool out of yourself. Nonetheless, there is a solution. While you are still waiting to pursue your "dream" job,
engage yourself in clubs and voluntary activities. I, myself have done two internships, and it has only been useful from an experiential point of view.
4. Simplicity is the best policy Making the CV creative does not include playing with colors, font sizes or adding pictures. Keep the CV neat and only put relevant information. Do not fill it with essays of your experiences. Rather keep it short and precise. Use bullet points if needed. Nobody has the time to read never-ending essays. Make proper distinctions between categories and highlight the key
topics. It's always best to use Times New Roman, 12 being the font size (except your name, give that a larger font). As for pictures, a formal passport size photo is sufficient for the purpose; you can save the flashy pictures for Facebook!
5. Let them judge you and not by the cover
We all know we have to beat our own drums in the resume, but try to refrain from using phrases like "I'm hardworking", "I have strong leadership qualities" etc. Let your employer be the judge and see for themselves whether your personality matches your claims. That's what the
probationary period is for! Meanwhile, you can use in your CV to describe skills like language fluency, computer proficiencies, analytical abilities.
6. Not all interests suit our interest By definition, hobbies should include all that interests us. Resume writing, on the other hand, follows a different theory. No matter how much we love sleeping or long drives, it's always wiser to not put this in our CV (unless we apply for the position of a driver). Be calculative about the hobbies you mention. You can write meaningful hobbies like writing, traveling or reading. This gives the impression that you have a life outside your studies/work and at the same time reflects your eagerness to learn and develop important skills.
7. Errors are your biggest enemy Often we ignore slight mistakes that we believe employers won't notice. Apparently, there have been countless events where the employers pointed out mistakes and did not react favorably. There have been instances where "career" is written as "carrier". Do not reply on spell check only. Read your CV thoroughly from top to bottom. If required, ask your friend to do it. Allow them to analyze your CV like they would if they were going to hire you. Also, ask yourself, if you were an employer, would you have considered the CV or throw it away in the nearest bin? Remember you don't get a second chance to make a first impression.
The writer is an officer at the Career Services Office (CSO), BRAC University and is currently pretending to be very busy fixing CVs. Rakshinda Huq