The ABCD of your Resume (Curriculum Vitae)

Fostine Opiyo Odhiambo – Kenya

Job seekers are enthusiasts to land into interview rooms virtually or physically. For the past year amidst of Corona pandemic, I have been volunteering to help review and revamp CVs as a way of giving back to the lovely jobseekers. I noticed some challenges with the CVs. I wish to address key areas and recommendations that can help you towards your next employment opportunity:

• Job seekers should include their achievements in the CVs. Most job seekers concentrated much on education background and list of their previous roles that seems to be directly opposite to employers’ expectations. The employers are mostly interested in how you performed those roles, what you achieved and how you can transfer such experiences into their organization to fit their needs.
• Understanding the reasons behind the advertised job. Job seekers should take their time to go through the job advert. Most People hurry in applying for the position advertised if they meet the minimum academic qualification. The bigger question! Do employers look into minimum qualification only? Go through the advert contents, research about the organization even before your share your CV. I always recommend that if you meet at least 70% of the advert Contents you can apply. This will increase your chances to land into the next level. Once you get a chance, sell yourself accordingly. Your CV markets you as a product. The advantage is that you are a product that can express itself and you understand yourself better.
• Paying attention to the CV contents/Information. I took my time to call some referees just to inquire about the competencies for some of the job seekers as was indicated in the CVs. some responses were shocking. Kindly be honest when sharing CV information. Include referees that can honestly talk about your relevancy towards the job you are seeking. Ensure contacts information are accurate. Whatever you reflect in your CV should be the real you.
• Treating your CVs gaps professionally.  Being honest when explaining your CV gap is very essential. I recommend that as a job seeker always find something to do. Do not sit and wait for the next opportunity. Start something. Hustle out! This still accumulates to experience.
• Becoming an employee after attempting self-employment. Resigning from your job to start a business is the boldest step though it may be challenging. If you decide to be self-employed, go for it. I noticed that some of the potential candidates had previously branded themselves as CEOs in their businesses that did not work as per their expectations. They wish to come back to employment but are sceptical. Be bold come back and start from somewhere. The additional advantage you are bringing home is your experience both as an employer and as employee. Revamp your CV. Be honest and brand yourself in style. You are better than many people who had ideas but failed to try to create employment for themselves and others.
• Enhancing Resume (CV) moderation. Some CV displays excess confidence that may confuse potential employers. You will hear statements like ‘is the CV before us belongs to you?’ or ‘was it done by a professional CV writer?’ To enable you handle such questions, seek the services of professional HR practitioners to walk with you through the job seeking process by arranging the mock interviews to avoid such embarrassments that may psychologically affect your interview performance and future job search. Seeking the services of a professional HR practitioner can help in moderating your CV to reflect the real you. Your CV should reflect the real you not your wishes.

The ABCD of your CV

1. Achievements: – This includes honest, verifiable and well-articulated achievements in your CV.
2. Be brief and direct to the point on the roles you are sure you can perform well. This is your key areas of expertise.
3. Clarify your skills abilities and knowledge
4. Demonstrate who you are through your CV by positioning yourself as the best of them all. This should include academic and professional qualifications, experiences/ work history and competencies. You need to create a feeling about you. That potential employer needs to feel you through your CV. Entice his/her mind to invite you to the next step. This is only possible through a well-written resume aligned to the advertised job. Your first impression is on that CV. Give it your best!

About the Author

Fostine Opiyo Odhiambo is the Founder of Jo Africa and an Independent HR Consultant. He has written a number of articles and immensely contributed to many professional writings globally. He has a wealth of experience in various family-owned businesses, industries, and projects in the hospitality, communications, manufacturing, production, merchandising, Maritime, Casinos, Entertainments, Education, Agribusiness, and Healthcare sectors as well as community-based projects within East Africa. Working with people is his passion. He advocates for Honest Human Resource Practices and Africanization of Human Resources practices. He developed AKOBRA Model as a fit between an employer and its employees. He is a member of IHRM – The professional body of HR Practitioners in Kenya. He sits on various Development Boards within Kenya. You can reach him through fostineodhiambo@gmail.com