Filipino News 169 - Eleksyon 2023

Transform your CV into a job-offer magnet
By Ricky Matthew
One of the most significant
challenges that
migrants face in New
Zealand is the need to
adapt to the local job market.
While skills and experience
gained in and out of
NZ can be valuable, they
may not always translate
directly into landing the
job.
This is where a wellcrafted
CV can be a valuable
tool in helping existing
migrants to showcase their
skills and experience in a
way that is relevant to local
employers.
Trina Jones, co-founder
and director of Cultivate
Recruitment, has 25+
years of experience in the
recruitment industry.
Trina discusses the dos and
don’ts for creating a standout
CV.
What are some of the
biggest mistakes when
writing a CV?
A common red flag is
when people don’t
spellcheck their resume.
Seems obvious, so don’t
make the mistake when
technology is at the click of
a button to help you.
A CV littered with
ISSUE 169 ELEKSYON | www.migrantnews.nz | email: migrantnews@xtra.co.nz | www.filipinonews.nz | Facebook: Migrant News 11
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spelling mistakes, poor
grammar and not proofread
is not a great look and
we've seen a number
of them.
It’s the most
important document
you put in front of a
prospective employer
or recruitment
company, so make
sure it flows, reads
well and is well presented
and formatted.
Are spelling mistakes
a big turn-off
for potential employers?
Yes. It shows a lack of
care and attention when
it’s a critical document
that you are presenting as
part of the job application
process. It may suggest
that the lack of care and
attention in your resume
could also be how you
behave at work.
There is just no excuse,
when technology is available
to use.
We are not all great
spellers or amazing with
grammar, so seek out some
help by getting some feedback
from someone else
who can help with proofread
it for you.
Trina Jones,
Cultivate
Recruitment
Does it stop an employer
from bringing you in for
an interview?
Absolutely, it could work
against you. It’s the difference
between your application
being considered or
being redirected.
Often when we are
reviewing a CV you can see
the promise and potential
in someone’s background.
If they’ve got a compelling
background, then they
may be lucky enough to get
feedback. However, not
every employer or recruitment
agency has the time
to go through that exercise
with every candidate.
If you look at the
average time
spent reviewing
each CV, particularly if
applicant volumes are
high, it can average 7-10
seconds or less.
You can imagine that if
it’s not compelling or it is
littered with mistakes, then
you will move on to a CV
that has better promise,
has been presented well,
has good relevance and is
suitable for what you need
based on the job brief.
What are some top tips
for enhancing your CV?
If you’re putting a CV
together, make sure it has a
good framework with the
below information as key
headings:
• Personal details (full
name/email/contact number)
• Career or Professional
Summary
• Skills
• Work Experience
•Qualifications/Education
• Interests
A few reminders: Iif you
are going to include a
photo or a personal email
address, make sure that
they’re both professional
and suitable for a CV, not a
photo that might be best
suited to your social media.
Ensure your work experience
goes backwards
from recent to old, your
recent experience is most
relevant, and be sure to
include your key responsibilities
alongside any
achievements or accomplishments
e.g. awards,
promotions, results …
Just remember not to go
overboard with content so
it reads likeas a novel; it’s
important
that a CV is
easy to
digest and
read, but
also isn’t too
short, vague
or presents more questions
than answers.
So think about getting
the balance right and consider
which areas in your
CV could be summarised,
such as responsibilities,
roles and experience that
date back some years.
Kiwis can be very modest,
but it is important to
showcase yourself in the
very best light to ensure
that your application creates
a compelling reason
for you to be called up.
If your CV is being
reviewed alongside others,
and you are up against
compelling backgrounds,
what you have achieved
can set you apart and can
shine a great light on what
you can bring to the table.
Need more help? Check
out our blog on looking for
a new role for some helpful
insights.
https://www.cultivate.co.
nz/post/guidance-whenlooking-for-a-new-role