There is a big difference between spoken and written English. While you can speak without paying much attention to grammar and spelling rules, it is not the same with writing.
When writing you are conveying your thoughts to the reader via blocks of texts. Therefore, you must observe all writing rules so your reader can understand the message you are trying to pass across. The purpose of a CV is to grab the attention of employers telling them “Hey, I am the one you are looking for. Hire me!”
To avoid making numerous writing blunders on your CV, read this carefully.
What makes up a good sentence?
Always start a sentence with a capital letter
Do not write in all caps for large amounts of text. It’s distracting, hard to read and it looks like you’re shouting at people!
End a sentence with a punctuation mark Eg. A full stop (.) or an exclamation mark (!) or a question mark (?)
Use a comma before any conjunction that links two independent clauses. e.g and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.
Use a comma after a word or sentence that cannot stand on its own
Maintain finger spaces between each word. No too much white space
Start with action verbs like “Delivered,” “Achieved,” “Produced,” etc.
Keep sentences short
Use bullet points for achievements so they are noticed.
Break down information into bits rather than having large blocks of text.
Maintain the use of plain English. Do not use ambiguous words
Don’t rely only on spellcheckers, read through your CV.
Dos and Don’ts
Do write a personal profile, career summary or objective
Do get your tenses right. If you are employed write the responsibilities and accomplishments in your current job in the present tense. E.g. Delivering, Handling. If you are writing about a past job, use past tense. E.g. Delivered, Handled.
Do show the most important achievement first, starting with the quantifiable accomplishment. For example, “Increased sales revenue by 60% .”
Don’t use humor, slangs, or profanity on your CV. No matter how ‘casual’ the potential company’s culture is, your CV must portray professionalism.
What is your unique selling point? What skills do you possess that make you really stand out?
Everyone has unique set of skills and talents, and that is what makes each one of us special. There is always that thing/things you are renowned for. It could be that you are great at marketing and writing proposals, or good with numbers and no one can balance a budget like you can , or you are great at resolving conflicts. Whichever one it is, there is surely something there. You might think it is not a skill because it is easy, but actually there are many people who cannot do it as well as you do. Finding your strengths and actively using them is key to succeeding in any career.
Yet to figure out what skills set you apart? Here are 2 steps to guide you:
Make a list of skills
The first step is to identify all the skills you have. Grab a paper and pen and write down all the skills you think you have. It is important that you take your time while doing this. Make sure your list is complete.
When you are done, go over the list again to check if there are any skills you omitted.
Narrow down your strongest skills
What comes naturally to you? Which of the skills you have written down makes you feel strong? Take a look back to past jobs or responsibilities carried out, more especially your performance reviews. Recall the times when you felt invigorated, inquisitive, and successful at something, these moments are clues to what your strengths really are. Figure out what part of your job you look forward to the most. Concentrate on coming up with at least three skills you consider your strongest.
You love to do what you’re good at, and you will be better when you keep practicing. After you are done identifying your strongest skills, the next step is to start enhancing those core skills, engaging your strengths, and continue discovering what you’re truly passionate about in your career.
Emotional, physical and mental wellness are all important for employees to succeed in the workplace but how about financial wellness?
Money problems have been noted to be a major cause of stress and this can affect the productivity of your staff. Many of them are nervous about their financial future and don’t know where to learn how to manage finances or find available options. When they are deep in debt and money isn’t coming in as expected, it may take a toll on their health and thus affect focus on work. Therefore, financial education is very important.
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