Getting your foot in the door, in a competitive market....

I have heard from a number of graduates, and exceptional talent out there right now trying to get a foot in the door.. or even those looking to get careers back on track. It's very competitive out there..

I wanted to post a few pointers from my experience, that may well aid you in your search or give you some fresh perspective;

Some CV tips: The first part, and most important

1. Always check your spelling and grammar.
2. Have some structure to your CV - allowing for: education & training, key skills & strengths, and clearly dated employment history (if applicable).
3. Create a short paragraph or 'personal profile' at the start of the CV – this is your opportunity to introduce yourself, summarise your strengths, and outline what you are seeking in your career or next employment.
4. Avoid too much clutter; that includes too many corporate logos, photos, or other images – worst case scenario; your CV may be rejected by portals, fall into the spam filter, or turn a reader off that is looking for more specific content.
5. If you have a useful portfolio of work or university projects - perhaps create a cloud link, a website, or a separate attachment as part of your application.
6. If you do have relevant employment – list duties as 4-5 bullet points maximum, and list any key achievements you may have. I usually advise to list these as; facts, monetary figures, percentages, any optimisations, or cost savings.
7. Break down your degree modules on your CV: Degree courses and curriculum consistently change. Sometimes subjects are combined, or have crossover with other topics, particularly across Engineering, Construction, Design, and IT. Noting in detail areas of study can also highlight skills to any potential employer, they may want to learn more from you, look to invest in new technology or software you have listed.
8. Point out what you enjoy, and are good at: If you enjoy something, you are more likely to target it - outline this as a key strength on your CV. Show examples where possible; including listing any relevant projects you have had active involvement with
9. Ideal CV length - 2 to 3 pages maximum. This is not an exact science, as long as it's relevant and interesting.

Make your applications targeted: follow your passion - where do you want your career to go?

1. Never lose track of where you want to be, and try to focus on applying to areas of interest. Not a good idea to hit 'apply all' and hope for the best!
2. Track your applications, and in most cases why not attempt a follow up? , this could be a polite phone call, or short email if that fails. Be aware - some do have specific deadlines for applications, and entry level vacancies can attract hundreds of CV's!
3. Be more pro-active - research and look up the top 10 x leading businesses in your area of interest - find out what they are doing, track key projects, and note any challenges.
4. Utilise LinkedIn and connect to people that work in your area of interest - ask about where they work, and find out what makes them stay in their company & profession? share contacts and mutual interests.
5. Take in constructive feedback from applications and interviews, use every opportunity as the chance to learn, and make some slight tweaks - you will get there!
6. As mentioned already – opening statements, and cover letters can be very useful to explain where you want to go, and attract the target opportunity / career - equally they can help to move you away from less desirable areas.

Be yourself....

Any good employer knows that it’s important to continually invest and bring in new talent, graduates come with enthusiasm, and fresh ideas.

Why should they invest in you? – show them who you are, be confident, do your research, be open minded to ideas and opportunities (including fixed-term or contract work), and its important to maintain a good level of professionalism at all times.