Job seeker advice

Job seeker advice

Mark Smith:
Alright, let's move on. We've got this fantastic snippet of information about seeking a job in Melbourne from last week's webinar. If you're interested in watching the whole webinar, you can find the link in the comments.

Cathy:
Thank you, Liz. My name is Cathy Darbyshire, and I'm a permanent recruitment consultant specializing in business support, property sales, and customer service. Today, I'll be talking about updating your CV in 2022, covering what to include and some useful tips.

Mark Smith:
Great, Kathy. So, what is a CV?

Cathy:
A CV, or curriculum vitae, is Latin for "course of life." It's a detailed document summarizing your career history, qualifications, education, and skills. It's an opportunity to showcase what you can offer an employer and influence them to interview you.

Mark Smith:
Interesting. And what about the cover letter?

Cathy:
A cover letter is submitted with your CV to strengthen your application, expressing enthusiasm about working for an organization. It's important to emphasize your achievements and why you're the right candidate for the role.

Mark Smith:
So, what should be on the first page of your CV?

Cathy:
On the first page, include your full name, contact details, including suburbs, and a link to your LinkedIn profile. Add a professional summary introducing yourself and a career summary with bullet points outlining your positions, companies, and dates.

Mark Smith:
Got it. And what about page two?

Cathy:
On page two, detail your work experience, including key responsibilities and achievements. Add education, qualifications, skills relevant to the position, and referees. If you're uncomfortable listing referees, you can write "referees available on request."

Mark Smith:
Any additional sections to include on the CV?

Cathy:
You can add internships, apprenticeships, endorsements, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. For those in marketing or digital, consider adding a link to your portfolio.

Mark Smith:
Great tips, Kathy. Now, let's talk about tailoring the CV.

Cathy:
Use keywords and phrases relevant to the role. If applying for multiple positions, create different versions of your CV highlighting specific skills for each role.

Mark Smith:
And what about formatting?

Cathy:
Use an easy-to-read font, use bullet points, and include headings. List work and education history in reverse chronological order. Keep it concise, and if you choose to include a photo, make it professional.

Mark Smith:
Good advice. How about using keywords?

Cathy:
Keywords are crucial for recruiters searching databases. Include skills, industry terms, software programs, and even languages spoken. Tailor keywords to duties you've handled, especially niche responsibilities.

Mark Smith:
And any tips for listing temporary roles?

Cathy:
Mark temporary roles clearly. Use a heading like "Temporary Roles" and list organizations and dates underneath. Specify if the contract was extended and the purpose, like a maternity leave contract.

Mark Smith:
Excellent tips, Kathy. The CV is a powerful tool to showcase skills and experience. Anything else you'd like to add?

Cathy:
Just a reminder to put your best foot forward. Recruiters or hiring managers might only glance at your CV, so make it stand out.

Mark Smith:
Absolutely. Well, if you're looking for a job in Melbourne, check out our website, look up Melbourne, and get in touch with the team. They might just secure you a role.

Cathy:
One more thing to do today!

Mark Smith:
Right. Thanks, Kathy!

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Season One

Join Mark Smith and the people2people team for our live weekly employment and market update. This week, we take a look at a snippet of our recent Talent Webinar: Finding a job in Victoria, with some job seeker tips. We will also take a look at 3 hot jobs we need to fill urgently in Fill Jobs Friday.

Mark, a qualified Accountant, began his career with Deloitte in the late 1980’s. In 1994, he decided to make a career change to the recruitment industry. During his early recruitment career with two listed recruitment entities, Mark recruited and managed teams in both temporary and permanent disciplines in the Sydney, Brisbane and London markets.

In February 2005, Mark established people2people with Manda Milling and Simon Gressier. Mark is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), a member of the Recruitment & Consulting Services Association (MRCSA) and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).​