CV Rescue part 2

Having discussed an outline for your cv in our blog entry "CV Rescue", we hope that it will be helpful to all those starting out with compiling their CV.

Following this entry, we have blogged an example of what not to do when submitting your CV to an agency or company. It makes sense then to continue along this vein and discuss how to submit the CV you will so carefully have put together.

However professional your CV may look, sound and "feel", it is only one weapon in the arsenal we are helping you to amass in your hunt for the perfect job. A well constructed cv can be likened to a gun at a shooting range- very good at hitting it's target, but useless without bullets. The "bullet" in this instance is the email and just like a bullet has an entry point, gunpowder and the ability to "spread" its active substances, your emailed cv must be well balanced in terms of  it's layout, it's subject line, and its address. Here are the guidelines for sending an effective CV:

Subject Line:
This should be one of these:

Name of vacancy applying to    OR
Reference number of advert applied to   OR
type of position you are looking for

DO NOT forward an email to an agency or company that you have sent to someone else. Likewise do not send an attached email within an attached email within an attached email to anyone. Keep it simple, clean and professional.

Layout:

1. A CVshould always be sent as an attachment. Remember to attach it!
2. Ensure that your attachment is a .doc extension document. In other words, a word document. When you click "save as" to save your CV onto your computer, you will save it under a name in the "save document" window - use your name and surname. Make sure that it reads your name and surname.doc for example, if your name was Jane Peters you would save your CV as Jane Peters.doc that way ensuring that when your CV reaches its destination, it can be opened. We receive many CVs that we simply cannot open, and in this current economic climate there is no guarantee that agencies have the time to respond to an emailed cv to tell the sender "we cannot open your document".
3. Your email should have a brief introductory letter, stating;
1. who you are
2. the position you are applying for
3. special skills that make you the right candidate
4. salary expectations and availability
5. contact details

          This need not be lengthy - as an example, you could say;

Dear  xxxx (Please get the name right!)

I am applying for the position of ..(title and reference number from advert)............. I have a ...
(e.g. IMM Marketing Diploma from institution X).... and ....(e.g. 3 years experience in sales)........  

I would would like to be considered for this position so as to further my career in (e.g. marketing).
My current salary is ....(e.g. RXXX / per month)... and I would be available (e.g. immediately/ at a month's notice)..

I may be reached on .... (e.g. 072000000).... and look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
(name and surname)


Address:
Submit your CV to each recipient separately. We cannot stress this enough. Just as you cannot send a birthday card you received to someone else, so too you cannot submit a cv by email to one agency or company which you have forwarded from a mail you sent someone else. It's called respect.

Coming up: 10 Tips for Perfect CV writing

Happy Job Hunting!