Why You Don’t Attract Job Interview Calls: How to Prepare Worthy CV

Why You Don’t Get Job Interview Calls: How to Prepare a Worthy CV…

The reason some of you may not be getting interview calls is that your CV has not been targeted to meet the exact job roles.

Some of you have been using only one CV to apply for all jobs that catch your interest. Or all the jobs you are qualified for. You’ll 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 get called.

An International HR based in Canada has explained why job seekers do not get calls when a job is available. She had this to say:

I was guilty of this in the past too. I got to know of a multinational firm recruiting which requested three years post NYSC experience. I had my three years post NYSC in the exact field listed, and the girl was on my doctorate, went to include on my resume that I was ongoing a doctorate, but I was never called for an interview.

Even though I was on my third degree & wanted to brag about it, the job didn’t ask for those who had a PhD or those who were on their doctorate.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞; 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐛𝐨 𝐠𝐛𝐨 𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐕.

If you do this, your CV shouldn’t be four to ten pages. Your CV should reflect how this one job matches your skills and qualification. Truth is, no hiring manager is interested in reading your ten pages epistle. They’ve got hundreds of others to go through. Most times, they may discard yours because you’ve not made an effort to highlight how you fit into this job.

You’ve to understand that every job is different with its specific requirements, job roles and job description and even if two jobs look similar, you should never use one resume to apply for two jobs.

𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞?

Imagine if you want to buy a size 40 female black shoe and a size 10 yellow dress.

Here comes several shops down your street that sell both male and female clothes of all colours and sizes. It’s hard going through each shop to look for your exact colour and size. But here comes this one shop which sells only black shoes and yellow dresses. It becomes very easy to walk in to pick your size. Now, this shop has gone a step further by targeting its market to meet your exact need.

That’s why targeting your resume for all job adverts is very important. Never use a generic resume when applying for a job.

A targeted resume focuses on specific job requirements and skills. A targeted resume is written to highlight the skills and experiences relevant to a particular position.

When sending targeted resumes, your resume will have to be edited or rewritten for each job which you apply for. You should never use one resume to apply for hundred jobs that are because each job is different and comes with its unique requirement.

In essence, you should have a resume for xxx company, another for my company and another for aaa company. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐣𝐨𝐛𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐬.

It’s tough, I know. It’s not easy rewriting your resume hundred times for hundred applications but if you want your resume to be given due attention by any hiring manager, then you must catch their attention, by showing ways in clear terms how you’re a best fit for the exact role they’ve highlighted in the job ad and, you do this by targeting your resume to suit their needs.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞.

1. Prepare your core resume; the “gbogbo ero” kind of resume which everyone has.

Do you know the resume you have been using to apply for all jobs? Yes, that one. Use it as your core resume. On it, include all your degrees, qualifications, training, competencies and every experience that has ever defined your existence or career path.

This is your working model, a resume you will never submit to an employer but a rich well you will draw from time and time again. More or less like a reference point for you.

Here, you can use as many pages as you need.

Save a copy and have another for your targeted resume.

2. The next thing is to create a heading that reflects the position you are seeking.

The first and most obvious place to tailor your resume is right at the top, with your heading and summary statement. Start by including the name of the potential job in a heading immediately underneath your contact information. If the job is a marketing manager. Ensure that you have a heading that spells this out clearly.

3. Read each job posting thoroughly. A job advert should provide valuable information about the company, the job, and the qualifications that the ideal candidate possesses. Ensure to look for specific job requirements in the advert and include them in your resume.

Don’t confuse the job duties and the stated requirements. They are two different parameters.

Deal with the requirements first then see how you can show that your experience experience or education that matches the most important job duties. Ensure to always include keywords of the job ad in your resume.

For example, a job posting for a marketing manager may state that the successful candidate must have good interpersonal relationship skills. Do well to include that as part of your soft skills.

If the job asks for five years of experience and you have more than that, it’s safe to say “over five years” of experience. That way you haven’t told a lie and you haven’t sold yourself short.

If the job isn’t asking for a doctorate as an added advantage, even if you have one, do not include it.

3b. Write a brief description of your duties for each relevant job. Include each relevant job you have held during the past ten years. Beginning with your most recent position, list each company, job title, and dates of employment.

You do not have to include jobs that are not relevant. That’s why it’s a targeted resume.

For instance, if you have taught in a school for six months and you’re applying for the role of a personal assistant, including this kind of work will only clutter your experience section with irrelevant information. So ensure you only mention duties relevant to the job ad.

4. Consider all relevant training. List your formal education – a bachelor’s degree, for example – but don’t forget to consider on-the-job training or certification as well. If any training you have completed is relevant to the potential job, include it. Training irrelevant to the job ad should not be included.

If have completed a leadership training program while employed at a different company, if you are applying for a supervisory position, then this training is relevant.

5. Leave your secondary school and primary school education off your resume. Even if you have no further formal education, including your high school education remains unnecessary.

6. Include your bachelor’s degree regardless of the focus. No matter what job you are applying for, a bachelor’s degree is relevant. It demonstrates a certain level of education, even if the field is far removed from the potential job. Indicate your CGPA if you excelled brilliantly. It’s selling you well.

7. Include all awards and membership affiliations. Do not include affiliations not relevant to the job.

8. Evaluate advanced degrees on a case-by-case basis. Master’s and doctoral degrees should be included 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 when relevant. This was my mistake.

If you are applying for a position as a marketing director and have a doctorate in marketing, include it; if you are applying for a position as a marketing director and have a doctorate in biology, consider leaving it off.

9. Be brief and clear as much as possible. For a second, try and put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes. Would you see your resume and be pleased with it? Objectively, if you didn’t know yourself, would you wanna invite yourself for an interview? If not, then you should work on your resume until you’re satisfied with what you see.

In addition to targeting your resume, you will need to target your cover letter similarly. Again, take the skills that match the job criteria and highlight them. You will need to show the hiring manager that you’re a qualified candidate. You will only have a few seconds to convince him that you should be considered for an interview.

This is why when people ask me to create a targeted resume for them, it’s often very difficult. I could create a generic one for you, but I’d always ask for the job advert to create a targeted resume. A targeted resume and a job advert go hand in hand. It’s the job requirements that build up your target resume.

In summary, resist the urge to save time by sending one generic resume in response to different job postings. You’ll never get a chance.

There’s so much to say and this is just scratching the surface when talking about a targeted resume.

Tailoring a resume to each potential job does take time. It’s a full-time job, but it will pay off in the long run.

Don’t neglect basic copy editing and revision.

Every single resume you send out should be perfect: clean, professional-looking, and free of typographical error.

Omobolanle Adeyemo