Business & Work

Traditional methods for job seeking

The regular CV is still in vogue

Whilst the workplace presents challenges for the over 50s, businesses are now recognising the advantages of employing mature candidates.

Elizabeth Bacchus: The skills-based CV, sometimes referred to as an elevator CV or functional CV has become much more popular in recent years. This format gives candidates an opportunity to really showcase their core skills and illustrate how they can add value to another organisation. It is particularly effective when either changing careers or if you have a career history with numerous gaps.

Age proof

Overcome the assumption of being too old by age-proofing your CV. Incorporate any additional trainings that you have undertaken to show that you are up-to-date with industry standards, and that you are proficient in the latest technology. There is no need to include everything in your CV, secondary school education is not going to be of any interest to prospective employers – but relevant experience is.

Tailor made

Whether you are creating a skills-based or chronological CV, the key is to develop a document that will be impactful and have specific relevance to the role you are applying for. One size does not fit all, so tailoring your CV to each application will ensure you increase your chances of being invited to interviews.

Recruiters are now using keyword search software to identify the most suitable candidates for the roles they are representing. Because of this, it’s important to ensure your CV contains the keywords and phrases relevant to your industry sector and the roles you are targeting. A good way of ensuring this is by reading relevant job advertisements and paying close attention to the terminology used so that your CV is keyword ready.

A speculative approach

Statistics suggest that as many as 70-80% of jobs are never advertised which is why a speculative approach should always be part of your career development campaign. Identifying a target wish-list and undertaking core research on their business will give you an immediate advantage. Don’t just send your CV to HR, research who is the person you want to be reporting to and contact them direct. A non advertised opportunity means that your CV will standalone rather than being lost in a pile of other CV’s.

Whilst it may seem like a minefield out there, businesses have come to recognise the advantages of employing mature candidates, who are considered by many to be more reliable, eager to learn new skills and are valuable mentors - setting high standards for workers of all ages.

If you would like a no obligation Free CV Review to help you in the right direction then click here www.thesuccessfulcv.com/FREE-CV-Review(1982280).htm