Global employment rates continue to be unpredictable, but one thing is clear. The competition for jobs remains fierce. Job-seekers in struggling economies face desperate competition due to lack of available jobs. Job-seekers in growing or recovering economies face competition from the significant influx of over-seas professionals hoping to find a new job and financial security. On top of this, the increase in access to affordable education, including MBAs, means that having a solid educational background is not enough. The days of having an ok CV and waiting for the interview to impress are well and truly over. Having a first-class CV is crucial and more and more people are seeking the help of a professional CV writer or career to help them get ahead. Here are 4 signs that hiring an expert might be one of the best investments you’ll ever make.
1) You’re not having any success
This one is almost too obvious to point out. If you are sending your CV out again and again with no response, then clearly something isn’t working. It could be you are applying for jobs where your experience simply doesn’t match the criteria of the job description. (If this is the case, stop. You are simply wasting both yours and the employer’s time). However, if you are sending your CV to jobs where your experience does match the criteria and you’re still not getting a response, chances are your CV is simply not strong enough. If this is the case, a CV writing professional or career coach will be able to point out which areas are letting you down and what changes you can make to ensure your CV gets on the interview pile.
2) Writing just isn’t your thing
I recently met a highly accomplished CFO who was clearly great at his job. He just didn’t have a clue how to reflect that on paper. “Numbers I can do with my eyes closed. But writing? My brain just shuts down.” If writing is not your strong point, or you are not sure if you are expressing your talents in a professional and persuasive manner, then a CV-writing expert will help you build a CV that truly reflects the value you will add.
3) You haven’t written a CV in years – or ever!
A dear client of mine was recruited through a family friend to help him start up a company in Abu Dhabi. That was over 25 years ago. Although he is the Head of HR for over 1000 employees, and gets involved in recruitment at a senior level, he had never written a CV when we first met – and didn’t know where to start. Another client had been out of work for several years and was worried it would be seen as negative. If you have never been professionally taught how to write a CV, or haven’t updated your CV in the last few years, then investing in the services of a professional CV writer or career coach is a good way to get you back in the game. They will be able to educate you on current CV trends, how to structure your CV and how to market yourself in the best possible way.
4) You’re not good at writing about how great you are
I recently ran a workshop on CV writing and interview techniques for a company that was making redundancies. They wanted to make sure their employees entered the market with the best chance of securing another job as quickly as possible. The group consisted of some amazingly talented individuals who all had one thing in common. They were all exceptionally humble. A wonderful quality to have – except when it comes to CV writing. When I asked them about their achievements, it was like I had just asked them to explain Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. Silence. If like these individuals you are not comfortable talking about yourself let alone writing about it, a CV writer or career coach will be able to identify your achievements and help you bring them out on paper.
Professional CV writing is not for everyone. Some people have success on their own. However, if you know you are qualified to do the role but struggling to get interviews, or you want to learn how to market yourself better on paper, then employing the services of a CV-writing expert could be an essential investment to give your job search a new lease of life.
For further information about how professional CV writing or career coaching can help you, please contact me at zeta@zetayarwood.com for more details.
Cheers!
Zeta
About the Author
Zeta Yarwood is recognised as a leading Career Coach and NLP Life Coach in Dubai, helping individuals across the world to achieve success in all areas of their lives. With a degree in Psychology and over 10 years’ experience in coaching, management and recruitment – working for multinational companies and award-winning recruitment firms – Zeta is an expert in unlocking human potential. Passionate about helping people discover their strengths, talents and motivation, Zeta lives to inspire others to dream big and create the life and career they really want.
For further information and inspiration, please visit www.zetayarwood.com or follow on Twitter @zetayarwood, Linkedin or Facebook
