As per research, on average the hiring managers look at one CV not more than 6 seconds – at most. Ouch. That sounds a bit harsh, doesn’t it?
We spend days, weeks, or even months to come up with the picture-perfect resume that clearly represents us – with whistles and bells and all. And what do these merciless hiring managers do?
They just take a quick look for a few seconds (only if you are lucky enough), and move on to the next one. Sounds unfair right? Imagine your inch-perfect CV being ignored and judged so harshly. Oh, the rage!
What do these recruiters even expect from us? How to capture their attention in a matter of few seconds? If you think the same, count your blessings because we are here with an answer.
To give you a heads-up, the solution might be a little time-consuming and there are no shortcuts. Ready?
The answer is to balance your online presence with your CV.
So grease up your elbows and grab your reading glasses to make sure even the tiniest bit of detail is polished up to perfection. Once you do that, trust us, the results are going to be worth it!
So, let us uncover the mysteries of balancing your online presence with your CV, right now!
Calling Out Job Seekers: Balance Online Presence With Your CV
List Your Skillset, Not Just Your Task List
Prior to diving head-first into the process of updating your CV, we suggest you take some time to reflect on yourself. Ask yourself questions like do you possess any transferable skills? What soft skills have you acquired throughout your career journey? You are bound to have some skills, whether soft (empathy, communication, etc.) or technical (critical thinking, project management, etc.), preferably both, that will suit any role.
Moreover, look for the required skills in the job description and highlight those skills in your resume. If you don’t know how to write one for yourself, then worry not. Instead, you can always rely on any online experts in CV writing chch to get your hands on an application written by an industry expert. Easy, no?
Avoid Industry Jargon
In your resume’s experience section, when you are listing your previous roles and the responsibilities you had back in the day, there is one thing to bear in mind. Hmm! What can that be? Well, we are here to tell you all about it. News Flash – Steer clear of any industry-specific jargon! Yes, that is correct!
Do not highlight anything that might limit the way your hiring manager perceives your capabilities. As a replacement for the jargon, it is best to highlight your underlying competence and skills for every position. So, by rephrasing your responsibilities a bit, you can make your potential recruiters determine the value you will bring to their industry. Awesome!
Build Your Connections
Do you know that your online presence can add more to your CV? So, where to start your online journey? That is right! The answer is none other than LinkedIn – The perfect platform for every professional in the world. This platform can be used as a sturdy tool to help you stay in touch with your contacts. Attend workshops, conferences, as well as different online courses. These events can lead you to mind-blowing opportunities to start conversations with many people in your field.
We suggest you set up your LinkedIn profile right now, and don’t forget to connect with new people right after you attend any event. Having a significant number of connections surely adds more to your credibility and helps you balance your online presence. So, fight your inner introvert and don’t shy away from connecting with people you have met before. And, send connect requests to the ones you have not met before too.
Shows That You’re In It For A Long Period Of Time:
Your current skills will attract your hiring managers, but some factors will make them bounce off the walls as soon as they read your CV. Oh, really? What is that? Spoiler Alert – it is your long-term contribution and your potential for growth. Now, that makes sense!
For recruiters, it is more favourable to hire good employees, as compared to retaining and training new staff. Well, that can be hectic. This is why they want to make sure that you are going in it for the long run. Since career change is driven by a desire for professional and personal growth, it makes the perfect opportunity to showcase your passion for the future.
In your resume, highlight your long-term as well as short-term goals, your effort in developing your skills, and your willingness to give time to your new career field. If you expect your potential hiring manager to invest their resources, energy, and time in you, make sure to show them that you also plan to invest in them. Perfect!
Stand Out With Personal Branding:
If you are planning to change your career, then one thing becomes critical – Personal Branding. Duh! So, invest time in writing an elevator pitch to capture your second-to-none value. Use this pitch as an introduction in your resume to grab the attention of your hiring managers. Answer questions like: how will you provide value? What sets you apart and what are your goals for the future?
Boost your online presence by setting up your LinkedIn profile, creating a professional portfolio or web page, engaging in industry discussions, and much more. By tailoring a sturdy personal brand, we assure you that you will grab the focus of many potential employers by setting yourself apart from the crowd.
Separate The Personal From The Professional:
Many people would agree that it is a fantastic idea to draw a fine line between your professional and your personal life and keep them separated. Never, we repeat, NEVER even think about posting about your personal life on your professional account. If you want to add bits of your personal life on social media, then create another account for yourself, but do not blend your personal life with your professional life.
Do you have no idea about what to write in your LinkedIn profile? Well, worry not because we are here with a magic bullet to solve this issue. Really? Yes, definitely! Hire any online LinkedIn profile writing service and let these experts do your work on your behalf. How convincing!
Tell Potential Employers Why:
Use your CV to articulate clearly why you are motivated about the new industry as well as the new role. You will stand out from the crowd by showcasing your passion and focusing on your genuine enthusiasm to transition into a different field.
By doing so, you will ensure that your hiring managers know that you will be an asset to their company because of your passion, commitment, and diligence. It will no doubt be a win-win situation.
Unlike when people used to focus on the candidate’s skills and talents, the recruiters of this modern day and age focus on the candidate’s passion. Because industry knowledge and technical skills can be learned with time, finding genuine passion is innate and quite rare. This is why, this attribute is highly sought after by hiring managers.
What does New Zealand use – a resume or a CV?
In the New Zealand market, the terms “resume” and “CV” both are used reciprocally. Both of these terms mean the same things. So, if your hiring manager asks for your CV, he clearly means your resume, and vice versa.
Should I put my picture on my resume NZ?
Putting a picture on your CV might distract you’re your recruiter from your actual experience and skills. In most cases, it shines light on your appearance as opposed to your accomplishments. We don’t want that, do we?
Summing It All Up
We are sure that now you know how to catch your hiring manager’s eye within a few seconds. If your name is familiar to your potential recruiter (via your online presence), they might spend a few more seconds reading your application a bit more attentively. So, feel confident that you now know how to manage your online presence with your resume. So, start right now and boldly take the next step in your career journey.
