Skills Assessment
The first part of a CV and interview is usually skills assessment, and this is done by most agencies and companies during the interview process. This means taking a look at the CV in detail.
Look at your CV from the employers’ side. Indicate the level you work at and what exactly you do, which will make it easier for people to identify opportunities for you.
When you look at your CV, can you identify the following?
1. Draw or describe your organizational chart, showing your position, who you report into, who reports to you and how you interface on a daily basis with those above and below you.
2. Look at the duties you have listed on your CV. For example, if you are a Personal Assistant (PA) and you only listed arranging travel as your duties, consider giving more detail. Have you made travel arrangements locally and internationally? How often do you make arrangements, and what exactly did you handle? For example, visa’s, hotel reservations, car rentals, itineraries? What specifically did you do? There is a big difference between a PA who arranges weekly or monthly international travel to a PA who makes arrangements once a year.
3. If you have technical skills, this also applies to you. People in a similar industry might understand what exactly you do, but if you are looking outside of your industry, you might not get noticed if you do not specifically showcase what you do. For example, in the mining industry, did you do open pit or underground work? What type of mining did you do and exactly what level did you work on? Never assume people understand what you do.
Cover all the relevant skills that you feel represents your passion and your focus.