LinkedIn users are either job seekers, recruiters, hiring managers, employers, or business owners.

If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile yet, you’re missing out on a lot.

If you need more convincing, here are four more reasons.

1: Most recruiters use LinkedIn to source talent.

According to the Society of Human Resource Management, over 90% of organisations use LinkedIn for finding potential candidates as well as screening those that submitted their CVs for a job opening.

When a recruiter or hiring manager likes what they see on your profile, they can immediately send you an invitation for an interview. You may even receive an invitation even if you haven’t sent in your CV!

2: Find relevant job openings quickly.

LinkedIn matches your work experience, skills, and location to job openings posted by different companies. You can find this in your account’s notification feed.

It will also tell you what you need to develop or further highlight on your profile–and CV–to increase your chances of getting shortlisted by the company.

3: Connect with recruiters and potential employers.

Aside from job openings, LinkedIn will also notify you how many visits your profile received. If you signed up for their Premium membership, it would also show you who visited your profile.

With this information, you can send a message to connect with these potential employers and recruiters and build a relationship. Eventually, you can slowly start pitching yourself to get an invitation to come in for an interview.

You can also join several groups related to the industry or career path you want to pursue. Here, you can showcase your expertise and knowledge on various topics to capture the attention of recruiters and potential employers that are also members of the same group.

4: Include testimonials and endorsements on your LinkedIn profile.

In addition to building your professional network, you can also show endorsements from people within your professional network on your LinkedIn profile. This feature is compelling because it gives credibility to the skills and achievements you’ve included in your profile.

Also, endorsements and testimonials serve as a digital version of word-of-mouth advertising, which is still the best and most effective form of marketing today.

The post Why We Love LinkedIn Profiles (and You Should Too!) appeared first on King of CV.

Telephone interviews last between 15 minutes and an hour. They are also unscheduled.

Hiring managers and recruiters do this for two reasons.

First, they want to shortlist those applicants that they find to be the most likely fit for the position. The element of surprise that comes with a telephone interview can make answering their questions even more challenging.

Second, they want to verify that all the information in your CV is true and accurate. They presume that if everything on your CV is correct, you will still be able to verify the details even at a moment’s notice.

That said, impressing the recruiter or hiring manager calling you is a critical step that would take you one step closer to the job you want to get.

Here are four tips to help you succeed at a telephone interview:

Avoid any background noise during the telephone interview

1: Find a quiet place to talk.

The moment you receive the call from the recruiter or hiring manager, immediately look for a quiet place to take the call. Doing this will make sure that you hear and understand the questions the interviewer will ask. At the same time, it will also make sure that the recruiter or hiring manager understand your answers.

If you’re in a place where it’s very noisy, and you can’t find a quiet place to take the call, politely explain the situation and give them a time to call you back. Recruiters and hiring managers will appreciate this because it shows that you respect and value their time.

2: Take time to prepare for the telephone interview.

As a rule of thumb, you need to start preparing for your telephone interview the moment you submit your CV to a job opening.

In addition to reviewing all the details on your CV, take some time to learn as much as you can about the company. Check out their website and make notes about the company’s mission as well as details about the department you’ll become a part of when you get hired.

Visit their social media sites to get a feel for the company’s corporate culture.

Also, be sure to write down any questions you may have for the interviewer. That way, you’ll remember to ask them during the telephone interview.

3: Smile.

Even though the recruiter or hiring manager can’t see you during the telephone interview, smiling throughout the call will make you sound pleasant, polite and energetic. Smiling also ensures you convey interest and confidence in the position that you are interviewing for.

4: Ask the interviewer about next steps at the end

Before ending the telephone interview, don’t forget to ask the interviewer what the next steps are. Again, this conveys interest but also helps to prepare in advance for what is to come. Of course, not only will you know right away how well you did but most importantly, what you need to do next.

Image Credits: Unsplash

The post How To Succeed at a Telephone Interview appeared first on King of CV.

This seems to put those who are at a distance from New Zealand at a distinct disadvantage. That said, there are proven strategies by which one can use LinkedIn to get a job in New Zealand.

Before we begin, it is wise to look at these strategies as a combination of using LinkedIn as a tool to search for jobs along with building relationships with New Zealand employers. It must also be said that the point of following such a strategy involves bringing job opportunities available in New Zealand to you. Instead of carrying out a futile search for jobs in New Zealand using the generic CV-blast approach. That said, here are three steps that show you how to use LinkedIn to get a job in NZ:

Ways to use LinkedIn to Get a Job

1: Change Your LinkedIn Profile to indicate availability

For starters, use the appropriate search engine optimization keywords or key phrases to obtain job opportunities in New Zealand. Secondly, change the description settings as well as the summary to give recruiters the impression that you are available to work in New Zealand. With your intent clear, now it is time to use LinkedIn to get a job in New Zealand.

2: Look for visa sponsored employment in New Zealand

Most jobs in New Zealand give the locals first preference especially if their skill set matches the skill requirements of the job advertised. However, what about those jobs that the locals do not have the necessary experience or education? This niche for which the competition is non-existent – otherwise known as visa sponsored jobs – are ones that you can use LinkedIn to get a job in New Zealand. Some employers will not only help you get a visa but also pay for relocation costs as well and which makes the prospect of working in New Zealand all that more inviting.

3: Build close relationships with New Zealand employers

Even if you cannot find a visa sponsored job for your particular skill set just yet, one should keep in touch with potential employers for future opportunities. Staying positive and enthusiastic through constant interaction to build trust works better than sending out your CV every time a job advertisement comes out. Given that there are some groups on LinkedIn where people with similar goals interact with each other, this could be an excellent place to begin if you want to use LinkedIn to get a job in New Zealand.

Now, if you are not sure how to use LinkedIn to get a job in New Zealand, King of CV can help you with the process of finding and making applications for work.

The post How to use LinkedIn to Get a Job in NZ appeared first on King of CV.

But not everyone is destined to get their ‘dream job’. For many of us, we can increase our chances of getting a job that is closest to our most profound aspirations and dreams. Finding a job, even if it is not your dream job is challenging. You need to devote a lot of time and effort to this.

Apart from demonstrating unwavering integrity at work, there are some best practices that one can apply in their work lives to increase their chances of getting that dream job. Here are three of them.

3 steps to finding your dream job

Step 1: Know your skills

Reflect on your top three skills. Use these skills as your keywords to help you search for job openings. LinkedIn is a great place to begin. You can look at job descriptions. At the same time, you also get the chance to speak to people in your network about jobs that come close to your idea of ‘perfection.’ Talking to hiring managers or even local professionals to learn about what are the things they are looking for in applicants can also help.

When doing your research, make sure you review all aspects of the role in question to prepare for the next step. A SWOT analysis should work just fine. This is a technique for you to understand not just your strengths and weaknesses, but more importantly, the opportunities open for you.

Step 2: Connect your experience with your dream job

The next step involves connecting your previous work experience to the skills necessary in your dream job.

Let’s say you are a budding musician working as a web developer and you want to break into the music industry. You will have to connect your current skill set to the needs of an organization in the music industry. Perhaps there’s an opening that involves website development. Why not explore that opportunity?

Step 3: Tell your story

Which brings us to the third concerning creating that perfect pitch in terms of a story that weaves your experience and learnings to the industry in which you aspire to work. In other words, you have to create a story behind your ‘why.’ Write it in a way that it shows that you are enjoying your journey that you have traveled so far. Ultimately, you need to convince them that you are an excellent match for the job even if there are other candidates with more experience than you.

Of course, all these are easier said than done. There will be failures and challenges along the way as you pursue your dream job. However, try you must. If anything, these three steps might just help you get there sooner than you think.

For many years, King of CV has helped hundreds of people to find their dream jobs. Contact us today to learn more how we can help you.

The post How to Get That Dream Job in 2018 appeared first on King of CV.

Here are four tips how to create a cover letter that stands out from the pack.

Make your cover letter snappy

Have you heard the expression, “Always leave them wanting more”? That applies significantly to your cover letter.

Cover letters should only be one page long. It should also be tightly written.

Keep your sentences and your paragraphs on the short side, because if a reader gets lost in the middle and has to backtrack to understand what you mean, that is a failure that could get you disqualified.

Make it disruptive

Disruptive sounds like a bad thing, but in this case, it is the story you tell that makes the recruiter stop and pay attention.

Can you describe a personal connection that you have with the company or the industry?

What inspires your passion for the job?

Avoid merely rehashing your CV and tell the recruiter something that could move them emotionally and create the desire to know more about you.

Demonstrate an understanding of the job

Rather than make your cover letter all about you (that is what your CV is for), take the time to demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the company to which you are applying. Everyone wants to feel as though someone “gets” them; this is true both personally and professionally.

By showing that you have put real thought into how the company may be best served, you are showing the recruiter up front that you are not just here for yourself.

Proofread, proofread, proofread

Typos are real killers of opportunity because they negate a lot of the messages you are trying to convey. For example, if you report that you have sharp “attention to detail,” the misspelling tells the exact opposite story.

It is also vital to reduce ambiguity in your statements so that the reader is not left wondering which of several possible interpretations is correct.

We recommend that not only do you reread your cover letter multiple times but that you also have someone else with a skill for language take a look. It is tough for writers to proofread their work because the brain naturally sees what it meant, rather than what’s there.

Through these simple tips, you can get the most out of your first impression, and we bet you will start to pick up more interviews. Good luck!

The post Get Your Foot in the Door: Why Your Cover Letter is So Important appeared first on King of CV.

2017 was a year that welcomed employee-friendly policies that seemed impossible a few years earlier. It goes without saying that this overall trend will continue into 2018 as well.

So what is in store for the New Zealand workforce in 2018? Here are three job trends for 2018 that are worth noting.

1. Automation in Healthcare, Retail, HR, and Finance

There are many Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions already helping recruiters sift through large numbers of resumes to find relevant candidates. Routine tasks in finance, risk and portfolio management, and credit analysis are now being automated using machine learning software.

On top of these, inventory tasks in the retail industry as well as improving the detection rates of cancer patients in imaging scans in healthcare are now also being handled by AI.

For people looking for jobs in New Zealand, this transition is terrible news. The advent of AI means that lesser positions are being opened for job seekers, making the competition stiffer.

2. The Importance of Digital Resumes and Portfolios

Studies show that 90% of recruiting firms search for potential candidates online. Additionally, 85% of hiring managers turn to social media sites like LinkedIn to seek and screen candidates for a job opening.

No doubt, the internet is now the most valuable resource for finding work. For this very reason, it is vital for employees to work on preparing their digital resume and portfolio. Other ways to do this is setting up a personal website and maintaining a positive, respectable presence on social media.

3. Upskilling Current Workers

Given that most workers quit their jobs is because their interests change, more and more employers are upskilling their workers for new roles in the workplace.

As such, both in-house training and the acceptance of online education will play a crucial role to prepare employees for positions that are anything but routine. This decision is much more cost-efficient than having to hire new employees.

While there is no way for you to change these job trends, you can position and prepare yourself for what is to happen. The first step is making sure that your CV and LinkedIn profiles are up to par. Contact us today for a free assessment.

The post 3 Job Trends for 2018 to Watch appeared first on King of CV.

Facebook and work do seem discordant, but not as much as you might imagine. Ranked just behind Google as the second most popular website by Alexa, Facebook has over 300 million unique active users, and this population can be used to your advantage to get hired. Here are five ways you can get hired using Facebook:

Networking: the Key to Get Hired Using Facebook

It is right there in the description – Facebook is a social networking site. You can take this a step further and use the platform for professional networking. With its large number of users, you can be sure that most prospective employers and recruiters will be on Facebook. Approaching them through the platform could help you stand out and establish a rapport with the person, which can then lead to you get hired on Facebook.

For example, if you find out that a company you are interested in is recruiting, contacting their HR manager through Facebook will work to your advantage.

Status updates

Updating your status with what you are looking for can bring in support and help from unlikely corners. Someone might even be able to direct or reference you to a company or organisation that is looking to hire someone. If that does not work out, it will still help you widen your network.

Use the Facebook marketplace

Going through the different businesses within your area on Facebook will keep you updated on job listings, with accompanying descriptions and the name of the recruiter, is another way to get hired using Facebook. You can then directly apply or contact the individual to take the application further. There may be other, more comprehensive marketplaces out there (Craigslist, Seek, and so on), but this would mean less competition on the Facebook marketplace and higher chances that you get hired using Facebook.

Groups

Join and participate actively in groups that are attuned to your interests within the industry. You can initiate or add to discussions on the group, and this will help you eventually expand your network within the industry.

Ads

You can also post an ad campaign for yourself on Facebook and link this to your profile. The initial investment is minimal, at a rate of $1 per day, and could lead to precisely the job you want.

Using social media as a means of getting hired, although gaining traction, remains reasonably uncommon. As a job-seeker, you can use this to your advantage to get hired.

The post How to Get Hired Using Facebook appeared first on King of CV.

Every day, a hiring manager has to sift through hundreds–if not, thousands–of CVs and cover letters just to come up with a shortlist of potential candidates to call in for an interview. That said, you’ll need to have more in your arsenal than a well-written and professional CV and cover to stand out from the sea of candidates, and impress a hiring manager so that you can make it on the list.

Here are eight simple tips how you can impress a hiring manager even if you haven’t met them personally.

Write up a great social media profile

One great way to impress a hiring manager is by marketing yourself through your social media profiles.

Nowadays, hiring managers don’t just make their decision purely on the information you put in your CV. They head over to LinkedIn and other social media networks so that they can learn a little bit more about you. At the same time, they cross-reference the information that’s in your social profile against the CV you’ve submitted for consistency and accuracy.

That said, it’s important to make sure that you write up your LinkedIn profile and profiles in other social media networks to match with the information in your CV.

Provide a hiring manager with recommendations

Recommendations coming from your co-workers, superiors, and even your friends can help you make a great first impression with a hiring manager.

For starters, recommendations give a hiring manager a holistic picture of your personality, skills, experience, and work ethic. Also, there’s always that possibility that you and a hiring manager share mutual connections. When a hiring manager sees an excellent recommendation coming from someone he or she knows, that can be more than enough to get your name on the shortlist of candidates that get called in for an interview.

Leave a large online footprint

Having a large online footprint by consistently posting on LinkedIn and other social media networks, joining online forums, and even starting a blog all can help you impress hiring managers looking for potential candidates.

First, you show your technical competency. Being technically literate has now become a primary requirement if you want to land a job, regardless of your position and industry.

Second, this will give hiring managers an insight of your level of expertise and knowledge. Hiring managers are more than happy to contact you when they see that you’re exceedingly knowledgeable on different topics in your niche.

As mentioned earlier, weeding through hundreds of CVs is a daunting task hiring managers face. When you’re easily visible online, you’re in effect making it so much easier for them to find you.

Always learn new skills

Hiring managers favour job seekers who are proactively looking for areas of growth. That includes enhancing your skills and experience. You can find a variety of free online courses where you can learn and get certified in skills that would make you an asset, and increase your market value.

Be consistent with your personal branding

This is critical for selling yourself to hiring managers. By building your personal brand, you’ll be able to establish yourself as a respectable and reputable expert in your niche. It will also help you showcase what you can offer to a company.

You don’t need to set up a blog to start building a personal brand. Some social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn that allow you to publish articles so you can start there. The key here is consistency. Try to post an impressive article once a week. This way, you’ll be more likely to get the attention of hiring managers and other people in your niche.

The post Tips to Impress a Hiring Manager Without Meeting Them appeared first on King of CV.

Include an Executive Summary

An executive summary is your CV in a nutshell when you’re applying for executive level positions. It is not an outline of your career goals. It’s not about what kind of job you want to end up in. It’s about showcasing the reasons why you’re the natural candidate for the position. For example, if you’re applying for a position in a company that’s having some struggles, your executive summary should position you as a turn around specialist. It’s a chance to highlight the skills, experience, and qualifications that make you the ideal candidate.

Make a Good Impression Quickly

Executive level positions are all about producing results. If you want to make an impact, include a ‘Key Accomplishments’ section where you can outline the results you’ve already achieved. Give them the statistics, numbers, and data. Let the recruiter see that you are a person who can deliver the output that’s required from the position.

Core Proficiencies

You want to highlight the skills that make you an obvious choice for an executive level position. At this level things like being experienced in Excel are an expected minimum. You need to highlight more pertinent skills such as change management, employee development, mergers and acquisitions. Listing these skills in a ‘Core Proficiencies’ section gives your CV the executive level clout that you need to land an upper management position.

Target Your Executive CV

CVs are important tools in securing the right job, but you have to know how to use them effectively. You should always tweak your CV so that you target towards the specific job you’re applying for. Every job is different, and each firm will have specific needs and requirements. Aligning your CV with the specific needs within the job profile will make you stand out among all the other candidates for the position.

The post Tips for Preparing an Executive CV appeared first on King of CV.

Don’t Point Out Flaws

It’s important to present yourself in a positive light, but you also have to present your prospective employers in a positive light as well. Avoid pointing out what you see as the flaws in the company’s current strategies and how you would fix them. Pointing out your potential employer’s weaknesses isn’t necessarily the best way to make a good first impression. Highlight what you bring to the company, what strengths you possess without focusing on why potential employers need you.

Don’t Complicate Your Cover Letter

Many people feel the need to make their cover letters sound impressive by using words they’re unlikely to ever use in day-to-day conversation. Use natural every day words in a respectful way. If you use too much jargon, too many clichés, or too many complicated words it sounds like you’re trying too hard.

Don’t Bad Mouth Your Current Employer

Never go negative in a cover letter. It doesn’t matter how bad your current employer is, reading your negative review of your current employer will make a bad impression on recruiters, because even if you’re in the right you still run the risk of appearing like you have a bad attitude.

Keep It Short And Sweet

Cover letters should never be longer than a page. Remember, this is your introduction to the hiring manager, where you hope to make a good first impression before they read your CV. They don’t need too much detail, because they’ll expect that in your CV. Keep it short, respectful, and to the point.

Proofread, Proofread, Proofread

Typos and spelling mistakes in cover letters and CVs make a horrible impression on recruiters. Make sure your cover letter is error free!

The post Things to Avoid in Your Cover Letter appeared first on King of CV.