We have always insisted in our articles that an employer meets you
first through your CV and if he does NOT like you in absentia then he can’t
contact you. In HR practices especially in this entry level jobs up to middle
level management, please stick to a simple CV of 2-3 pages. Make it as
attractive as possible to persuade the employer to call you to an interview.
1. ‘Curriculum Vitae’ or ‘CV’ –
It’s as unnecessary as putting ‘This is a piece of a paper’ at the top of a
piece of paper. Writing CV doesn’t add value, I can’t ask for a CV and you send
me a report.
2. The word ‘Résumé’ –
You might think it sounds posh or more international– but don’t use it unless
you’re applying for a job in the US. Here in Kenya use the word CV!! Anyway
know this resume means a simplified CV, maximum of two pages. CV can be as long
as ten pages. (Look at our earlier article on CV and Resume differences)
3. Photo – What
you look like has no bearing on how well you can do most jobs. Chef’s and
models and airline staff exempted here.
4. Current work phone/email
address – Provide your personal email and mobile phone number as
your contact details. Don’t use employer assets to search for another job. For
personal email it must be sensible and reflect you in a mature manner. Emails
like Mwangi-sonko@gmail.com or Sexyachieng@yahoo.com don’t
reflect the kind of professionalism employers are looking for.
5. Having your ID Number or
passport – Not relevant…Driving license too (Unless you’re applying for a
driving job.
6. Nationality –
is there a need to say you’re Kenyan if it’s a local job? Look at our article
yesterday on what to avoid under ‘Personal Details’.
7. Religion –
As above, although you aren’t obliged to reveal this at any stage of the
recruitment process.
8. Details of your children –Don’t
say, married with two kids! They’re hiring you, not your entire family.
9. Reason for leaving your last
company – It looks like you’re making excuses.
10. List of
subjects/degree modules – Unless you’re a school leaver or are applying
for an internship role, you should write the number of exams you passed like
this: ACCA F8. Most employers won’t understand specific module titles – only
include them if they are relevant to the job spec. So don’t go on breaking down
all the course units that you took.
11. Waffle –
Don’t waste space with unnecessary or repeated information. To put it another
way, it is very easy, indeed too easy, to include sentences or paragraphs that
tell the reader little or nothing of value. One example of such waffle could
be: “I am a motivated, outgoing self-starter who is able to work on my own or
as part of a team who is an excellent timekeeper with people skills”.
12. Hobbies
such as reading, walking or watching movies – How do these
universal activities make you unique? You might as well write sleeping or
breathing. Check your CV now and write sensible mature hobbies!
13. Languages - Unless
you have taken French, Spanish or Chinese, writing English and Kiswahili is a
huge waste of time. The worst are those who include mother tongue. What
value does it add for me to know you can speak Luo, kikuyu or Taita?
If you look at the above suggestions, I can assure you to find a
lot of unnecessary details in your CV that even do not matter. If you are a
fresh job seeker, I can excuse you but if you have been in the job industry and
looking to shift career and doing this, all I can say is OOOOOhhhhhhhhhh. I
suggest you open your CV at this time and check out these mistakes, correct
them immediately.
If you clean your CV of such errors, it may be attractive again.
All the best.
