Volume 65 December 2026-January 2026 : Career Corner

Getting that job interview is based on your curriculum vitae that will basically tell your potential employer three things;

1.     Who are you? (Name, contact details etc.)

2.     What can you do? (Skills, experience, responsibilities)

3.     Can you prove it? (Achievements, contributions- quantified where possible)

You only have between 5-10 seconds at most to impress and be shortlisted for a job interview. In those 5-10 seconds, it is not necessarily the most qualified person who will be shortlisted, but it is the person who stands out the most and commands attention of the potential employer through his/her CV.

Your CV is your opportunity to make a first good impression as a prospective employee.

You need to clearly outline a summary of your personal details, education and qualifications, work experience, interests and achievements, skills and references.

The following are just a few pointers to bring to your attention when you are putting together your curriculum vitae;

Know the objective of writing your CV

The main reason of your CV is to secure you an interview. With thousands of applications for each job vacancy, your only chance of being shortlisted for interview is if your CV is truly impressive to the recruiter.

Your CV needs to tell the reader very quickly what you have to offer and why you are the best person for the job.

Tailor- make your CV

One of the common mistakes that people do is sending the same CV to all companies they are applying for jobs at.

Always tailor-make your CV to every job you are applying for in order to take into account the individual job description and requirements of each company.

One or two pages

The shorter your curriculum vitae the better. Employers prefer a maximum of a two pager CV that takes into account all the necessary information.

Use effective titles

During CV screening, employers usually go through hundreds of CV`s, therefore, make sure that titles used are short, punchy lines that will immediately grab the reader`s attention with a smile.

Attention to the typography

First of all make sure that your fonts are big enough. The smaller you should go is 11 points, but 12 is probably safer. Do not use capital letters all over the place; remember that your goal is to communicate a message as fast and as clearly as possible. Arial and Times are good choices.

Use bullet points

Reading long paragraphs turn off CV reviewers- it is time consuming and tedious hence bullet- point your statements and use brief sentences to describe your professional objectives, educational background and experiences.

Market yourself well

Make sure to not go over board when you sell your skills to your potential employer.

Honestly market your potential in a clever way that will give you advantage over other applicants. Do not tell lies. Most Human Resource departments do background check so do not damage your credibility with even small lies.

Analyze job ads

You will find plenty of useful information on job advertisements.

Analyze not only the advert that you will be applying for, but also those from companies on the same segment or offering related positions. You should be able to identify what profile they are looking for and how the information should be presented.

First thing on your CV

The first thing that the employer`s eyes meet on your CV should be your name, which should be larger and bold than the rest of the text. Your contact details should be clearly stated. If your CV is more than one page, your name and contact details should be in every page.

Use Mr. and Ms. if appropriate

If you have a gender neutral name like Alex or Ryan make sure to include the Mr. or Ms. prefix, so that employers do not get confused about your gender.

Where are you going?

Including professional goals can help you by giving employers an idea of where you are going, and how you want to arrive there. You don`t need to have a special section devoted to your professional objectives, but overall the resume must communicate that.

Put the most important information first

This point is valid both to the overall order of your resume, as well as to the individual sections. Most of the times your previous work experience will be the most important part of the resume, so put it at the top. When describing your experiences or skills, list the most important ones first.

Lists all your positions

It is advisable to list all your various positions and roles even if you have worked for decades, as this will give the employer a great track record of different responsibilities and skills you have developed over the years.

Highlight your new work experiences

If you have been working for decades i.e. 20 years or more, there is no need to highlight all your work experiences within all those decades, as it will take up too much space. Instead focus on the recent i.e. 10 years of your experience but only those that are relevant to the job description that you are applying for.

Be honest, state what you have

If you do not have any significant work experience just highlight your holiday jobs or volunteer work. If you are still a student, state the degree you are studying and the estimated date of completion.

Mention the influential people you worked with

Do mention it on your CV if you have worked with for example presidents, CEOs or well-known people in your field of work, as this will grab the attention of the reader.

Back up your qualities and strengths

Instead of simply listing a long list of your qualities e.g., disciplined, creative, problem solver, try to connect them with real life and work experiences. Get into the habit of giving real life experience examples, for instance if you have been involved in a situation how did you solve the problem.

Explain the benefits of your skills

Merely stating that you can do something will not catch the attention of the employer. If you manage to explain how it will benefit his company, and to connect it to tangible results, then you will greatly improve your chances.

Achievements instead of responsibilities

Resumes that include a long list of “responsibilities included…” are plain boring, and not enough in selling yourself. Instead of listing responsibilities, describe your professional achievements.

Jargon or slang is a NO NO!

Slang is prohibited in your CV, as it is very unprofessional. Be careful in using technical jargon, as the person reading might not know the technical knowledge.

Unnecessary information

Do not put up your picture on your CV unless you are required to do so i.e. if applying for modeling or acting.  It is not necessary to state your age, political affiliation or religion on your CV. It is not important to mention your hobbies on your CV unless they are relevant to the type of job you are applying for.

No reference of the first person

Avoid the use of the word “I” in your job descriptions. Keep your sentences short and dynamic, and begin them with strong action words such as managed, planned and coached.

Wrong Contact Details

If an email bounces or a wrong phone number was given, employers will simply move to the next application.

Proofread- read your CV

Mistakes do happen i.e. wrong spelling, incorrect wording and so on, that is why it is very important that one goes over their CV more than once to ensure that the reading makes sense. Give your CV to someone else to read for a second opinion.

Frequently update your CV

It is best to keep adding new relevant information as it comes up, for example, note the training programs and courses that you have undertaken.

Cover Letter

Your cover letter should be a one page document referencing and explaining the job you are applying for. It should include the applicant`s name, address and contact details. Bring the reader to some aspects of the CV; keep it simple, short and to the point.

Keep track of your applications

Ensure that you do not forget where you have sent your applications. Once you get that most important phone call do not turn your potential employer off by saying “Sorry what job is this about?”

Consider getting professional assistance

If you are struggling to put together a great CV or never get any response from the companies you have submitted your CV to, consider getting a professional CV writer or reviewer, usually this will be a great investment.

Using a professional CV writing service will significantly improve your chances of securing an interview. CV writers know exactly what employers are looking for and what will get you that all-important interview.

I hope all these tips give you an idea of how best to work on your CV. If you have any questions on CV writing, need a CV writer or reviewer or have general career related questions, please email CAREER CORNER on ccbotswana@gmail.com

 

Career tip

 

“What is the recipe for successful achievement? To my mind there are just four essential ingredients: Choose a career you love, give it the best there is in you, seize your opportunities, and be a member of the team.” Benjamin F. Fairless. ENDS

 

 

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