Brand you
Graham Bassett has spent some 25+ years in the security recruitment sector and is Managing Director of GBRUK Recruitment. Graham is also Vice Chairman of ASIS UK, Chairman of the London Project Griffin Executive Board and is involved in various other industry initiatives.
Gain a competitive edge when going for a new job, when networking, in your CV and at interview, by developing Brand You
D
eveloping your network is a key to reaching out to as wide an audience as
possible and in turn increasing your visibility in the market place.
Networking has many elements and comes in many guises; however, the overriding factors are how you are seen, how often you are seen, where you are seen and your contribution to the relationship. Remember, people buy people and given the choice would rather work with/be with genuine people who are selfless in their approach.
Social media can also provide a substantial and positive contribution to Brand You; however, in equal parts it can be a minefield and damaging to your reputation –a measured and circumspect approach would be recommended.
Two other critical areas of Brand You are your CV and Interview preparation.
CV
There is a vast amount of information and opinion available on CV writing, content, style and length, which at times can be conflicting and confusing. However, if we look to the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) for sage advice, they would recommend the following:
12 © CI TY S ECURI TY MAGAZ INE – SUMME R 2013 Formatting
Highlight titles and main headings in bold. Keep the order chronological. If you have little work experience, you can put your academic qualifications first. If you've been working, put your academic history towards the end.
Don’t try to reduce the font size to 8 point and reduce margins to fit it all in.
Only include what’s really necessary to get you the job.
Length
No recruiter wants to read an 8-page CV, so make it short and sharp. Keep the number of pages to two or less.
Spelling and grammar
Always check your spelling and grammar. Nothing looks more unprofessional than a CV with lots of errors. Spell-check your CV and ask someone else to read it over.
Contact details
Make your contact details clear so recruiters know how to contact you. Many recruiters have problems finding email addresses or phone numbers on CVs.
Adapt your CV
Don’t send the same CV to every employer. Think about the organisation you’re applying to and what they’re looking for; then change your CV to match. For example, if they're looking for someone with experience of leading teams, include details of that in your CV.
Qualifications
If the job you’re applying for requires particular qualifications, highlight those on your CV. If the role doesn’t require specific qualifications, don’t list every grade you received at school and university.
Work experience
Write about more than the responsibilities you held in each work experience role. Provide details about what you achieved, including figures and statistics if you can. For example, saying you implemented a graduate programme that increased applications by 50% looks much better than a bullet point confirming the fact you managed graduate programmes.
Personal statements
Recruiters have differing views on personal statements. Some like them, others don’t. If you want to include one, don’t just write a
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36