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It’s crucial on your curriculum vitae (CV) and during an interview that you insist upon making an example of yourself!

Why? It’s so easy to make claims about being able to work in a team or work on your own initiative, (claims that 99% of administration staff make on their CV by the way), but it’s another thing to example these claims. So, if you’d like to make your CV stand out from the crowd and your answers to pack more of a punch during an interview, make sure you provide real life examples to back up your claims.

On your CV, provide a concise list of achievements under your personal profile. I’m amazed that more people don’t do this. If you believe that an interviewer will go hunting, on your behalf, to establish your achievements by reading and re-reading your CV, you’re mistaken! Your achievements need to be concisely typed and placed beneath your personal profile where they stand out.

Your personal profile may, for example, detail that you’re passionate about customer service and nestled below in your achievements you could , (if it were true), detail that you were given a Customer Service Champion award in 2012. This would be an excellent example of positive reinforcement through providing an example and would have massively increased your chances of being placed in the yes pile of CV’s.

Exactly the same is true once you have secured an interview. It’s absolutely crucial that you rehearse your answers to typical interview questions by practicing your answers which incorporate cast iron examples. For example, if, during an interview, you were asked what your biggest strength is, you could answer in these two ways:

You could simply state, “My attention to detail” or you could explain:

“My attention to detail. For example, in my current role I am responsible for collating the sales team’s data on a weekly basis for my sales director. It’s absolutely crucial that it’s accurate because it’s used to calculate their bonuses. My data is double checked by the Finance Director and I’ve got a 100% record for the last 4 years”.

Who do you think made the best example of themselves? Answer: The same person who just got offered a new job! Whether you are composing your CV or answers to interview questions make sure you evidence every skill with a cast iron guarantee.

For more help on writing a great CV, getting prepared for interviews and general recruitment advice for getting the Best Jobs in Milton Keynes, please go to our website: www.ascendantrecruitment.co.uk

CV Preparation is key when job hunting. Our MD Nick Peacock explains why:

With levels of unemployment in the UK rising, many organisations are struggling to sift through the increasing numbers of CVs which land on their desks to find the individual with the skills and the drive to work in their organisation. Tailoring your CV can get you noticed at the first stage, but how do you continue to stand out once you reach the all important interview stage?

For me it’s all about a candidates passion and enthusiasm. Yes you need the right skills for the job, but skills can often be developed fairly easily. Having the passion and drive for what you do however is a valuable asset which companies cannot teach.

When I think about how we recruit staff at Ascendant Recruitment it is this passion which not only helps us to identify the right candidate, but also gives our clients the added value which will keep them coming back to us.

I myself am passionate about customer services (some may say obsessive) and will only recruit people who share my passion. For example, you’ll often find my consultant’s are more than happy to go the extra mile to ensure candidates and clients have everything they need for their interviews.

Equally everyone at Ascendant Recruitment embraces the environment which we have collectively created. They are dedicated to constant and never ending improvement and are willing and enjoy embracing continuous, on the job training.

The very fact I’m very clear as an employer what skills and attitudes I want to recruit to ensure the level of customer service we’ve developed continues, shows that I am only likely to recruit candidates who show the same level of enthusiasm and dedication.

If you consider this from the other side of the table as well, as a candidate, do you really want to be in a role which you are not enthusiastic about? Will this really give you the level of job satisfaction you’re looking for?

In Sally Hogsheads book, Fascinate, a quote from Maya Angelou summed up the importance of showing passion; “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

So when you go to apply for a job, ask yourself, “what am I passionate about in this industry or role?” If you can’t answer this question, chances are it’s not the role for you.

To find out more about job opportunities at Ascendant Recruitment or our clients check out our LinkedIn company page: http://www.linkedin.com/company/ascendant-recruitment