Career Tips: My CV is not Working!

Work. It can get so frustrating and almost unbearable at times (that period between Sunday night and Monday mornings are the worst!). Thank God for employment all the same. 

Now I bet a number of people, myself inclusive, have applied to a number of jobs, and you either get that dreaded response: "Thank you for your interest in our organization, unfortunately...." (the polite organizations) or no response at all (organizations with HR units that need extensive lessons in courtesy). Bottom line regardless of courtesy: no job.

Thing is, the problem may not be from that shrine in your village that you think is working against your progress and that of your unborn generation; it may just be your CV.

Now it may be your “one-CV-for-all-job-openings” approach. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s the words you used on your CV that are ‘scratching’ the recruiter’s eyes.

Squeeze. Throw. Into the dustbin. Stainless shot. 

Below are words/phrases commonly used in CVs that you should avoid as if your life depended on it (the change in your employment status just might):

• Salary negotiable: It’s quite obvious that your salary is negotiable. With a fixed inflexible salary demand you most likely wouldn't get the job anyways. Afterall, multitudes of unemployed people would gladly do the same job for 25% of whatever salary it is you are demanding for (as in dem plenty). Take this obvious statement out of your CV, thank you. 

• Responsible for _________: Ok, so your oga told you that a certain task was your responsibility to see to completion, and you're bragging about that? The recruiter is probably thinking "so dis person thinks he/she deserves a cookie for executing a delegated task, probably without adding 'jara' on top of the work to provide extra value". That doesn’t look so good you’ll agree. Instead of 'responsible for', use phrases such as 'managed' or 'led'. 

• Experience working in ________: Fine let’s be honest, in Nigeria experience is a huge deal (they fit use job experience sideline like 80% of job applicants in Nigeria for a given opening). Still, to better stand out in a crowd, describe yourself in terms of your achievements instead.

• Problem solving skills: I'm sure this one was on my CV at some point in time...lol. Thing with this one is, every living thing that has breath possesses problem-solving skills. Check this out. Do you have rats in the house..get a cat. Tired of your neighbor's kids climbing your fence and taking paw paw from that tree in your backyard..a dog (Rottweiler preferably *cue evil laugh*) might help! 

• Detail-oriented: Hian! Everyone pays attention to details so what’s so unique about that? God help you if your resume or cover letter come contain ‘gbagaun’. Mehn see as recruiter go use you catch groove.

• Hardworking: Come! Na yam harvesting you dey apply for? This is where "walk the walk and lose the talk" would apply. It is a lot more convincing if you describe situations in which your hard work benefited an employer in detail.

• Team player: There are very few jobs that don’t involve working with other people (unless na mortuary be your office). If you have relevant experiences relating to collaboration and teamwork, put them on your resume. Discuss about the type of teams you worked on, your role(s) and how you contributed to the success of the team(s).

• Proactive: Story! Again, “walk the walk and lose the talk”.

Do you have tips, advice or stories related to preparing CVs as it affected search for employment? Please share.