News
Top tips to get your CV noticed
By Niamh Dwyer, Chairperson of the Kerry Branch of Guidance Counsellors
Whether you are starting out in your career or applying for a new role, it is essential that you take time to look carefully at your CV.
In the majority of cases your CV will be the first introduction a potential employer has to you, so it needs to impress! It needs to be clear, concise, and accurate, and present the best version of your professional self. It must also reflect an obvious link to the job specification. Regardless of the amount of experience you do or don’t have, you will give yourself a great chance of getting noticed if you follow the following tips when compiling or updating your CV.
It is helpful to look at templates online for ideas on layout and on language to use, but my advice is to start with a blank Word document and build your own original CV so that you avoid any copyright or formatting issues when you want to make edits. Keep the layout simple. Use a font that is clear and the 12-point size works best.
Keep it to two pages if at all possible. Don’t make the mistake of including every job you have had, particularly if they are not relevant. Always focus on the role you are applying for and select the information that the employer needs to know if they are to consider you as a suitable candidate for the position in their company or organisation. This means that it’s very likely you will need to make some changes to your CV each time you use it. Think of it as personalising it to each particular job description and specification. Make sure you use keywords linked to the job itself and the skills and qualities required. This is to ensure that your CV gets noticed in an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) which is used by lots of larger companies and organisations to scan through applicant CVs before they are looked at in more detail by the Human Resource Department.
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
At the beginning of the CV include your name, address, contact details and URL link for your LinkedIn profile if you have one. Next, add in a professional profile, a short paragraph which showcases the most important skills and competencies you want the employer to be aware of. Again link this to the job specification here and really choose your language carefully so that your brilliance and suitability to the role is obvious.
If you are starting out in your career it is best to lead with your education or qualifications, whereas if you have lots of experience it is better to lead with your employment history. Also, include other relevant experience such as volunteering or side projects you have been involved in. Include experiences which showcase your strengths and competencies as well as your willingness to go the extra mile or think outside the box. Your aim is to impress the person reading the CV so that they are interested in finding out more by calling you for interview. When describing your work experience, give more than the job title and tasks or responsibilities. Use achievement statements to demonstrate what you achieved in the role, as this gives the employer evidence of your competency. For example, “Managed and prioritised movement and positioning of equipment, vehicles, and crew to ensure maximum efficiency and minimum disruption”. You don’t need to include the details of your referees unless you are asked to do so, simply add in the sentence, ‘References available on request’.
ASK THESE QUESTIONS
It may take several drafts to get your CV right. At the end of the process ask yourself the following questions:
* Is this an accurate, positive and impressive reflection of me as a potential employee?
* Have I linked my experience and expertise to the specific role I am applying for?
* Will this CV stand out from the crowd?
Once you are happy with the content and layout then proofread it very carefully and get others to do so too, they may spot mistakes that you don’t. Remember you want to make the best possible impression with this CV, so the finished product must be grammatically correct.
Your CV is like a working document, you will continue to edit it as you progress along your career path. Investing time in it now will serve you well in the long run, but it may also open the door to that new opportunity you have been looking for, sooner rather than later.
Niamh Dwyer is a Guidance Counsellor in Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore, and Chairperson of the Kerry Branch of Guidance Counsellors. She is also a Career Consultant - For details see www.mycareerplan.ie or follow @mycareerplan on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Patient transfer to new hospital to begin on Monday
Following several false starts and long delays, the phased transfer of patients and residents to the new state-of-the-art Killarney Community Nursing Unit on Lewis Road is set to begin on Monday, August 10.
A major stumbling block regarding staff transfers and safe staffing levels was resolved following negotiations under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
With an agreement reached between the HSE and representative unions, including the INMO, SIPTU, and Fórsa, at long last, staff and residents are prepared to move into the new facility.
Welcoming the breakthrough, Councillor Marie Moloney expressed cautious optimism:
“It’s good news that an agreement has been reached with the staff and that transfer of residents and patients can finally take place to the Community Nursing Unit. So many families have been waiting for so long to see their loved ones transfer to this beautiful new facility. Let’s hope there will be no further delays.”
HSE National Director and Integrated Health Area Manager for Kerry, Julie O’Neill, confirmed that the agreement enables the facility to open safely on a phased basis:
“I welcome the agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission, enabling us to proceed with the opening of our new Community Nursing Unit in Killarney. I would like to thank everyone involved in reaching this agreement and acknowledge the constructive engagement of all parties.”
Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry and member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, Michael Cahill TD, also welcomed the news:
“This is very welcome news for older people and their families across Kerry. The new Killarney Community Nursing Unit has been eagerly awaited and I am delighted that agreement has now been reached to allow its phased opening from August 10. I know the delays have been a source of frustration for many families but today’s announcement provides certainty that residents will soon begin moving into this modern, purpose-built facility.”
Deputy Cahill acknowledged the efforts of all parties involved in negotiations, noting:
“I want to thank the HSE, the Workplace Relations Commission and the representative unions, the INMO, SIPTU and Fórsa for their constructive engagement in reaching this agreement. Ensuring safe staffing is essential, and I am pleased that a solution has now been found.”
He added:
“As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, I will continue to work to ensure Kerry receives the healthcare investment and staffing it deserves. The opening of this new unit is a major step forward for residential care in our county, and I look forward to seeing residents welcomed through its doors from August 10.”
Call for plaque at historical burial site
Local history enthusiast Anthony Kerrigan has formally written to Kerry County Council proposing the installation of a commemorative plaque or historical marker at the unmarked Moyeightragh Burial Ground in Killarney, and is calling on Killarney Advertiser readers to back the initiative.
The ancient site is said to be in the vicinity of of Lewis Road and Fitzgerald stadium
The sacred site, registered under Monument Record KE066-068002, sits in the vicinity of Lewis Road and the Fitzgerald Stadium footprint. In his letter to council officials, Kerrigan explained how the landmark faded from view over generations.
“Historical mapping shows that this ancient burial ground was progressively built over and divided following the construction of Lewis Road in the 1850s and subsequent urban developments,” Kerrigan wrote. “While the site is completely invisible on the surface today, it remains a designated archaeological monument where subsurface human remains are protected in situ.”
Kerrigan highlighted that recent discoveries underscore the risk of the location being forgotten entirely, noting how the displacement of significant artefact, such as the 18th-century Margaret Shea grave ledger uncovered nearby during Park Road archaeological testing in 201, illustrates how vulnerable the memory of the site is to the passage of time.
Advocating for a permanent marker near the site, Kerrigan explained the cultural importance of recognising those buried there.
“As a matter of community respect, civic pride, and historical preservation, I believe a modest, non-invasive plaque or information board should be placed nearby,” he stated. He noted that such a marker would serve to honour past generations of Killarney citizens, educate visitors about the town’s shifting landscape, and prevent the total erasure of the designated heritage asset from local consciousness.
Kerrigan pointed out that the proposal aligns directly with the core objectives of the Department’s Community Monuments Fund regarding the enhancement and public accessibility of archaeological monuments. He expressed a desire to coordinate with the Council’s Heritage Office, the Burial Grounds Section, and local history groups like the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society to ensure appropriate text and placement.
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