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Top tips to get your CV noticed

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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’.
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​​​​​​​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.

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Street Orienteering added to Wander Wild programme

By Sean Moriarty A new event has been added to the extensive Wander Wild Festival next weekend. Kerry Orienteers will run a family-friendly Urban Orienteering event as part of the […]

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By Sean Moriarty

A new event has been added to the extensive Wander Wild Festival next weekend.

Kerry Orienteers will run a family-friendly Urban Orienteering event as part of the festival on March 25.

Participants can start at the Killarney Plaza Hotel Basecamp anytime from 2-4pm on Saturday.

Orienteering is an exciting outdoor adventure sport which involves walking or running whilst navigating around a course using a detailed map and sometimes a compass. And the Wander Wild Street Orienteering will have courses suitable for all ages and abilities.

“The aim is to navigate in sequence between a set of control points and decide the best route to complete the course in the quickest time. It does not matter how young, old or fit you are, as you can run, walk or jog the course and progress at your own pace. If you need any help or tips members of Kerry Orienteering Club will be available to assist during the day,” said organiser Brendan O’Brien.

Two routes are available: ‘Wander’ – 2km (easy, wheelchair and buggy accessible) and Wild – 4km (moderate), and bookings can be made via: https://t.ly/jHm2R.

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Quiz helps to fund Easter pilgrimage

A popular annual table quiz, which raises funds to send Kerry children and young adults with special needs to Lourdes, will be held in Killarney next week. The Tim Moore […]

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A popular annual table quiz, which raises funds to send Kerry children and young adults with special needs to Lourdes, will be held in Killarney next week.

The Tim Moore Memorial Table Quiz will be held in the Gleneagle Hotel at 7.30pm on Wednesday, March 29.

The entry fee for tables of four is €40 and it is €20 for teams of four schoolchildren with great prizes up for grabs on the night.

All proceeds will go to the Irish Pilgrimage Trust which organises trips to Lourdes every Easter for children and young adults with additional needs.

They will be brought on the pilgrimage on Easter Sunday and all the volunteer helpers and medical staff that will accompany them will cover for their own travel costs.

The annual quiz, which is running for close on 30 years, is dedicated to the memory of the late Killarney accountant Tim Moore who was a tireless campaigner for the Irish Pilgrimage Trust. He passed away, suddenly, in 2002 and his friends have continued the quiz as a tribute to his legacy and to ensure the charity continues to be supported.

It hasn’t been held for the past two years due to the pandemic but all involved are thrilled that it is back for 2023.

Kieran Coffey, the retired principal of Fossa National School, is one of those who spearhead the Kerry pilgrimage to Lourdes and he has appealed to the public to support the very important fundraiser which helps offset some of the costs involved.

“We are delighted to be in a position to continue Tim’s great work and to dedicate the quiz to him. The event is always so well supported by the people of the greater Killarney area and we greatly appreciate that generosity,” said Kieran.

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