THE BT BEAT
Issue 1 - March 2011 - BT Newsletter

Perfecting your CV

For many of you on the job hunt, your first thought is the state of your CV. It’s not just an information document; it’s a real sales document.

So before you send that CV off to a prospective employer, read over our tips below to ensure your CV is up to standard!

• A CV is not a letter, so don’t write it like one. A chatty resume is clearly not appropriate.
  
• Present information in logical groups:
  • Contact information
  • Profile/Summary
  • Work experience
  • Qualifications/Skills
  • Hobbies and Interest - but keep these relevant to the industry
    
• Write more about the relevant elements of your CV. For example, a Business Travel job usually requires a GDS. Outline which GDS you have, when you got it and how proficient you are with this GDS.  
  
• No irrelevant information such as height, weight, pets, etc. - It happens!
  
• Don't waffle! Give clear accounts of your duties and responsibilities and leave the 'other bits' to the interview.
  
• Don't lie! Recruiters will see it immediately and the interviewer will have a poor opinion about your integrity.
  
• Don’t forget referees. They will be checked!
  
• Be careful of spelling or typing errors which show negligence.
  
• Give it to a friend and ask their opinion.
  
• No more than 3 pages. Not many people read beyond that!

For more information on making your CV a winner, see our CV Tips section!

We know that relationships between employers and bosses can be stressful. According to statistics, this is the leading cause of stress at work. When an employee is frustrated by their boss, these frustrations have repercussions on the quality of their work. They show less initiative and are unable to deal with challenging situations effectively. In her book, Blaire Palmer explains how to improve the relationship between employees and boss.

1. Understand the context. For you it is very clear, your manager makes random or selfish decisions! But if you put yourself in their shoes you may realize they were caught between a rock and a hard place. You may not agree with the final decision but you may be more sympathetic if you appreciate the background.
2. Identify the purpose behind your boss’s requests. If you believe your boss’s ideas won’t get the best result for the business, offer alternatives, show initiative. Your boss may appreciate your ideas about better, faster, cheaper ways to get to the same outcome.
3. Help your manager understand you. Your manager isn’t a mind-reader. He doesn’t know what you enjoy unless you tell him. He may not adapt to this information but at least he will know!
4. Adopt a leadership mindset yourself. If you want to take on a project there is nothing stopping you. Use your initiative and demonstrate to your boss that you want to contribute.
5. It’s business. The rules of work are different to the rules of other relationships. Your boss isn’t your friend, your parent or your teacher. You have to adopt a professional, adult mindset.

Excerpt from What’s Wrong with Work? by Blair Palmer.