Your CV is one of the most important documents you will ever write. Curriculum Vitae literally means "course of life ".  Essentially it's you on paper and it's main purpose is to get you an interview.

CV TIPS

• Your CV should be honest and factual. The first page should contain enough details for a recruitment consultant or potential employer to contact you easily.
• Your CV is not an essay. Resist lengthy paragraphs and be concise. Bullet points help focus on important points and break up the text.
• Don’t have too many decorative fonts, underlines or italics. Never use famous quotations under any circumstances.
• Check for spelling errors. If you’re unsure about a word use a dictionary and don’t rely on spellchecker. Lack of care with spelling could be heavily penalised.
• Where information clearly demonstrates your suitability for the vacancy and enhances your chances of being short-listed, try to highlight this information at the beginning of your CV.
• Employment history should be listed chronologically, starting with your most recent position.
• Include details of recent training or skills development events that you have attended which could be relevant.
• List your professional memberships and all relevant qualifications.
• Make sure your CV objective as possible. Use facts and figures rather than opinions.

INTERVIEW PRACTICE

The following are frequently asked interview questions. Have a read through them and mentally prepare a brief answer for each question.

• Tell me about yourself.

• Why did you leave your last position?

• What are your goals?

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

• What do you know about this company? -  *NB

• Why do you feel qualified for this job?

• What is your most significant achievement to date?

• How would your boss describe your job performance?

• Why should we hire you?

• What are your salary expectations?

• Describe your ideal job.

• How long do you anticipate staying with us?
• How would you evaluate your present/last company?  

• Describe a few situations in which your work was criticised.  

• What was the toughest decision you had to make last year and what made it so difficult?

Interview Do`s & Don'ts

• Do know the time and place of the interview and the interviewers full name and title.
• Do know and fully understand the job description of the position for which you are interviewing and companies business overview.  
• Do allow yourself enough time to get to the interview.
• Do dress professionally. Presentation is very important. You should be well groomed in your appearance as you only have one chance to make a first impression.
• Do shake the interviewer's hand firmly.
• Do speak slowly and clearly. Don't rush your answers.
• Do ensure your answers are well thought out. Digest all available information and then formulate your arguments. All answers should be complete, honest, carefully considered and appropriate.
• Do avoid interrupting the interviewer when s/he is in the process of asking you a question
• Do ask questions to show interest in the Company and the position.
• Do thank the interviewer for their time and anything extra such as a company tour, providing you with additional information about the job or company, meeting other personnel etc.
• Don't over-answer questions.
• Don't ask about salary, bonuses, holidays, etc unless asked by the interviewer.
• Don't answer with a simple "yes" or "no". Explain answers where possible.
• Do if you are unsure of the question asked, seek clarification from the interviewer and ask him/her to repeat the question.
• Don't forget a copy of your CV, for you and the interviewer.
• Don't say anything negative about present or previous employers or co-workers.