NIM-NYSC INDUCTION COURSE

CV WRITING & INTERVIEWING SKILLS

CV WRITING SKILLS
 Session Objectives

• Know what employers look for in a CV

• Identify what needs to be included in a

‘good’ CV

• Produce a high impact CV

 Introduction
• CV or Résumé is an outline of a
person’s educational and professional
history, usually prepared for job
applications

• Nowadays, a CV will include skills,

abilities and accomplishments
 Did You Know?
• Average time spent on a
CV is

6.25 secs
– Research by The
Ladders.com

• Average number of CVs

received for each job
position is

250 CVs
 Did You Know?
• One spelling or grammar mistake and your
CV will be dropped

• 68% of employers will look for you on

Facebook

• 76% of CVs are ignored if your email address

is unprofessional
 Purpose of CV
• CV makes sure you stand out and highlights
your skills

• CV is your personal advertisement

• CV enables employers to see what you can

offer
 Types of CVs
Generic
Solicited
Industry Specific
Unsolicited
Company Specific

Education-based Formatted online

Experience-based Not Formatted
 Framework for CV Writing
1. Title of CV
2. Personal details
3. Profile/Personal Statement
4. Education and Qualifications
5. Work Experience
6. Achievements
7. Interests and Special Skills
8. References
 1. Title of CV
• For advertised jobs, ensure the title matches
the job you are applying for.

• Check for the correct job title and code

 2. Personal Details
• Name - Should be as stated on your credentials

• Address – Easy to locate

• Phone Number – Use your permanent line

• Email Address – Avoid childish email addresses

([email protected]; [email protected])

• Date of Birth – No lies please

 3. Profile/Personal Statement
• State where you are coming from and where
you are going in a few lines
• Capture your career goals and personal
attributes
• Avoid overused phrases like ‘’ A self starter;
A highly motivated team player; etc
• Focus on why you are a good fit for the job
– (your USP)
 4. Education and Qualifications
• If you are a fresh graduate (without much
experience), you must expand this part of the
CV to show your potential employer what
you achieved during your time in school

• Start with your highest qualifications, or the

one most relevant to the job
 5. Work Experience
• A tabular layout is easier to digest.
Date Employer Designation Responsibilities Duration Accomplishments

• Begin with the most recent employment

• Emphasize accomplishments
• Be consistent
• Explain gaps
 6. Achievements
• Use a separate sub-heading when you have
compelling and substantiated examples of
achievements.
• Accomplishments portray you as someone
that adds value (a net contributor)
• Draw a relationship between your
achievements and the role your are applying
for
 7. Interests and Special Skills
• If you lack experience for a role you are
applying, you may want to mention how
passionately you pursue similar roles in your
spare time.

• Check personality traits of the job in question

and see how your hobbies can relate
accordingly
 8. References
• Unless it is expressly required, you can state
that references would be provided on
request

• It is dangerous to use people that hardly

know you

• Use more of professional and academic

references, than personal relatives
 More CV Writing Tips
• Show the best side of you in the least
amount of words ( 2-3 pages)

• Change your profile on social media to be

consistent with your CV

• Use key words specified in the job advert

 More CV Writing Tips
• Appropriate font type - Times New Roman,
Ariel or Calibri

• Appropriate font size – 12

• Use bullet list to itemize your points

 More CV Writing Tips

• Edit your CV thoroughly

before sending

• Put your CV on PDF

format if you are to send
electronically
Exercise: Write down
 Conclusion
Your CV needs to be focused, contain
quantifiable achievements and include only
information relevant to help the reader say
‘yes’.

THANK YOU
INTERVIEWING SKILLS
 Introduction
• Interview is not interrogation
• The purpose is to confirm that you have the
requisite knowledge, interest and
competency
• Also to give you opportunity to know more
about the organization
• The interview begins the minute you step
onto the employer’s premises!!
 Before Your Interview

Know Yourself
• Your background
• Skills
• Achievements
• Motivation
• Vision
 Before Your Interview

Know the Employer

• Their business, products,
activities and structure
• What attracts you to the
employer?
 Before Your Interview
Know the job/role
• The gap you are expected to fill
• Relate the roles with your background
• Why are you the best person for the job?
 Before Your Interview

Hold mock interview

• Think like the employer

• List likely questions
• Write down your best
answers and rehearse
over and over
 Before Your Interview
Locate the venue

• Know how to get there

ahead of the interview
date
• Know the specific
building
 Before Your Interview
Prepare your outfit – MEN
• White shirt,
• Clean tie
• Two-piece suit - Black, navy blue
or dark grey
• Black belt, Black shoes and socks
• Haircut to be conservative, clean
shave
• Avoid strong perfume
 Before Your Interview
Prepare your outfit – WOMEN
• Shirt and skirt or gown
• Skirt or gown should be long enough
to cover your thighs when seated.
Avoid long slits
• If you must wear high heel shoes,
practice to walk with them
• Avoid strong perfume, heavy make-
up, gum in your mouth
 Before Your Interview
What to take along

• Extra copies of application letter, CV and

certificates
• Jotter and pen
• Every item should be neatly put in a folder,
including your handsets
 Before Your Interview
• Arrive 15 to 20
minutes before the
scheduled interview
time

• Turn your cell phone

OFF – vibrations make
noise
 During Your Interview

• Be aware of your poise and Body Language

• As you step in, Make eye contact and greet

the interviewers. SMILE

• Don’t sit until interviewer is seated

• First impressions are important

 The Interviewer's Scorecard
Areas of Interest Score Focus of Interviewer

Personality (Team fit) 30 soft skills, communication, attitude,

leadership, confidence
Organization 20 Logical thinking, coherence,
articulate, self management
Technical knowledge 20 Qualification, grade, course of study,
IT savvy
Appearance 10 dressing, poise, professionalism

Relevant experience 10 Transfer of skills

Enthusiasm 10 Readiness to contribute

 During Your Interview
How to respond to questions
• Have I heard and understood the question?
• What is the underlying purpose of the
question?
• How can I link my response to the job
requirements?
• Which real life experiences can I narrate?
• At what point do I stop talking?
 Typical Questions
&
Recommended Answers
 Tell Us About Yourself
Purpose
• To know if you appreciate which skills and
experiences required

• To know how fluent you are, including your

grammar

• To determine how you organize things

 Tell Us About Yourself
Recommended response
• My name is……. I hold a BSc degree in …. I am also a
Graduate Member of NIM
• I’ve been working for the past six months as a data
analyst. During this time I’ve been trained and certified
on different software platforms such as …
• I can describe myself as a person with a versatile skill-
set, a lot of integrity and a willingness to go the extra
mile. While in school, I led the …….., Recently at work, I
designed…….
• Now I’m determined to build a long term career as an
employee for a company where I can be a part of a
team, that allows me to focus my energy on my passion
which is……, and also grow professionally as a Systems
Engineer.
 Why Are You Interested In This
Position?
Your vacancy ideally fits my work experience, skills and
qualifications. Therefore I will be able to make a significant
contribution to your business as well as fulfill my potential.
I’d like to work for a company where I feel I can make a real
difference.
After researching your company I discovered that it is a
leader in the industry and has excellent reputation. I was
also greatly impressed by your companies mission
statement, values and culture.
I feel strongly that yours is a organization that I would like to
work for and be associated with. I believe your company will
help me to develop my career in the direction I want it to go.
I think I would be a perfect candidate and compatible fit for
the position.
 How Do You Spend Most Of Your
School Holidays?

• In addition to catching up with the social

media which I hardly find time to look at
while at school, I make out time to organize
my father’s home office which I usually meet
in disarray. I also update myself with
developments in ..... by reading a lot of
materials on the subject.
 Tell Us About Your Preferred Work
Style
• I am able to adapt to any workplace. I
maintain focus and a fast pace while
completing my tasks. I strive to be efficient
and ensure all work is completed properly
and without error.
• I work well on my own, but am more than
happy to work with others for collaborations
or team-based projects.
• I take my position seriously, and am
completely dedicated and driven to succeed.
How Would Your Best Friend Describe
You?

• I think my best friend will describe me as

honest, detailed and very organized. She
would say I am reliable when it comes to
delivering on commitments.

• Oh yes, she would add that I am warm,

friendly and understanding
 What Area Do People Usually Tell You
To Improve On?
• Most people I have been with will advise me to
find time for leisure. Once I get started on an
assignment, I can't leave until I've finished.

• Often, people say I ask too many questions.

Truly I tend to ask a lot of questions to be sure
of the work about to be done, and how I can
excel at it, before I start.
 Tell Us About A Project You Participated In Recently
• I was recently involved in organising our participation at a trade fair. It took
a considerable amount of planning and organisation on my part; I was the
product champion so I had to assess everything that would need to be
arranged in advance, from hiring the ad-hoc staff, to liaising with our
designers on the production of appropriate corporate literature for us to
hand out.

• I had to make sure I didn’t miss the smallest of details; for example I had to
check the plans of our stand to ensure our extension cables were long
enough to reach all our equipment. On the day itself, I was on site very
early to make sure everything was in place, tested and fully functioning
prior to the arrival of the visitors; just in case there were any last minute
hitches, which, thankfully, there weren’t.

• The event was very successful and our stand attracted a lot of attention.
We were able to reach hundreds of people and pass on their contact
details for our sales team to follow up on. Following the success of this
event, we’re now looking for similar events we can attend in future.
Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years?

• In 5 years I see myself as a valued employee

of this company.
• I would have garnered the requisite
experience to move to a senior position in my
department.
• I would be a reference point and an
inspiration for newer employees that join the
company.
 What Salary Amount Are You
Expecting?

• I am looking for a salary between N100,000

and N150,000 a month. However, I am
flexible, and I would be willing to talk about
salary in more detail if offered the position.

• More than anything, I’m really excited at the

prospect of working with this company.
 Why Should We Hire You?
You should hire me for 3 reasons:
1. My qualifications match your needs perfectly
2. I am excited and passionate about working in
this industry. So, you can count on my diligence
and loyalty
3. I have a proven record of success starting from
my school days till now. This job requires
someone who is creative. I am that person who
thinks outside the box.
 Current Affairs

• Learn about 4 burning issues within and outside

the country

• Learn about the regulators and top government

officials in the industry you are interviewing

• Learn about recent developments in the industry

 When Can You Resume?
• If you are unemployed
– Depends on how urgently you need me

• If you are in employment

– I will give one month notice to my current
employer, this will also enable me complete the
project I am handling. I will be able to resume on
Monday 16th May.
 Any Questions For Us?

• I will like to know the secret of your success

as an organization. What makes you different
from your competitors?

• What achievements do you expect of me

within six months of employment?

• Solicit for answers to questions you could not

respond to during the interview.
 After The Interview

• Send a ‘thank you’ text to the person who

invited you
• Call after a week to ask if there is a possibility
of hiring you
• Reiterate that you are flexible with salary and
other critical working conditions
• If possible, visit after one month
 Conclusion
• Your reference point during an interview is the
job description

• List at least three key qualities you have to offer

that match those the employer is seeking.

• Don't underestimate personal traits that make

you unique; your energy, personality type,
working style and people skills are all very
relevant to any job
 THANK YOU

You're HIRED!