When you register with Lifting Placements, we cannot guarantee that we will find you a position, however we will assist you in your job search as well as market your skills to potential employers whilst matching your experience to the positions we may have available.

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Over the years, we have seen some interesting applications. As a Job seeker you need to remember that your application is your number one advocate, it represents you long before you get the opportunity to represent yourself.

 

A sad truth is that many prospective job seekers do not make it past the first step, due to poor or incomplete CVs. Whether you are in the construction or accounting industry, your CV should be professional, concise and easy to read. We’ve put together a few tips to guide you during the application process.

 

Let’s start with your Cover Letter;

 

• When applying for a position your cover letter should accompany your CV.

• A cover letter is not supposed to be a duplicate of your CV, rather a short, to the point description of who you are, highlighting your strengths and career achievements.

• Make it a personal description, don’t copy from a template.

• Start off by clearly stating the specific position you are applying for, then continue by making a connection between the specific job requirements and your background.

• Always proofread before hitting the send button!

• Think of it this way - This might be your only opportunity to make a good first impression, so make it count!

Next step, your CV!

 

Consider your CV as your secret weapon for getting that perfect position. It is important that you take your time when compiling your CV and don’t rush through it just to get done. Your CV should represent you in a professional and truthful manner.

 
Keep the following in mind when preparing your CV:

• Firstly, let’s address the clip art era. The fancy colourful fonts or a computer image of a graduation cap, eagle, or someone working at a desk aren’t appealing; it adds no value.

• Recruiters and HR managers receive hundreds of applications a day, and don’t have time to open a CV and scroll through outdated clip art, they need to immediately have relevant information in front of them.

• Somewhat uncomfortable but necessary personal touch. Add a recent professional head-and-shoulders photo to your CV.

• Choose an easy-to-read font and stick to it.

• Refrain from using "neighbourhood slang" or “text slang” in your CV or any correspondence.

• Ensure that your contact information is up to date, we can’t tell you how many candidates couldn’t move forward in the hiring process for the mere fact that they weren’t reachable.

• Have all your information follow in order, don’t jump back and forth from one section back to the previous section, this causes confusion and wastes time for the recruiter or HR manager reading your CV.

• When listing your employment history, start with your most recent position and move backwards from there.

• Highlight your career achievements.

• Spend less time listing all your hobbies, and rather spend more time emphasising on your skill set and or education.

• Pay attention to grammar and punctuation.

• And again, PROOFREAD!

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A short, concise cover letter accompanied by a professional CV sent to the right person for the right job is the first step towards securing the interview for the job you always wanted.

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Finally, the interview stage!

 

Interviews can be nerve-racking to say the least. But remember this is your opportunity to sell yourself as the best candidate for the position, so it is important to make a great first impression. The first step to doing that, is making sure you are presentable, punctual, and prepared.

 

Here are a few tips on how to prepare for an interview:

• Do some research on the company.

• Read and understand the job description, remember to find ways to link your experience and skills back to the job description.

• Practice ways to answer common interview questions that best highlight your experience.