WINTEC students advised to double check CV’s in COVID-19 climate of job competitiveness

by Tim Gray

WINTEC students maybe celebrating
the end of year or final year in their WINTEC degrees. However, one
lecturer/tutor and WINTEC’s sole career advisor says students are still getting
it wrong when it comes to selling themselves to employers, with substandard
CV’s.

WINTEC Career Advisor, Aroha Gillette also adds that because COVID-19 has intensified the competition for work, she strongly advises students not only get it right but encourages them to get creative and purposeful in selling themselves to employers.

NZ Diploma of Journalism lecturer and tutor, Charles Riddle says this year’s students in his class had been fine tuning their CV’S.

Riddle, who has been in the role for more than 20 years says simple things such as spelling mistakes, as well as incorrect listings in experience and not understanding the importance of listing your latest educational qualification first, were annual, repeat offenders.

 Gillette, told the Waikato Independent that her student CV problems evolved around CV”s being far too general and not specific to the job being applied for.

“The amount of CV’S that are general and not specific to the role is probably the biggest concern I see when looking at CV’s. I tell the students that I am working with that the best bit of CV advice I can give them, is to make each CV specific to the role they are applying for. There is no point, ‘spraying and praying ‘ which basically means writing one general CV and spraying it out to hundreds of jobs and praying for a positive result. Making a CV specific to each role you are applying for increases your chances of being successful in finding work.”

Gillette admits spelling mistakes exist but will help students correct them and point out the importance of walking the talk so to speak, on or in a CV.

NZ Diploma of Journalism student, Valu Maka, who has sent her CV’s out in search of work and has also conducted a zoom interview for a newsprint reporting position, says one important CV aspect from Riddle is to maintain a CV on one page.

“You can always fill in the employer with more information at your interview. Her class of students were also encouraged to “keep the CV pretty basic, with no fancy borders or over the top typography”.

Riddle echoes the need and importance of a family or friend CV proof-reader. Gillette also challenges students to use herself and others to proofread CV’s, before letting any employer see it.

Gillette also challenges students to use networks to find employment as 80% of jobs, she says are proven not to be conventionally advertised. “Step outside your comfort zone and get creative with looking for work, ” she says.

Riddle states that “Essentially your CV is a great way to sell yourself to future employers, so it is important to get.it right.

Former students or Alumni have up to a year where they are still eligible to use WINTEC Student Services.