Careers Advice can take so many forms, ranging from advice from a close friend or relative to a full career assessment and a structured plan carried out by a qualified careers advisor. One of the problems is that almost anyone can set themselves up as a careers advice counsellor and the various certifications and qualifications are not clearly differentiated. Most careers advice is intended for and directed to college or school graduates. The quality of this advice varies tremendously and often it is the case that the advisor has little or no real experience in the market place within which careers are built and followed.
In the current climate of job insecurity, it is increasingly the case that careers advice needs to be sought by those who have already been engaged in the job market and who have a chosen profession or role already well established. Advising a college student or graduate is very different from advising a professional, already having several years of experience in their chosen career path. The starting point for any careers advice should be a detailed analysis of what it is that motivates inspires and rewards any particular individual. This can be wide ranging and almost infinitely variable from person to person.
Happily we all have our own desires, wants, and values and one person’s inspiration can be another’s total turn-off. In an already established career these wants and values can be influenced by past experience in previously held roles or jobs, where the particular values may or may not have been met.
Once you have identified your particular wants needs values and requirements, the next stage should be the identification of your own skills, talents and competencies. These will be used in preparing your resume or CV. The resume fulfills several objectives. It must first get you noticed. Anything beyond a two page resume is too much and will be likely overlooked by whoever is doing the recruiting.
Bear in mind that the recruiter would probably rather not have many resumes to choose from. For him or her, they just want the perfect candidate. It is up to you to be that perfect candidate and a resume that imparts sufficient information is the starting point. Avoid long winded explanations and confine yourself to laying out your past achievements, demonstrating as you do so, your suitability for the role you are seeking
The resume is the selling document for the product. The product is