1. Customise your CV for every job you apply for
While it may save time to have a generalised CV that can be sent out for many positions, employers will see that you haven’t taken the time to tailor your CV to the specific role, selection criteria, and key competencies their organisation has advertised for. CVs are a marketing exercise, and by not taking care or time with each individual application, you’re showing what type of employee you will be.
It doesn’t take much more time to write a custom CV, and it's worth the effort, especially when applying for jobs that are a good match for your expert skills and knowledge.
2. Research the company Article continues below…
What’s the company’s mission statement and values? What’s the full-range of services they provide? How large is the organisation? Who is their target market? Do they operate outside of Australasia? Do they attend trade and exhibition shows? Are they affiliated with any organisations or societies? What are some of the latest projects they have worked on?
Not only will this help you compose a CV that states why you are a good fit for the company, but knowing the answers to these questions will help you respond to questions should you secure yourself a job interview.
3. Be specific with your education and qualifications
Don’t just list your bachelor, masters or tertiary qualifications; be sure to list if you have an OHS whitecard, WINCAN certification, or any other qualification. Details of any qualifications that may be relevant to the position you are applying for helps show employers that you’re committed and engaged with the industry.
4. Go into detail on your previous work experience
After listing the company, your position, and the duration of your tenure, outline what your key roles in the position were, and highlight any specific achievements you made to the company while with them. Highlighting your results will demonstrate that you can accomplish the company’s goals and deliver real outcomes.
5. Be specific about your relevant skills
Be careful not to confuse skills with personal qualities and traits – this section of your CV should highlight the specific skills you have gained from your previous work experience that will be relevant to the job you are applying for. If you are across operating standards, such as AS/NZS 5601.1:2010, here is the section to list it.
This is also the appropriate section for listing any informal training courses or short-courses you may have attended – outlining the skill-set you developed from attending.
If you list a skill like budgeting, be specific about the details. For example, "As Project Manager on the X Project, I brought project costings down by 20 per cent from $XX.00 to $XX.00."
6. List any relevant trenchless memberships and affiliations
If you are a member of any Affiliated Societies (such as the Australasia Society for Trenchless Technology, Civil Contractors Federation, International Society for Trenchless Technology, etc), be sure to list these under a section titled Memberships or Extra-curricular. Memberships prove to your potential employer that you support the industry you’re working in and and are up-to-date with with industry trends and news.
7. Highlight your attendance at industry conferences
Showing your involvement and participation in industry events shows you are interested in having a career in the trenchless industry, not just a job. Also state the nature of your involvement in the conference: if you were a speaker at the event, worked in an exhibiting booth, or went as a delegate.
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