Axis Job Preparedness Guidelines

Job Preparedness
Guidelines
CVs & Resumés

Job Search Strategies
Interview Skills
Cover Letters
Portfolios
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Guidelines for Creating a Simple, Well-Written CV or Resume

A CV or resume usually gives the first impression of you as a person and as a potential employee,
and so it must speak very well of you. See it as your opportunity to market your personal brand
and make you an attractive, first choice pick for any job position.
Imagine that you are an employer with 2 open positions to fill.

After advertising the position, you receive 200 CVs for the 2
positions, and you have to screen all CVs in order to be fair, and
to be able to select applicants to interview. Think of some of the
things that will cause you to discard some CVs, or things that will
raise your interest in other CVs. Would you like to invest your time
in going through 200 typo-filled, colourful, disorganized and
grammatically incorrect CVs? Probably not.
Your CV must be clear and contain all the necessary information. Since you are not physically
there with potential recruiters to elaborate on anything, It must be well-organized, to-the-point,
and easy to read, and must be clean and free from any kind of grammatical or typographical
errors. The decision to interview you is usually based on the overall first impression given by your
CV or Resume. Your CV or Resume is needed to get your foot in the door – it should impress and
persuade the reader that you are a potential ‘right-fit’ for the job, and should lead to an
interview and ultimately, to a new job and career.
In this document, please take note of the following topics:

1. The difference between a CV and a Resumé
2. Components of a CV
3. Visual Layout of a CV
4. Components of a CV
5. The Dos and Don’ts of CV Writing
6. Other Job Search Strategies and Tools
7. Writing a Cover Letter
8. Interviewing Skills
This material is provided for your personal use at no cost to you. Any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this
document without proper citation, or for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited. For more information or for
permission to use this material, please contact Axis Human Capital Ltd. at info@axishcl.com
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CV AND A RESUME
CV RESUME
•The abbreviation “CV” stands for •The term “resume” comes from the
“Curriculum Vitae,” which comes from French word for summary – résumé.
two Latin words – currere and vita.
Currere means to run – as in, to run a •It is a brief summary about your relevant
course. Vitae means life, and together, background – past jobs, educational
“curriculum vita” means the course of life. background and relevant skills etc. that
you bring to the job.
•CVs are more commonly used for both
academic and non-academic positions in •The preferred format for jobs outside of
European and African countries including academia.
Ghana.
•Resumes are widely used in the USA
•The CV is typically more comprehensive,
and covers your relevant experience over
the course of your life
Resumes/CVs on their own don’t get jobs - they get you interviews, and it’s your performance
at interviews that gets you the job!
*** When sending application documents to Axis, CVs are preferred, so long as they are well-
written and follow the guidelines below. PLEASE BE SURE TO PROOFREAD AND REVISE YOUR
CV USING THESE GUIDELINES BEFORE SUBMITTING THEM TO AXIS.
COMPONENTS OF A CV
Your CV should generally consist of the following sections;
1. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
✓ Start with your name, and not “Curriculum Vitae”
✓ Bold your name and keep it in a much bigger font size so that it stands out and is easier to
remember. Keep it simple and professional – there should be no nicknames on your CV,
and if your name is long, don’t write it in full – your first and last name and perhaps one
middle name are enough.
✓ Try to fit your mailing address, phone & email on one or two lines, and save room for other
relevant information. Do not make it a distraction from more important information. If you’re
using MS Word, it is helpful to put it in as a header for the first page only.
***See the Dos and Don’ts section of this document for notes on what kind of email addresses are
appropriate for a CV.***
***Very Important Note! ***

In Ghana, it is very common to include your demographic details such as age, marital status, ethnicity,
health status, religion and other identifying information on your CV. Axis does not recommend doing
so. Please submit CVs without demographic details. Think of it this way… your demographic information
can always be inferred from the years you graduated from school, your name, your affiliations et cetera,
and so there is no need to put emphasis on them by putting them on your CV.
Regrettably, explicitly presenting such information can highlight things about you that some unfair
recruiters may use in making discriminatory decisions about you – age, ethnicity etc.
2. INTRODUCTION - PROFILE/SUMMARY
✓ A stated objective or summary is optional—use it only IF it’s to your advantage. Typically,
objectives say what you are looking for, and fail to mention what you have to offer to a
potential employer. We recommend that you use a “Profile” or “Summary” rather than an
“Objective”, so that you can share what you have to offer, rather than what you’re looking
for.
Example:
“To obtain a research-oriented position within a financial institution requiring strong analytical and
writing skills.” (If you, by all means, want to use an ‘Objective’ statement, make sure it not only
says what you’re looking for, but more importantly, says what you potentially have to offer).
✓ A “Summary” or “Profile” is better if you have many years of experience and tangible,
marketable skills.
Example:
“A financial analyst with 4 years’ experience in financial audits, company valuations, risk analysis
and financial modeling.”
✓ Regardless of what you choose to use, keep it short, simple and to-the-point, and be sure
it is no longer than 3 lines.
✓ Do not list “tired” and overused (cliché) competencies (for eg., I am detail-oriented, a team
player, hardworking, a great communicator etc.).
✓ Rule of thumb: Whether to include an objective/summary or not depends on the certainty
of your career focus. As experience increases, so does the likelihood of including a specific
objective. However, you sell yourself better with a Profile or Summary, rather than an
Objective.
3. EDUCATION/TRAINING
✓ List and highlight your degree or diploma FIRST, because that is what you are trying
to market and draw attention to, and then the name of the institution, the location and
dates can follow. If you attended a world-class institution that is globally recognized, then
you may choose to start with the institution. Our recommendation however is that you
market you and your training/knowledge first.
✓ Information in this section should include degrees received, institutions attended, and, or
degrees you expect to receive, with your expected date of graduation.
✓ Keep all educational information in one section. Do not list your thesis or final project work
in a different section. Keeping them together makes the CV easier to follow.
✓ Relevant courses completed can be included only if they fit targeted job requirements or
enhance your CV for the particular position you’re applying for. Students with little or no
work experience can list relevant courses. Otherwise, ideally, do not mention them on the
CV, but be sure to mention them in your cover letter and show how they make you a good
match for the position.
✓ Include GPA only if it is strong and distinguishes you from other applicants (at least 3.7),
or if you are applying for a job in academia. This may be relevant while you are still in
school. After graduation, do not include it.
✓ Special training, licenses/professional certifications held.
✓ Academic Awards/Honours/Recognition/Honorary Memberships
Example:
M.A., International Relations
Amazing Graduate School of Excellence, Accra, Ghana (September 2004 – June 2006)
Thesis: The Impact Of Foreign Investment On The Ghanaian Economy
4. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY/WORK EXPERIENCE

✓ This is a very important part of the CV, which differentiates you from other applicants. It
must catch your reader’s attention, and must be concise and still say not just what you
did, but how well you did it.
✓ Include your work experience in reverse chronological order - that is, put your current or
most recent job first and work backward to your oldest/first. The layout of company name,
title, and dates of employment is important, and consistency in formats is key.
✓ Selective highlighting - depending on the nature and/or requirements of the position, list
first the information that enhances your application the most – the position you held, or the
company you worked for. Whatever style you choose, you must by all means be
consistent for all the positions you list on your CV. Include:
- Job Title - highlight this by bolding it. Capital letters are not necessary. Put this on
a line all by itself so it can stand out and catch your reader’s attention.
- Even for National Service and Internships, write a title, for example, “Administrative
Assistant”, and then you can put “National Service” etc. in brackets next to it. Don’t
write “National Service Personnel” as the job title.
- Name of organization – don’t highlight, otherwise you provide free advertising on
your CV and miss the opportunity to highlight You (you may italicize to draw some
attention if it is a well-known organization and will enhance your application)
✓ Location of work (town, and if in another country, add country)
✓ Dates of employment (start – end) – it is extremely important to stick to one date format in
the entire CV. If you use month and year, be consistent. As much as possible, avoid
abbreviations (for eg, “Sept”).
✓ Work - state your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and achievements.
✓ Quantify results/specify what you did and how well you did it as much as possible – for
example, “boosted sales by 80% in first month” rather than “was responsible for sales.”
✓ Tell of your responsibilities and accomplishments using action words, but don’t overdo it –
use words like collaborated, initiated, demonstrated, enforced, implemented, launched,
negotiated, promoted, trained etc…
✓ Don’t personalize it and use the first person singular – for example, “I worked with the ...”.
This is not a letter. Avoid using the third person singular – for example, “Akosua is a
hardworking lady with ...” Avoid writing in prose also. Use bullet points, and be concise.
✓ Keep this section concise. Bullet points are useful.
Example:
Public Relations Officer

The Trusted Newspaper Accra, Ghana (July 2006 – July 2012)
▪ Developed and implemented communication strategies that boosted the company’s image
▪ Advised management on communication strategies, leading to the implementation of three
successful media relations projects
▪ Skilfully responded to enquiries from the public, media and other organizations
*** Whether the educational section should precede the employment section or not depends on
you. Select the one that makes a stronger, positive statement about you and mention that first. For
example, for a research-oriented or academic position, education should come first.***
5. CUSTOMIZED SECTION
This section could contain any/all of the following sub-sections listed here. Tailor it to suit YOUR
profile. It will be different for everyone. It is important to include information that tells the recruiter
a little bit more about you as a person with interests outside of school and work. At Axis, we look
very closely at this section, and so be careful to provide honest and relevant information.
Accomplishments/Awards/Recognition
✓ Generally, this is where you ‘blow your horn’ and let the employer know that you are an
achiever. You may list professional awards, etc.
✓ Don’t overload this section. Information in this section may also be incorporated into other
parts of the resume – for example, academic honors may be included in the education
section etc. As much as possible, integrate the awards in the sections that have information
on what you were doing that earned the awards. So, don’t list work awards in this section
alone – keep it in the work section, and you may start with those points for emphasis.
Example:
Special Recognition for Agile Leadership
2013 National Summit, Association of Digital Marketing (June 2013)
Leadership Experience
✓ Don’t sell yourself short by omitting this if you do have leadership experience. List the roles
and accomplishments – a track record of leadership, even going as far back as secondary
school is important.
Example:
LEADERSHIP
Treasurer
AIESEC - Excellence University College Chapter, Accra, Ghana (June 2004 – June 2005)
Professional Memberships/Affiliations
✓ List these if it enhances your application – professional associations, honorary memberships

etc.
Example:
PROFESSIONAL/ACADEMIC AFFILIATION
▪ Member, Ghana Journalists’ Association
▪ Member, Institute Of Sustainable Development
Professional Development
✓ You may list the short courses, training sessions etc. that you have participated in. Be sure
to give the title and then the organization that gave the training, the location and date.
Example:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Advanced Proposal Writing Workshop (March 2008)
Foundation for International Development, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Volunteer Experience
✓ If you have served as a volunteer, you may list that information as well – the organization,
any accomplishments etc.
Example:
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Civic Education Teacher
Sweet Mary Community School, Tarkwa, Ghana (January 1999 – Present)
Skills
✓ List specific, tangible, marketable skills - computer literacy, languages spoken, typing
speed, use of specific tools etc. (list the specific software or tools etc. You may group them
into categories – software development, statistical analysis, publishing, art/design etc…)
Example:
SKILLS
▪ Microsoft Applications: Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.
▪ Graphic Design Software: Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw
Interests And Activities

✓ You could include recreational activities and interests. Be honest. This shows you as a
rounded person, and sometimes may catch the eye of the recruiting manager and spark an
interest in you.
Example:
INTERESTS/ACTIVITIES
Photography, traveling, reading biographies and blogging (www.mycoolthings.blog.com)
6. LIST OF REFERENCES
✓ This is a separate sheet with a list of names and addresses of people who know you in a
professional capacity.
✓ Make sure you ask them first to act as referees for you before you list them, and also make
sure their contact information is current. Do not list friends and family members.
✓ Indicate their names, affiliations (company, institution, etc), position/title, physical address,
telephone number, fax number and email.
Example:
REFERENCES
Manager, Quality Improvement
The Trusted Newspaper
Mr. Kwabena Ayikuma
P. O. Box DS 2409
Dansoman, Ghana
Tel: 029-1234098
Fax: 021-999999
Email: kwabena.ayikuma@trustednews.com
DOS AND DON’TS
The lists of Do’s and Don’ts of CV writing provided in this section are by no means exhaustive.
GENERAL CONTENT
✓ Always have an updated/current CV with you wherever you are. Always email and save
the most recent version to yourself so that you can access it wherever you are.
✓ Mention your accomplishments on the job, not just descriptions of what you did, but tell
your potential employer how well you did it.
✓ Don’t use casual, unprofessional email addresses such as sexymama1@... … or

bigdaddy2@... Use addresses that are professional and have your name.
✓ Do not paste or attach passport pictures, or images of your certificates, diplomas, ID
cards et cetera. The recruiter will ask you for it if he/she needs to see it. When making
submissions to Axis, please do not send anything more than a CV unless otherwise
specified.
✓ Don’t include your list of references on your CV. The document is about You, so don’t
bring in other people to distract your reader’s attention from You. Excluding such
information reduces the instances where people can discriminate against you based on
who you list as a reference. Alternatively, having certain names listed as references can
give an unfair advantage to some people.
✓ At the bottom of the CV, you may add that references are available upon request, and do
have a reference sheet ready every single time you hand a CV out.
FORMATTING/STYLE
▪ Use one [conservative] font type, and make it consistent throughout the entire document.
(for example, Times New Roman, Arial, etc., instead of Monotype Corsiva, curlz or Mistral).
▪ Make use of various tools that highlight sections – bullets, bold, italics etc., and make sure that
your usage is consistent throughout the document.
▪ Leave enough margin space all around the CV – at least 0.8 to 1.0 inches
▪ Use good quality paper – bright white, laser paper, not off-white paper.
▪ Number your pages in the bottom corner.
▪ Use laser jet printing, so that the CV is sharp and clean.
▪ Don’t use colored paper or colored font – keep it simple and professional.
▪ Don’t use different kinds of fonts
▪ Don’t write in prose, making your CV look like a letter or an essay. Use bullet points
▪ Stick to the same date format – don’t use 12/2020 in one section and Dec. 2020 in another
section.
▪ Avoid using tables in a CV, and instead, try to organize your information without having to
rule lines etc.
▪ Avoid using tabs to create a table-like section in a CV. Spaces between tabs will differ, and
then look untidy.
GRAMMAR
▪ Use action verbs to describe your accomplishments – for example, “boosted” sales by
75%.
▪ Make sure you use the appropriate tenses for past positions, present tenses for work in
progress etc.
▪ Proofread! Proofread! Proofread! Proofread the document thoroughly to make sure there
are NO errors. Read it out loud if you have to. Typos and grammatical errors are
unacceptable!
▪ Don’t take shortcuts such as using the phrase “same as above.”

▪ Don’t use abbreviations such as “Sept.” for September or “Sec. Sch.” for Secondary School.
▪ Don’t mix spelling styles – for example, American and British spellings (favor vs. favour)
▪ For both your CV and Cover Letter, do not use all capital letters! Avoid overusing capital
letters. If you use them for section headings, maintain that style throughout. It is bad
‘netiquette’ to use all caps – it means you’re shouting or yelling at your reader!
▪ Don’t use the word “I” (avoid pronouns), and do not write in the third person – for example,
“Ernest is a hardworking man …”
▪ Avoid using the word “other” (for eg, “other activities”) – it trivializes whatever you include in
that ‘other’ section and makes it seem marginal and unimportant in comparison to what you
say prior to that ‘other’ section.
VISUAL LAYOUT/PRESENTATION
A reverse chronological format lists your experience, starting with the most recent, while the
functional format groups your experiences into thematic areas. Most often, reverse chronological
and functional formats are combined and used. The CV may list your experiences by skill/functional
areas, and then within each functional section, it lists positions held in reverse chronological order.
This is a commonly recommended format.
Final Words …
✓ INTEGRITY is non-negotiable!!! Be comfortable with every statement, and be ready to
elaborate and defend what is on your CV in an interview any day, any time, anywhere.
✓ Your CV is an evolving document – always have an updated resume!
✓ Your CV should be bold, but not flashy, and should show your confidence in your abilities,
without sounding like a braggart. You’re competing with many other people; this is not the
time to be overly modest.
✓ Use intelligent and simple language, but don’t try to impress the reader with big or
uncommon words or phrases; keep it simple and straight to the point.
✓ Be sure that you save your CV with proper identifying information. Rather than save it
as “curriculum vitae,” save it with your first and last name, for example, “Sheila Vale – CV”
or something similar. It makes it easier for the recruiter to quickly save and also identify
your CV. Make sure that the name and/or email address you send your CV from is the same
one on the actual CV.
✓ Never cut and paste your CV into an email – email accessing programs differ, and so the
format changes and it turns out jumbled and difficult to read 99% of the time. Cutting and
pasting in the email is just a simple no-no and a no-go area!
✓ Ideally, have different formats of CVs, targeting different jobs/employers – highlighting
what is most crucial in getting that employer’s attention – education/skills/work history.
✓ Keep track of your job applications – especially when you send your application to
different websites, note where you sent it – date, to whom, the response et cetera. This can
help you to remain organized follow up on sent CVs and interviews.
JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES & TOOLS
Now that you are armed with a great CV, you have to be proactive in finding that new job that will
lead you closer to your career goal! Be aggressive and use multiple means to job hunt. Do not sit
and wait for the job to fall into your laps. Remember that not everybody will be interested in hiring
you right away, but there is a spot for you somewhere, so you cannot afford to give up after a few
unsuccessful tries.
Where to look
Direct responses to job advertisements (Newspaper job ads, Online website

job ads and Recruitment agencies
Cold calls/visits – there is no harm in sending your CV and a well-written,

tailored cover letter to a company you would like to be a part of. Conduct
regular follow-ups to find out if there are new job openings.
Online professional networking sites such as LinkedIn. Connect to people

and let your connections know you are on a job search.
Initiative-taking – this is a proactive, creative strategy. Perhaps you have

noticed that their processes when you go there are not smooth. Prepare a
PowerPoint presentation outlining how they could improve processes and send
it to a decision maker in the company. Add your contact information, and follow
up... There’s no harm in taking such a bold step, even if you are not invited to
join the company.
Who-U-Know – ask people you know, but don’t rely on their efforts. You
may ask them to give you the actual names of HR Managers so that you don’t
go looking for “the HR Manager” but rather for “Mrs. Afia Sample”. Don’t
make this method your first and only method for job hunting.
*** Track your job applications so that when you are called, you know what the job details are. You
may create a table to track where you send your CV, the date, contact information, etc. etc. ***
COVER LETTERS
Use this whenever you can, unless they specify that you do not add it. You may attach the cover
letter or put it directly in your email. If the job posting asked you to submit a cover letter and CV,
attach them as two separate documents.
✓ Keep it short and real!; cover letters should stick to one page and use a standard business
letter format
✓ Your first paragraph should introduce you to the recruiter. Mention the position you are
applying for and your reason for writing (to obtain an interview). After mentioning that you
are interested in so-and-so position, mention where you learnt about it from.
✓ The second paragraph should include any specific skills/accomplishments that may be
embedded in your resume. Consider using bullet points to highlight accomplishments and
what you can contribute to the company.
✓ Your final paragraph should tell them that you look forward to hearing from them soon, and
thank the person for reading your resume/cover letter
✓ If the posting only asked for your CV, then you can put a brief cover letter/note in the actual
email. *Note: if you do not know the gender of the recruiter, refrain from writing Dear Sir,
or Dear Madam. It is better to combine it and say “Dear Sir or Madam.”
✓ Your cover letter should mention the position for which you’re submitting the
application, and where you saw it. If there is a reference number or other such information,
be sure to mention it in the cover letter.
✓ Your cover letter should essentially be a sales pitch. Employers could receive hundreds
of CVs for each job opening, your cover letter should make you stand out in a positive way
✓ Avoid ‘tired’ and unnatural phrases that everyone else uses. For example “I hereby submit
my CV to your highly reputable organization for your perusal.” Be yourself, and allow your
Cover Letter to sound natural and engaging.
✓ If you are mailing the hard copy of your CV rather than emailing it, find the specific person
you need to address it to, and do so. Use a large envelope that will not be crumpled,
✓ Demonstrate why your skills and your background make a perfect match for the position
you’re applying for by stressing one or two unique abilities/skills (make sure they remember
you)
✓ Do not send applications meant for one company (Shell, Ghana Ltd.) to another company
(Axis). It shows that you are disorganized and do not pay attention to details.
✓ Consider using bullet points in your middle paragraph to further highlight accomplishments
and what you can contribute to the company.
✓ Your cover letter should not summarize your background (that’s what a resume does)
✓ Address it to a person, not an organization, and make it conversational without being too
casual. It should engage the employer’s interest and make a connection between you and
the recruiter
✓ Don’t send a blank email. Cite the position in the subject line of your email. At least, you
must reference what you’re applying for.
✓ You can gain an extra edge by showing that you have some specific knowledge about
the company. It shows a genuine interest in the job you’re applying for.
✓ Appearance – positive opening, clear and concise, no longer than a page, professional
and easy to read
✓ Proofread! Proofread! Proofread! One common mistake that applicants make is to send
a cover letter written for another position in another company they previously applied for
to a different/new company. That’s one of the worst mistakes you could ever make – it tells
the recruiter that you are not diligent in doing things properly and paying attention to
details. (How would you feel if your partner sent you a love letter that was addressed to
someone else?☺)
PORTFOLIO
✓ If you’re in a field where you have tangible things/products to show your skills, organize
them in a portfolio, and use them in job searches and interviews as appropriate. This is
especially useful for the self-employed, or people who wish to become self-employed.
✓ If you’re in the fields of IT, architecture, fine arts, engineering, writing catering, sewing etc,
this is a very useful way of carrying samples of your work.
▪ Diagrams of your technical designs – laminate them so they can last.
▪ An album of your handiwork – cakes you’ve baked/events you’ve catered for,
clothes you’ve sewn, hairstyles you’ve fixed etc.
▪ Public recognition – feature articles or press releases etc.
▪ Software Applications you have created or designed.
▪ Products you have created and are portable.
BUSINESS CARD
This is useful especially for people who seek to go into self-employment. You can easily print them
yourself on card sheets with pre-cut separation lines for business cards or you can design them
and have them printed out by professionals.
✓ Your card must be professional

✓ Avoid too many graphics and colors
✓ Use conservative font types and colors
✓ Provide relevant information – name [business] and a tag line you use in advertising your
business – tell your audience what you do
✓ Contact information - address/telephone/fax/email information, and a website if you have
one.
INTERVIEW SKILLS
✓ Plan to arrive early! Going by GMT (Ghana Man’s Time) does not leave a good impression.
Late arrival for an interview is never excusable. If you are running late because of problems
along the way, call the person you are meeting for the interview, apologize, and give them
a realistic time when you can get to them. For example, you are stuck in traffic because
of an accident on the road, 20 minutes before the interview, anticipate how much time it
will take you to get there, call and let them know that you are running late. 100% of the
time, this is better than silence. Be realistic!
✓ Learn about the organization hiring and the position you’re applying for! Visit the
company’s website, or at least google those to find out what they do, how you fit in and can
contribute, etc…
✓ Prepare!!! Don’t just show up! By doing your homework, you’ll become more familiar with
your qualifications and you will be well prepared to demonstrate how you can benefit an
employer. Find someone who can walk you through a ‘mock interview.’ Be sure not to
‘chew and pour’ information at an interview – recruiters can tell you’re ‘reciting’ answers.
Be sure not to sound stiff or robotic or mechanical. Keep it real! Keep it real! Keep it real!
✓ Come equipped
▪ Bring several copies of your CV and a list of references.
▪ Visit the company’s website and learn as much as you can about them.
▪ Also, bring a pen and notepad to jot down any information you may need to
remember
▪ Prepare intelligent questions of your own, about the company, the industry, the
position for which you’re applying etc.
Examples:
▪ What is the largest single problem facing your company?
▪ What provisions are made for employees to make creative contributions to how business is
done?
▪ Do you [recruiter] foresee any reasons why I may not be selected for this position?
✓ Turn your cell phone and any/every noise-making gadget of yours off or put it on
silent. Having your interview interrupted with phone calls is an absolute ‘no-no.’ Texting
during your interview is also an absolute no-no!
✓ Dress code - Presentation

▪ Dress professionally and comfortably. You may be judged also by what you
wear. Be curious to know the dress code of the company to help you dress
appropriately and fit in. The usual professional, interview attire is a suit for both
men and women - black or some other conservative color such as dark grey,
dark/navy blue, dark brown suit with light-colored (white, light blue, grey, cream
etc…) plain shirts underneath. When in doubt, dress as conservatively as
possible. If you do not have a suit, just keep it simple – black and white, non-
distracting, conservative business colors. Your appearance should not be a
distraction from you and what you can do.
✓ Look sharp! No crumpled clothes, untucked shirts, stains, dirty shoes etc…
▪ Women - avoid large earrings (the smaller, the better), avoid too much make-up
(blue eye-shadow etc), other ornaments like bangles/wrist bands etc., that can be
a distraction from the substance you have to offer. Keep the hairstyles simple –
don’t carry any ‘basket’ or colorful hairdo on your head. Avoid revealing clothes
– low-cut necklines, mini-skirts, sleeveless tops etc… Force your interviewer to
focus on the substance of what you have to offer without being distracted by
secondary things. (Your looks may get you the job, but may not keep you in it –
substance!)
▪ Men – be clean-shaven, and don’t mix ‘busy’ shirt backgrounds – large plaid
background (check-check), or loud and ‘busy’ neckties. Match your belt and shoe
colors.
*** At Axis, women’s suits made from African fabric are fine. We would prefer to see both male
and female applicants in business casual attire, presuming that those are the business clothes
that you would wear to work on any regular working day. We do not require an “interview uniform”
(formal, black suit) at Axis, though wearing a dark-colored suit is standard for most organizations.
Please note that the preference for business casual attire pertains to Axis, and should not be
applied to all other organizations.
✓ Interaction/Rapport
▪ Greet the interviewer by title (Ms., Mrs., Dr.,) and last name if you are sure of the
pronunciation (this means you have to ask them their names when you are called
for the interview (before you show up).
▪ Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting down.
▪ Don’t lean forward and/or put your elbows on the recruiter’s table.
▪ Don’t lean backward and relax as though you are watching television in your living
room.
▪ Look a prospective employer in the eye while speaking
- Eye contact shows confidence, self-assurance, and shows that you are
paying attention.
- Look alert and interested at all times.
✓ Q&A
▪ Don’t lie! - answer questions truthfully and frankly, precisely and promptly.
▪ Don’t under-answer questions with a simple “yes” or “no” - explain whenever
possible.
▪ Don’t over-answer questions with long, meandering responses.
▪ Don’t rely on clichés that are not true for you, or that you cannot defend. For
example, “I am a team player” and “I am results-oriented.” When you say that, be
ready to back it with evidence. *The same applies to hobbies. If you say you enjoy
reading novels or watching movies for example, be prepared to recount some
books you’ve read or movies you’ve seen!
▪ Don’t make unnecessary derogatory remarks about present or former employers.

It is better not to say anything at all than to be negative.
▪ When asked if you have any questions, always make sure you have prepared
some intelligent questions. Never say “no” and just sit there. Show some interest
and/or curiosity about the company. If you did your homework by learning about
the company, it will be easier to ask smart questions about the position, the
company etc.
▪ You may ask about the nature of the job – is there cross-training so I can learn how
to perform other functions? Ask honest questions about basic things if you have
such questions – work hours, how many people you would report to, whether you
would be working in a team, etc. When given the opportunity, you can inquire about
career development opportunities, benefits etc.,
▪ The salary question is often the most uncomfortable/most difficult. It is better to
give an informed response. If you know what the standard earning is for similar
positions, you may tell them the minimum you would accept (don’t mention a range
that sets a maximum; never give a ceiling, and always give a floor). Be sure to
mention that you are more interested in the opportunity than in a specific salary, if
that is true in your case.
▪ If the interviewer asks what salary you want, one option is to indicate what you
currently earn, and indicate that you would like to earn more than that.
▪ At the end of the interview, if you are serious about improving your interview skills,
you may ask the interviewer to give you feedback on your performance, and what
you can improve.
✓ Following the interview
▪ It’s important that you write a thank you note to the interview team.
▪ In your letter, be sure to reemphasize the skills you would bring to the position.
▪ Thank them for their time and ask if it would be alright to call later in the week to
see how their search for a candidate is going and the status of your application.
Follow up, but be sure not to harass recruiter(s) to the point where they want to
have nothing to do with you.
Now you’ve got the job, what next?

✓ Take your job seriously – be punctual, and work hard!
✓ Be ‘positively proactive’ – take the initiative to do things that will move the organization
forward. Basically, think of things you can do to make work easier and help the company
to be run better, only be careful not to stray into no-go territories. If you are unsure about
anything, ask!
✓ Explore and take advantage of the benefits that come with your job – professional
development etc.
✓ Remember that you may need recommendations from the people you’re working with
now – don’t jeopardize the relationships you have. Never burn any bridges!
✓ Congratulations! Now go out there and shine!

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Job Preparedness

CVs & Resumés

Guidelines for Creating a Simple, Well-Written CV or Resume

Imagine that you are an employer with 2 open positions to fill.

In this document, please take note of the following topics:

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CV AND A RESUME

Your CV should generally consist of the following sections;

***Very Important Note! ***

4. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY/WORK EXPERIENCE

Public Relations Officer

✓ List these if it enhances your application – professional associations, honorary memberships

Interests And Activities

DOS AND DON’TS

✓ Don’t use casual, unprofessional email addresses such as sexymama1@... … or

▪ Don’t take shortcuts such as using the phrase “same as above.”

JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES & TOOLS

Direct responses to job advertisements (Newspaper job ads, Online website

Cold calls/visits – there is no harm in sending your CV and a well-written,

Online professional networking sites such as LinkedIn. Connect to people

Initiative-taking – this is a proactive, creative strategy. Perhaps you have

✓ Your card must be professional

✓ Dress code - Presentation

▪ Don’t make unnecessary derogatory remarks about present or former employers.

✓ Following the interview

Now you’ve got the job, what next?

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Very Important Note!