10 QUESTIONS AN EMPLOYER NEEDS ANSWERED

What does your curriculum vitae reader need to know? - Here are the 10 big ones!

1. WHO IS THIS PERSON AND WHERE DOES S/HE LIVE?

This is the most basic information.

2. HOW OLD IS THIS PERSON?

Yes, this question is illegal, but employers are human and they still want to know. Just don't hide anything or resort to exaggeration.

3. DOES THIS PERSON HAVE THE NECESSARY EDUCATION, AND HOW WELL DID S/HE DO IN SCHOOL?

Your employer needs to know if you have degrees or have won honours, and how they relate to potential positions.

4. IS THIS PERSON CARELESS AND SLOPPY?

This is why the appearance of your materials is so important.

5. DOES THIS PERSON SEEM INTERESTED IN MY NEEDS AND PROBLEMS?

The employer wants someone who is going to make his or her job easier. In general terms this means a self-starter who is easy to get along with and who has a fundamental understanding of the company's goal.

6. DOES THIS PERSON HAVE THE WORK EXPERIENCE TO DO A GOOD JOB? WHAT WORK HAS THIS PERSON DONE?

The easiest way to answer this question is with a well-done, chronological resume in a clean, crisp layout.

7. DOES THIS PERSON HAVE PROBLEMS THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY EVIDENT?

Career gaps? To many jobs? To few jobs? A potential employer would rather know what's wrong than to be left wondering what you're hiding.

8. WHAT THINGS - SPECIFICALLY - HAS THIS PERSON ACCOMPLISHED?

Keep focused on the word accomplished. When you give a clear road map, an employer can see a perfect match of skills and responsibilities if it exists, or can make the bridge to what you could do.

9. HOW HAS THIS PERSON HELPED SOLVE PROBLEMS?

Tell your prospective employer how what you've done in the past has had a positive effect on productivity, sales, or cost cutting.

10. CAN I TRUST THIS PERSON?

Here's where fluffy language may come back to haunt you. You can tell when a person isn't being "real". Be straightforward or the employer could wonder what you're trying to hide.