Step Into That Top Job Now

Jobs are like men - they're only 'out of your league' if you think they are, and it's amazing what positive thinking can do. 'It happens all the time,' says John Lees, author of Take Control Of Your Career (McGraw-Hill Professional). 'People who don't strictly have the right experience do it every day. In fact, many employers look for candidates who could 'grow' into a job. The secret to bagging it is simple - don't oversell yourself.'

With a little CV magic, a dash of attitude and a lot of guts, you can get the top job - just follow our simple rules.

Tailoring Your CV	When it comes to selling yourself, remember the key difference between dating and job-hunting. Adding a few fictional extras onto your online dating profile is a little bit naughty, but fibbing on your CV is downright disastrous and can, in fact, be a criminal offence if you actually get a job by deception. And it's all too easy to get found out, especially if you lie about previous job titles, experience and qualifications. Instead, Lees advises tailoring and perfecting your CV every time you apply for a position. 'There's a big difference between stretching the truth and creating an alternative reality when it comes to writing a CV,' he says. 'And it's usually pretty evident to a potential employer if you've done the latter. If you have obvious gaps on your CV, be upfront; don't gloss over them. Companies may disregard these gaps if you can explain why your particular experience in other areas has its own merits.' So how can you create a winning CV? 'Less is most definitely more,' Lees says. 'Make sure the first page presents concrete evidence of your achievements, but don't bother including skills that less experienced people would list. So if you're the office junior but you're applying for a junior managerial role, you don't need to mention that you looked after the phofocopier.' Instead, explain that you were responsible for looking after ofter less-experienced members of staff.
Get Yourself Out There
Blag The Interview
Fix First-Day Fears

Author: Nicole Mowbray