I AM NOT A CV PERSON !

It’s great dealing with students, young and enthusiastic people. It gives you a firsthand observation of energy, courage and hope. Although, a times you also see someone trying hard to find courage and hope yet in most cases it’s always a youthful experience. Anyways, cutting the story short; this morning a fresh graduate girl drops by the office. “I was wondering if there is any job interview going on?” says the girl with decent study glasses on her nose. “Miss, although there isn’t any such thing going on, you can drop your CV with us and we’ll let you know if there’s any relevant opportunity available.” That was a reply I tried to make as much professional as possible. “Oh! I’m not a CV person.” This time I raised my brows and thought what is that supposed to mean. “Miss, CV is the first thing you should have if you are looking for a job.” I said that with a smile on my face and feeling good that I was saying things like HR managers. LOL. (I’m a marketing person basically). “I know”, says the NUST graduate. “But I don’t carry CV and nor I email. I’m a CV by myself.”  This time I got it. She was a very bold and self confident girl inspired from the motivational speakers who are teaching us (the youth) to be unorthodox and think out of the box. “Oh I see”, with a smile on my face I told her to wait and talked to some senior manager. “Atta, CV is the first thing for any job.” says my senior, as I expected. I apologized for no current openings and she left with the determination of sharing no CV. She was a “No CV” person.

There are many reasons for this write up. Definitely, this was an out of the box way of asking for a job. It shows motivation and the courage to break the old rules. But would it work? I guess, it won’t work for many reasons. First of all there are always some procedural norms in every organization. Secondly, centralization is dominant in organizations and there’s a long way in most of the organizations in Pakistan (hierarchy). Thirdly, the job market is not that good. Jobs are not so easy available that your first confident move (or overconfident?) would make you desirable in the eyes of employers/businesses/organizations. Higher unemployment rate has made a large pool of candidates available to the organizations. CEOs are sharp enough to choose the one with better skills and more experiences after several interview sessions. First impression may not be the last impression. (It might be the the last, but for you...so be careful).

Drafting and crafting a good CV is the first thing you should do after you graduate if you are looking for a job. A CV may not tell everything you are, but it does summarize the skills you have with a little touch to your past (background information).  Yes, we all know most of the times people exaggerate things on their CVs. If you can’t defend it don’t put it down on the CV. The interviewers are people with experienced eyes and sharp mind (If they are looking for the best).

  

No matter how bold, talented, self confident and out-of-the-box guy or girl you are, you should have a well drafted CV with you so that you can email it and drop it to the employers to make the first impression. Inflation, unemployment, centralization, SOPs and volatile job market make it hard for the “I’m not a CV person”.