People often ask me if they should have a professional LinkedIn profile. And I always tell them that all professionals are expected to have a LinkedIn profile in today's job market.

What follows are five key reasons to have a solid LinkedIn presence.

#1 You're on Google

When you apply for a job, prospective employers will Google your name in all likelihood - if they like your CV, and your LinkedIn profile will most likely appear in Google search results. A striking digital presence will maximise your chances of success in your job search.

#2 Building Trust with Prospective Employers

Even billion-dollar businesses need testimonials to win their prospective customer's trust. Similarly, you need LinkedIn endorsements to gain your potential employer's confidence. By allowing employers to read your LinkedIn recommendations, you can boost your reliability as a prospective employee.

#3 Hiring Managers, Headhunters and Recruiters are on LinkedIn

You've probably heard this many times, but I'd like to repeat. Hiring Managers, Headhunters and Recruiters are on LinkedIn. They are looking for candidates like YOU who are suitable for different job roles, and I assume you already know this. Need I say more?

#4 Personal Branding

For those who don't know what Personal Branding is - Wikipedia says: "Personal branding is the practice of people marketing themselves and their careers as brands". There's no doubt that LinkedIn helps you build a powerful personal brand that encourages recruiters and headhunters to contact you.

#5 LinkedIn is the Future of Hiring

Hiring process today is very different than it was a decade or two ago. Gone are the days when you'd hand out your CV to a hiring manager in person. The world is becoming digital, so it is safe to say that online job interviews and LinkedIn recruitment would become the new hiring standard in a few years from now.

Want your LinkedIn profile professionally written? Get our team of world-class professional writers working on your LinkedIn presence.Click here.

We all know that the purpose of a CV is to get you job interviews. Landing your dream job is not an easy task to accomplish, and it all starts with your CV as it is the first thing noticed about you by your future boss.

Believe it or not, your CV is your biggest career marketing tool, so why would you want it to be anything less than extraordinary? Here are five secrets of a killer CV that can really "sell" you to Kiwi employers.

Ditch The Objective Statement

Why? Because it’s outdated, it's dull, and it doesn't help you stand out from the crowd. Instead, use a powerful executive summary (a.k.a career summary) that tells prospective employers who you are and what you can bring to the table.

Skills-focused or Work-focused CV

Choose a work-focused CV if you have a long work history or consider having a skills-focused CV if you are new to the workforce. It is crucial to select the appropriate style and distinctly depict why you are the best candidate for the job.

Provide Evidence

Hiring managers need evidence for any claims made in your CV, so instead of just saying - "I possess great leadership skills", you can state something like - "Headed a team of 5/10/20 representatives whilst training them on a weekly/monthly basis, which led to a 15% increase in quarterly/half yearly revenue".

Keep it Clear and Concise

Executive movers & shakers are often busy and may simply not have the time to read your entire CV, so it is best to keep your CV short and straightforward. You do not have to list every job or course that you've ever done.

Include Overseas Employer's Information

Let's say you have come to work in New Zealand from overseas. You may have worked for an employer in your home country that was well-known locally, but Kiwi employers may not be familiar with your ex-employer, so it makes sense to include a short description about your ex-employer indicating their profile, size, and location.

Having trouble getting a job? If you are unsuccessful in getting a job, it might not be because of what you are saying but how you are presenting yourself on your CV. This is where you need the services of a professional CV writer.

CV writers are trained professionally to write, create and edit CVs to the highest industry standards. They are not just professional writers; they are experts in making your CV standout from the rest of the applicants.

Let’s take a look at the reasons why you need the services of a professional CV writer.

Quality Work

With the help of a professional CV writer, you can accurately represent your noteworthy skills and achievements with no mistakes on your CV. Along with this, professionally written CVs by certified writers can be tailored to specific jobs within your industry.

Style of Resume

CVs are also supposed to be visually appealing in order to get more than just a passing glance. You might not be familiar with the latest trends in CV writing but a professional writer may be able to give your CV the flair it needs and can ensure your CV reads the best when compared to other CVs.

The Art of Talking About Yourself

CV is a depiction of your key skills and accomplishments. There are chances that you are shy and would need the help of a professional CV writer who can assist you through the writing process. There is no shame in seeking help as writing about yourself is much harder than you can imagine.

Further, a professional CV writer knows how to bring your strengths in the limelight and can turn your CV into something that is both professional and personable.

Keywords

Yes, it is true, keywords on your CV are extremely important. These keywords are quick things that most hiring managers look for. While you might have trouble deciding what to include and what not to include, a professional CV writer would know exactly what to highlight and what to downplay.

Cost

There is no denying that job search costs money. Initially, paying for a professional service may be seen as a wastage of money. But the truth is, it is unquestionably worth it as it reduces the overall time it takes you to get a job.

Among the several things that matter for landing the perfect job; your CV holds the utmost importance. It is the first noticeable thing about you, for the employer. An employer will discard a CV that they find written in an unprofessional way. Not only do you have to take care of typos and grammar mistakes, but also consider the professional appeal of your CV.

Let’s take a look at some points on how a great CV can enhance your chances of landing your dream job.

Positive First Impression

Since your CV is the first communication channel between you and your prospect employer, it is solely responsible for creating your first impression. A CV should be written in the most professional way and should be easily readable for the authorities to leave the perfect impression.

Appearance Matters

Not many job seekers pay attention to it, but the appearance of a CV does matter. Create your CV by using professional fonts, leave adequate margins on both sides, use proper line spacing and justification so as to get the perfect look. A CV that has all the right elements mentioned above will definitely give it a professional look that will help the candidate stand out.

Creating Value

Your objective with your CV should be to create your value with your prospect employer. It should clearly focus on your job experiences, skills, and projects you have handled so that the employer could have the idea about your qualities and why they should hire you. A CV written in an expert and professional manner can easily separate your job responsibilities from your major accomplishments making it easy for recruiters to know what you can offer them.

Receiving More Interviews

Applying for numerous jobs by sending out your CV and receiving no interviews is a sure sign that your CV is not catching the eye of the people that it needs to. A poorly crafted CV will only hide the talents that you have to offer and a great CV can save you from disappointment and get you job interviews in no time.