The Mobile MBA

MANAGE YOUR CAREER

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gossiping negatively about the boss around the water cooler: such gossip

travels fast and in the wrong direction

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failing to follow the company line or policy

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trying to shift the blame for a problem onto the boss

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failing to speak up in support of the boss when the boss is in a tight situation

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hiding bad news from the boss, who only finds out about it by accident (in a

meeting with the CEO, for instance): maximum embarrassment and the boss

looks out of control.

You do not have to be a ‘yes-man’. Stand up to your boss and argue, in private so

that you do not cause loss of face in public.

ten stePs to a good cV

I have had the doubtful pleasure of sifting through several thousand CVs, look-

ing for the people we need to interview. You need your CV to stand out. You are

only as good as you appear on your CV.

Ten rules for a good CV

1 Follow the format. If the employer wants your information in a certain way,

provide it that way. If you cannot be bothered to format your experience, the employer

will not be bothered to interview you.

2 Avoid mistakes of substance, style, fact, grammar, spelling and layout. A sloppy

CV makes for a very easy decision: goodbye. Check, check and check again before

submitting your CV. Ideally, get a friend or trusted colleague to check it as well.

3 Focus on your achievements, not on your responsibilities. Even the toilet

cleaners have fancy titles nowadays. Titles do not impress: what counts is what you

have done.

4 Be positive. We all have setbacks and failures: they may come out in interview. The

CV is where you present your best face to get the interview. And never be negative

about a previous employer: if you are the sort of employee who whines about

employers, you will be toxic to all employers.

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