Drop the CV and Go

Drop the CV and go (CV نمشي نرمي)

It is a colloquial expression that young Tunisians looking for work use all the time. Zouhair Belarbi, a dear friend and human resources expert, reminded me of it during a conversation we had about the employment problem in Tunisia. Sadly, in our culture, jobseekers and graduates are labelled “idle” or “out of work”, even though they are not idle at all: they have been kept out of work, and most of them are actively looking for it, which is the more positive and more accurate way to describe their situation. Why should we distinguish between “out of work” and “looking for work”? Because the first expression implies accepting the situation and giving in to unemployment, whereas in the second the jobseeker is the one acting, not the one being acted upon.

Let me take you back to how to look for a job with a clear and complete strategy. What we do every day is print many copies of our CV and then set off on endless rounds of every company, industrial zone and public body, with a single aim: to drop it at the reception desk so that our conscience is clear. Then we come home tired and worn out, waiting for imaginary calls from HR managers.

We wait for days and weeks without the phone ringing and without any answer, yes or no. Just as you dropped your CV at the reception desk, it has, sadly, found its way into the bin in those very same offices. It may seem that I am exaggerating, but I assure you that most of the time this is the reality.

First and foremost, know what you want. Do not hesitate to define your vision. What do you want to do? What are your career ambitions? Why did you choose this field rather than another? This is the most important stage of all. Once you have defined your vision, it opens the way to a second stage: analysing your abilities and personal skills, which we can consider the strong points of your CV, without forgetting the areas you can improve. I do not like the expression “weaknesses”, because no human being is perfect; perfection belongs to God alone. Some people forget or ignore this stage for all sorts of reasons and find themselves in a tight spot on the day of the interview, especially since the question “Describe your skills, your strengths and your weaknesses” is a classic that comes up very often, so you must prepare a good answer to this kind of question. At the same time, once your vision is clear and you feel confident about your strengths, I advise you to search online and draw up a list of the organisations and companies offering jobs that appeal to you. I understand that many young people want to work whatever the cost, but despite the crisis, do not throw yourself into a job you do not love. As the Chinese philosopher Confucius said: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Do not hold back from setting your priorities when choosing your future career: that is the secret of success. And finally, I insist that opportunity does not knock on the door; ambitious young people are the ones who create it.

By following these stages to prepare your job search, you will be ready for the next steps towards success… Define your vision, do not forget your strengths and your areas for improvement and development, and make sure you set your priorities so you can seize the best job opportunity and be the right person in the right place. Then go for it.

Fares Ben Souilah

International trainer and speaker in personal skills development