Author: Batje Chibafa

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3,614
The Interview: How to do your best!

The news arrives, you have been shortlisted for interviews. It a great feeling. You were really nervous, but it all worked out.

The CV writing tips we gave you lived up to their expectations and passed the 5 second test, granting you an interview.

Firstly, congratulations on getting to this stage!

The interview is an extremely important part of the journey to securing your new job as your prospective employer will use your presentation to decide “yay” or “nay”.

Today I want to talk about how to do well in an interview. So, here are a few tips you can use to make sure that you stand out from that competition.

Pre-Interview

Prepare, prepare, prepare. I cannot emphasize this enough.

Research

Do a lot of research on the organization. You should scour the internet to get any information you can arm yourself with (programs, financial status , thematic areas and geographical location of the work the org does).

Reach out to your professional network and see if there is anyone with “inside scoops”.

Review any public information like websites and relevant articles. 

Interviewers like to see that you were interested enough to look up the organisation  so this will be a feather in your cap if you can show some of this knowledge.

Be very familiar with the job description so that you are able to match your skills/qualifications to the requirements of the job.

Review your CV

Be able to talk about your key skills. Identify some success stories in your CV that you can refer to during the interview.

Make sure you identify examples that can show your suitability for the position and for the organization and be able to talk about these success stories in the SAR method (Situation-Action-Result).

Do some mock interview sessions

Ask someone to interview you and practise your responses to some of the standard interview questions like;

  • Tell us about yourself?
  • Why are you the most suitable candidate for the position?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?

I will go through some of these questions and tips on how to answer them during my next discussion.

Do a dress rehearsal

Make sure your outfit is suitable and still fits. (What to wear and when is an important topic we will discuss at another time.)

If you are having a Skype or phone interview make sure you plan to have a good internet connection and that all your devices are working and charged.

You don’t want your phone battery dying during that important call.

If you have a face to face interview make sure the logistics are well planned in advance… you know how to get there and you have reliable transport.

During the Interview

You will not have another chance to make a first impression so your presentation is very important . If you have prepared you will do well!. Remember you are presenting your brand. Be confident .

Make sure you are on time

Being late for your interview is not a “good look” and gives the impression that you are disorganised and maybe are not very good at managing your time. You would rather be early …

Listen carefully

Do this to answer the question you were asked. Keep your responses short and do not ramble.

Ask the interviewers specific questions

This will give you an idea of the work environment and the job.

  • What do you like most about working here?  
  • Is this a new position or a replacement?

This is a two-way conversation because you also want to know if this is the kind of organisation you can be happy working for.

Always ask the interviewer about the next steps.

Post Interview

You can continue to make an impression after the interview

Don’t forget to send a ” Thank you ” note to the interviewer(s) reiterating your interest in the position and highlighting once again why you are the best candidate.

You can also reiterate some of the highlights of the interview and you can use the note to mention anything critical you may have omitted to mention in the interview.

Feedback loop

In the end, you should also do a post-mortem of the interview and give yourself honest feedback on what you did well and what you can do better next time.

Keep the job search going and keep going until you get that job offer.

Interview sessions are available in our Gold package. Email batje@humhr.org with enquiries.

Batje Chibafa
3,846
What every Humanitarian worker needs to know about their CV content

Your resume answers the question “Why are you the best person for the position advertised”

In the last blog, I gave you the 5 tips for writing that winning resume. As promised in this blog we will chat about content construction. Ensure that those two or three pages are packed with value-add information. This is the information that answers the question, “Why are you the best person for the position?”

Who am I?

The first things on your CV are

1. Your name

2. Contact information.

Remember this is your brand so ensure that you use your name consistently across all your career marketing documents i.e. your CV, LinkedIn profile, Facebook, etc. Social media branding is very important in today’s job search world. I will talk about this another time.

Your name should stand out. So, you want it to be bold. To achieve this, use a larger font than the body of the CV. A size 16 or 18 should do the job.

This may seem obvious, but I will say it anyway. Ensure that your contact information is correct “in the present”. You don’t want to miss that invitation to an interview because you forgot to update your email address. Or because you used your “home” phone number in Kenya when you are currently deployed in Bangladesh.

The headline tells the recruiter or hiring manager in a short statement who you are. Some examples are:

  • The hero shot

What should be in your content?

Professional Profile/Summary

Here you will write a brief summary of your experience, skills or value add. Begin by highlighting in a short 2-3 sentence paragraph or bullet points what you have to offer.

  • Nailing your Profile

Areas of expertise/Skills

You will dig deep into what you are best at in this section. Point out 6 to 8 skills, focusing on the keywords in your particular area of work.

For instance, an Emergency Preparedness Expert would include:

  • Crisis Management
  • Program Development
  • Proposal Writing
  • Health Security Emergency Preparedness
  • Early Warning Systems
  • Emergency Risk Management

These are the things you want to indicate to show that you are aware of what the job entails and capable of meeting the job requirements.

  • Areas of Expertise

Career Summary/ Experience

This section is where you should “show off” your experience and qualifications. Go back 10 years and use reverse chronology, starting with your current employment. It is important to highlight your accomplishments. Do not waste your time regurgitating your job description. DO this instead!

Spend some time for each position you have held answering the question “What is it that I am most proud of? Select about 5 accomplishments and describe them using the Situation- Action- Result model.

  • Career Summary

Below is an example taken from a former client’s resume. By quantifying the work and modifying the language, you add weight and context to the statement:

[Before] Managed in-country budgets.

[After] Oversaw in-country budgets (up to 4 million pounds annually) with current budgetary oversight of 15 million Euros in 3 countries in the West African region.

Education and Professional development

This is your opportunity to display that doctorate in Public Health or International Development.

Also, use this section to show that you didn’t learn in college but that you have been consistent in your professional development activities. Talk about how you attained that leadership certificate. Include that you are emergency preparedness ready, having attended the Humanitarian Emergency response training. Any other useful and relational qualifications should be included here, to demonstrate that you are the right fit for the job.

Professional Development


There is a lot that goes into writing that winning CV. I cannot go into it all in a single blog especially without going through an actual resume to build on the points. Things such as

  • Sentence structuring,
  • The use of action verbs,
  • Turning passive into active sentences

To round this up,

  1. Start with a bold introduction that includes your name and title. Use your up to date contact details
  2. Your professional profile should capture the bulk of your experience and skills at a bird’s eye view.
  3. Maximise on the use of keywords to demonstrate your experience and appreciation of the job requirements to show your areas of expertise
  4. Your career summary should be in reverse chronology and speak to the achievements you made during each assignment
  5. All your educational and professional development training especially outside of college to show your commitment towards self- improvement and consistency in your file.

Click here to download a customisable CV template and create your own CV now.

Should you have any questions, you can contact me on batje@humhr.org. I will be happy to answer your specific questions. The first 3 people to reach out will get a free CV review.

Author: Batje Chibafa, HumHr Managing Partner

Batje has over ten years’ experience in multi-cultural experience in Human Resources, implementing Organizational Development HR strategies across all facets of the HR function. Proven history of success implementing strategic improvements, creating productive business partners, and providing value to organizations. Demonstrated strength in evaluating processes and determining cost-effective solutions to increase efficiency and improve accuracy. Has excellent organizational development and facilitation skills with a passion for positive change.

Batje Chibafa
3,652
5 Tips for writing a winning resume in the Humanitarian space

Do you know what the number one problem in writing a good CV is?

It’s making a good impression.

You only have 5 seconds to do that. What will you do to get shortlisted for that next assignment with the UN, AFDB, World Bank or any other NGO?

Your first point of call is to write a WOW resume that will get your foot in your recruiter’s door for an interview.

In this blog, I will give you some underrated yet powerful tips that will increase your chances among thousands of other competitors for the same position.

Let’s get started.

Know the requirements

Do you know that there is a difference between a CV and a resume?

A CV is generally a longer more comprehensive document and mostly used in the academic field.

A resume, on the other hand, is a shorter more pertinent document but generally, we tend to use the term interchangeably.

It really depends on circumstances but let’s not get bogged down in technicalities.

“Your CV or resume is your marketing representative and as such you want it to represent who you are and what value add you will bring to a prospective employer.”

You want your CV to represent you well and stand out from the crowd.

There are five general tips that you can use when writing your resume, namely:

  1. Font
  2. Formatting and layout
  3. Length
  4. Content
  5. Proofreading

You may have heard of the old marketing adage 5-second rule that says it takes 5 seconds to make a first impression.

This applies not only to you as an individual but also to your CV/resume.

  • Font

First things first, use a font size that is easy to read – size 10 or 11 is a good one. Settle for a conservative font type style that’s not too fancy.

Something like Calibri or Times New Roman is well-fitting.

It is standard and it will not take away from the content of the CV.

I have seen some resumes that have used a tiny font size to make things fit on a page – making it very difficult to read.

You don’t want to do this as it may frustrate the recruiter.

  • Formatting and layout  

Next, pay attention to formatting and layout and ensure that there is consistency.

For instance, if you are using bullets ensure that all bullets are the same style.

Margins should also be consistent throughout the document. Ensure that there is enough “white space” in your resume.

  • Length

Remember recruiters are going through tons of CVs. I was talking to a recruiter who is a colleague the other day and she told me that they had 5367 CVs going through their systems that they needed to physically go through.

With this in mind, you want your resume to be as “to the point” as possible.

There is no sense in having a 6-page document listing all the jobs you have ever had and the responsibilities you held in those jobs.

Keep your resume to a maximum of 3 pages.

  • Content Construction

We move on to content. When writing a resume, it is assumed to be in the first person, but you drop the “I”.

For example, you would not write, “I am a detail-oriented emergency preparedness expert.”

Instead, you would state, “Detail-oriented emergency preparedness expert with over 15 years’ experience in international development and aid.”

You should never write in the third person. You also want to construct your sentences well. Ensure you are not using passive sentences.

  • Proofread, proofread and proofread!

Lastly, and more importantly, you cannot afford to send a resume out with any mistake no matter how “small” it is. Proofread your CV.

Read it out loud. Give it to someone else to read it for you.

Print it and review it as presented on paper.

To wrap up

These tips are, of course, a tip of the iceberg as far as resume writing goes. Like you often hear ‘Content is King’. A bit more thought must be invested in:

  • how you sell yourself,
  • what you include in your sections
  • the way in which you talk about yourself and your work.

To demonstrate that you are the right fit for the job in question, you need to nail your details and descriptions. The structure and content of the resume are of great importance and we will talk about it in our next discussion as that deserves a spotlight.

In the case that you need a one on one consultation to improve your resume follow this link to schedule a call with the Lead Consultant Batje Chibafa.

Author: Batje Chibafa, HumHr Managing Partner

Batje has over ten years’ experience in multi-cultural experience in Human Resources, implementing Organizational Development HR strategies across all facets of the HR function. Proven history of success implementing strategic improvements, creating productive business partners, and providing value to organizations. Demonstrated strength in evaluating processes and determining cost-effective solutions to increase efficiency and improve accuracy. Has excellent organizational development and facilitation skills with a passion for positive change.

Batje Chibafa
3,712
5 reasons why you should volunteer today!

Have some time on your hands?

You may be in-between jobs or simply on vacation from college or school. Or taking a gap year.

Finding something but fulfiling and relevant for you, in the long run, may be difficult to do.

If you are aspiring to help heal the world and apply your self in different nations, you may be interested in this.

Keep reading.

I am a great proponent of volunteering one’s time to a worthy cause. In my view, it is servant leadership and gives you an opportunity to give back to the community that has given to you in one way or another.

Volunteering is a great way to get much-needed work experience

Before getting your dream assignment or work in that organisation you badly want, the first place to start in building your resume is by volunteering for other organisations. They may be smaller or for shorter periods, but it helps you perform better in the long run by preparing you for the contract you want.

Volunteering can help you earn a living and support your family

In exchange for your time and dedication, you will receive allowances that can help you meet your saving goals, investment goals or to support your loved ones back home.

It provides you with an opportunity to gain a fresh perspective of life

Living life in someone else’s shoe, experiencing the factors surrounding them that have shaped them can bring light to your mind. Help you count your blessings and teach you to appreciate the simple things in life. Hearing of other people’s stories can also help you to make better life decisions.

Has the capacity to enhance the lives of the people you are helping

Seriously, you can change someone’s life. And not only that you can change the world. One assignment at a time. So many pandemics globally rely on humanitarians to step in and help heal the world. You can be a part of that story as well.

Teaches you something new different every day

The perks of travelling come when you are completely immersed in one’s culture. You get to appreciate their social structures, tradition, fashion, food, skill and even language. If you love the experience of learning something new this is a great way of keeping your life exciting.

There are a whole lot more reasons out there. Find what you love and keep offering yourself up for leadership. The world needs you.

If you are interested in Volunteer activities or would like to find out more about volunteer opportunities at HumHr you can get in touch with me at batje@humhr.org

Batje Chibafa
2,782
The Five Second Rule – The Attention grabbing resume/cv


Tips for “the attention grabbing resume”  – If you prefer audio you can also listen to the tips here

I get a lot of requests to give people feedback on their resumes and because this is a time consuming exercise I usually cannot do justice in one sitting . I have come up with a few general tips that I would like to share with anybody who may be asking “Is my resume any good”?. The general rule is that your resume must pass ” the five second rule”. It only takes five seconds to make a first impression and you can only make a first impression once so make those five seconds grab the recruiters attention. I will give some tips on how to do this shortly but before I do that I would like to discuss the question ;

” What is the difference between a resume and a curriculum vitae (cv) “? ” A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet” (Juliet in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet).

Resume is a French word for “summary”- This is a snippet of one’s education, skills and employment and is usually about 1- 2 pages.

Curriculum Vitae is latin meaning “course of life” and is a more detailed narration of one’s professional experience and is generally about 2-3 pages but can be longer.

In my professional opinion though this is just semantics and the difference does  not really matter and usually a prospective employer will tell you what they want you to submit when applying for a job. The most important thing in my view is the content so focus on that .

5 second rule tips

Professional Summary

In my opinion this is the most important part of your resume as this is a summary of who you are , what your skills are and basically tells me why I should look at the rest of your resume. This section of your resume will either ” grab ” my attention or not.

Errors

Nothing will kill your chances for an interview faster than a resume or cover letter with an error or errors. Proof read and spell check your documents … whatever you do make sure that when you submit that resume there are no errors.

White Space

A resume without white space suggests clutter and chaos so make sure that there is enough white space around your paragraphs to make it easier on the eye.

Formatting

Alignment – make sure that all text , headers, bullet points and paragraphs are all aligned correctly. Even if one is slightly out it will be noticed immediately. Make sure the page margins are the same through out the document.

Font type – There are literally 100’s of different type of fonts to choose from . I recommend you choose simple and conservative . The most common types are Arial and Times New Roman.

Font style– be consistent in your font style . You can use bold , underline , italics , caps to attract the attention of the reader to key points- just be consistent

Font size – For easy reading always use one font size throughout your resume ( 10-12 points). You can increase these to 14 points for the headings.

Pictures? 

I do not recommend photos – they take up valuable space, serve no purpose and can be a hit or a miss!

For a deeper insight into your resume and individualized tips you can contact me on batje@humhr.org.

Batje Chibafa
3,614
Economic Recovery and Resilience in Crisis Environment.

I just wanted to highlight this USAID Microlinks Webinar taking place today , Tuesday (10th November) about Economic Recovery and Resilience in Crisis Environment. 

https://www.microlinks.org/events/mpep-seminars/economic-recovery-and-resilience-crisis-environments​​

When: Tuesday 10 November 2015, 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM​​

Time Zone: (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US and Canada)​​

Description:Today we face an unprecedented refugee crisis in Syria and recurrent natural disasters in places like the Philippines and Nepal. In this context, the SEEP Network is working to revise the Minimum Economic Recovery Standards (MERS). These standards articulate the minimum level of technical and other assistance to be provided to enable economies and livelihoods to recover after a crisis.

In this month’s Microlinks Seminar, we will discuss the MERS and learn from other fields practitioners’ lessons from a variety of complex operating environments.

Topics to be discussed:​​

(a) How have humanitarian agencies promoted economic recovery for affected populations in Nepal, Syria, the Philippines, and Haiti?
(b) What lessons are most useful to practitioners regarding what constitutes an effective response?
(c) What are some of the key lessons we need to focus on when revising the MERS?

The MERS were developed in 2009 and revised in 2010 with input from hundreds of practitioners on effective assistance to disaster-affected populations. The SEEP Network is updating the MERS with support from the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. This provides  a unique opportunity to discuss the latest advances and challenges in global development and disaster relief.

Batje Chibafa
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