The CV is your sales leaflet. On average, it takes employers or recruitment agencies 20 seconds to decide whether your CV well end up in the "Yes" or "Possible" pile, or in the bin.

Here are some tips on how to improve your CV:

• Always attach a cover letter to the CV. Be short and to the point, 3-4 short paragraphs in which you describe your knowledge, experience, existing job and the reason for your interest
• Use action words such as proposed, adopted, increased, reduced, restructured, etc.
• Be short and to the point. Avoid long job and responsibility descriptions. Leave this information for the interview
• Provide specific figures, which help to create a good impression. For example - project budget, percentage of increase, number of workers, etc.
• Highlight your successes, which will impress and motivate reader to meet you.

Preparing for an interview

Job interviews are fractions of time in your life, but form very important part of your working career. A good interview may launch or speed up your career, a bad interview may momentarily make it impossible for your working career to develop.

Here are a few tips of how to prepare for a job interview:

• Prepare. Get as much information as possible about the company and the job you are applying for. The better you prepare for the interview the more confident you feel
• Listen. Concentrate and show-up your attention. A good interviewer checks your concentration
• Recognise, when it is better to keep quiet. Think before you talk
• Have an explanation why have you left your previous job and why are you interested in the discussed one
• Answer confidently and to the point
• Clarify, if you don't understrand the question
• Be ready to describe your career ambitions
• You will not make good first impression second time around. Dirty shoes, bad make-up or too much perfume may deter the interviewer even before you speak
• Check the meeting location and have time reserve.

Negotiating conditions

Here are some tips on how to achieve better result:

• Be professional. A professional approach during interviews will strengthen your position during compensation package negotiations
• Wait, until the interviewer asks you himself. It will be a signal to you that he is interested
• Be aware of your value and have a realistic expectations
• Potential employer should offer you better terms and conditions than your existing one
• Disclose your expectations after complete position description is given to you
• Define your expectations in interval, which begins slightly below and ends slightly above it. It will allow you to actively negotiate and influence
• If you will be satisfied with the parameters of the job offer, control your emotions. Too much enthusiasm may make the employer think, whether you really are worth the price.