We presented our first Shine Club Wine #CareerGoals Masterclass in January 2022. We learned so much about how to achieve your professional dreams from some incredible women who have done just that!

One of these lovely ladies was the entrepreneur and digital business coach, Nyaki Tshabangu. Her work in coaching clients to level up their businesses means that she knows how good impressions are made. And your resume is the first place to start.

Here’s what Nyaki says you should include in your CV and how to boss up your LinkedIn profile so that you get that interview request.

What to Include

1. Cover letter – this must speak to the job you’re applying for.

2. Contact information – make getting in touch with you as easy as possible.

3. Personal statement – who are you and what are your dreams professionally?

4. Work experience – list past jobs. If you don’t have any, mention community work.

5. Education – your matric, tertiary-level qualifications and job-specific education.

6. Skills – anything you’ve learnt that’s diversified you as an employee.

7. Professional certifications – anything you need to be allowed to perform the role.

Optional: Additional training and courses – show them just how qualified you are!

What to Leave Out

1. Home address – not only is it unnecessary, it’s also unsafe!

2. Date of birth – what’s your age got to do with it?

3. Language proficiencies – unless you are applying for a language-related role.

4. Irrelevant work experience – your teen job didn’t teach you about corporate life.

5. Social media handles – keep your personal and professional life separate.

6. Photo – this is only necessary if it’s professional or relevant.

DIY CV Design

No, you don’t need to have epic design skills to put together a cute and concise CV. There are some great free websites and apps where you can use templates to create one that looks slick and professional. Nyaki loves Canva and its easy-to-use interface.

If you are applying for a corporate rather than creative position, Nyaki says a neat Microsoft Word or Google Doc converted into PDF format (very NB!) is completely fine, too.

Level Up Your LinkedIn Profile

1. Professional headshot – put your best foot, or best face, forward.

2. Background photo – you can search for nice banners on Canva.

3. Bio – use words related to the work you’re looking for

4. About – summary of what your CV and cover letter would say.

5. Experience – show your skills using keywords to make you visible online.

6. Recommendations – glowing recs from your connections will verify your abilities.

Nail Your Interview

As the former Editor-in-Chief at COSMOPOLITAN magazine, I’ve done my fair share of interviewing prospective candidates. Here are my tips for nailing your job interview, from the perspective of the interviewer:

1. Practice strong answers. Do this by researching and preparing for some common interview questions, and practice them in front of the mirror or with a friend to check how you are coming across.

2. Prepare smart questions. It’s always good to show you’re interested and engaged. Understanding the role and the company will help you think of informed questions.

3. Don’t be late! Being late for your interview is a red flag! Make sure you’re on time, even early, by planning your route beforehand, and putting it into Google Maps which will show your route even without data.

4. Remember your manners and body language. Being friendly, thanking the interviewer for the opportunity, smiling and making eye contact can go a long way. First impressions matter!

5. Be authentic, concise and upbeat. Remind yourself that you are there for a reason because the interviewer believes you are qualified. Let this allow you to relax so your personality can shine!

Missed the masterclass? Click here to watch the full video and get all of Nyaki’s tips (plus her bonus hack to make your CV easy for recruiters to find online!). Make sure you never miss another one by signing up for our newsletter here.