CVTips Frequently asked questions

Click on the type of problem you have and you will be presented with a list of freqeuntly asked questions on the topic.

Resume       Interview       Job Search       Cover Letters       CV

Do you need help with your job search? What kind of JOB SEARCH problem do you have?

  1. Resume

    1. Format

      1. How to format an e-resume?

    2. Tips

      1. How to write a targeted resume?

    3. General

      1. What are the most important things concerning resume writing?

      2. Why am I not getting a response from my resume?

      3. How to make a winning resume?

    4. Distribution

      1. How do you send your resume electronically?

      2. How to preserve the formatting of the resume?

      3. Will your resume be ready when the opportunity comes?

      4. Does one resume fit all job vacancies?

      5. Should a formatted print resume be one of several tools?

    5. Style

      1. Which resume styles are used by job seekers nowadays?

      2. Should you consider using a functional resume?

    6. Teen

      1. Is a resume a valuable job-seeking tool for a teen?

      2. How to create a successful resume for teens?

    7. Skills

      1. Why is it important to link my skills in the resume to the job I seek?

    8. By Job

      1. Should a designer resume incorporate design elements?

    9. Content

      1. How do I write a stand-out Resume?

      2. How should my mention skills in the resume ?

      3. Should I put as many personal achievements and accomplishments as I can on my resume?

      4. Why is it important to redo your resume pieces at a time, not at once?

      5. Does the resume influence the job interview?

      6. What to consider while writing your resumes?

      7. Are specific accomplishments necessary in your resume?

      8. How to list hard and soft skills in your resume?

      9. Should creative professionals list all skills in the resume?

      10. What is the importance of keywords in a resume?

      11. Why should i use summary section of resume to highlight skills?

      12. What are the common mistakes creative professionals make on their resumes?

      13. Tell some resumes dos and donts?

      14. What should you include in your resume?

      15. Should an e-resume focus on your accomplishments?

      16. How do you use keywords to enhance your resume?

      17. Will your resume end up in a keyword database?

      18. Is creating an e-resume difficult?

      19. Do I need to send a cover letter with every resume?

      20. How to avoid employer irritation with poorly crafted e-resumes?

      21. How to improve the appearance of your resume?

      22. How to create powerful resume wording?

      23. Are regular updates to a resume important?

      24. Layoffs looming? Update your resume now instead of waiting

      25. When should I update my resume?

      26. Do employers agree on preferred resume length?

      27. 1 or 2 page resume ?

      28. Can a graduate resume be longer than one page?

    10. Improve

      1. How do I know which keywords to use in a resume?

      2. How to highlight your skills on a resume ?

      3. What should I focus my resume on ?

      4. Can listing accomplishments elevate your Cover Letter and Resume?

      5. Has someone criticized your resume?

      6. Is it important to make accomplishments the focus of your resume?

      7. How to sharpen the focus of your resume for best results?

      8. Should skills listed on a resume be more that just keywords?

      9. Where to add keywords in the resume?

      10. What is an electronic resume?

      11. Should a resume connect with reader in an instant?

      12. How to create a reader friendly resume?

      13. Where should you get your resume advice ?

      14. Do I need to match my resume and cover letter ?

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  2. Interview

    1. After the interview

      1. Should I send a thank you letter after the second interview as well?

      2. What should I include in the interview thank you letter?

      3. If I met with more than one person, should I send a thank you letter to each?

      4. What format should the thank you letter be?

      5. Can I call after I have sent the thank you letter?

      6. If I reject the job offer, should I write a letter to the effect?

    2. Thank You letters

      1. Won't it appear as if I am trying just a little too hard if I send a thank you letter after an interview?

      2. How much weight does the thank you letter carry in the interviewer's hiring decision?

      3. Should the thank you letter be handwritten or typed?

      4. Can I just send an email thank you note or should it be a hard copy?

      5. Can I make use of a sample thank you letter?

      6. If I had a panel interview, should I send a personalized thank you note to each one?

      7. How long after an interview should I send the thank you note?

      8. If I know my thank you note will only reach the interviewer after a decision has been made, should I still send one?

      9. How can I make my thank you note stand out?

    3. Body Language

      1. What type of handshake is appropriate when I go for the job interview?

      2. Should I greet a woman interviewer with a handshake?

      3. What do I do when the interviewer stands too close for comfort?

      4. How should I sit?

      5. What should I do with my hands?

      6. Should I accept drinks offered?

      7. How can I read the interviewer's Body Language?

      8. How can I use my Body Language to my advantage?

    4. Questions to ask

      1. If given the opportunity to ask questions, what type of questions can I ask?

      2. What type of questions should I avoid?

      3. Can I ask for the position or to be on the shortlist?

      4. What type of questions can I ask a startup company?

    5. Personality

      1. What is a good answer when asked how my colleagues would describe me?

      2. What should I answer on the question when asked to tell something about myself?

      3. How do I answer when asked what I will do if I have all the funds and time that I could ask for?

      4. What type of books do you read and name a few of your favorite movies? How do I answer this type of question?

      5. I need tips on the best answer when asked what motivates me.

      6. If asked how I would interview the interviewer, what would be a good answer?

      7. What should I answer when asked what my weakness is?

      8. If asked what my strengths are, should I list all of them?

      9. Why do they ask questions such as 'If you were a car, what color do you think would suit you or what kind of animal would you be if you could choose?'

      10. Is it a trap when they ask what annoys me?

      11. If asked what do I hate, can I be honest?

      12. If asked what kind of person I get along with the best, what should I answer?

      13. What is the best answer for the question 'How do you measure your work effectiveness?

    6. Behavior

      1. Will they ask me examples of how I handled difficult situations or customers?

      2. Why do they ask: 'How do you take criticism?'

      3. When asked to sell a product to the interviewer, what tactic should I use?

      4. If asked for an example of how I resolved a dispute between two persons, what should I answer?

      5. Should I say how I like not to be managed when asked how do you prefer to be supervised or managed or not to be?

    7. References

      1. Will they ask me whether they can call my references?

      2. Will they ask me how I know the references and what my current relationship with them entails?

      3. How many references should I give?

      4. Do I provide originals of recommendation letters or references?

      5. Do I need to ask permission before I list someone as a reference?

    8. Dress Code

      1. What should I wear to an interview?

      2. What should I not wear for a normal corporate interview?

    9. Trap Questions

      1. What are the main questions used to create stress or pressure on a job candidate during an interview?

      2. On what do they focus with blaming questions?

      3. What are proof related questions about?

      4. I need an example of a competency question.

    10. Employment questions

      1. Will they ask why I left my previous employer and how should I answer?

      2. How should you answer 'What part of your previous job did you like the least?'

      3. If the corporate culture at my current or previous employer is less than perfect, should I say so when asked about the company culture at the employer?

      4. Will they ask why I want to be part of their team?

      5. How should I answer the question about where I see myself in 5 year's time?

      6. Why do they ask how many hours a week I prefer to work and what is the best answer?

      7. What should be mentioned as my priority when asked how I balance my work and personal life?

      8. On the question of what distinguishes me from the other applicants, what should I answer?

      9. If asked how I got to apply for the job, what should I answer?

      10. How should I answer if the interviewer asks me if I don't think that I might be over qualified for the position?

      11. What is a good answer when asked if I would consider working for the company's largest competitor when they offer me a job?

      12. If asked what my salary expectations are, should I aim high?

      13. What should I answer if asked what I see as the dream or ideal job?

      14. How should I answer when asked how many days I have been absent from my previous job?

      15. If asked what interests me about the position, what should my answer be?

      16. How can I relate my experience to the job?

      17. How should I answer when asked why they must hire me?

      18. Can you provide a few questions normally asked during the first job interview?

      19. Can they ask what my current remuneration is?

      20. When asked how do you meet deadlines, what should my answer be?

      21. How do I explain frequent job changes?

      22. Are there any types of questions that are illegal?

      23. What if salary isn't mentioned during the interview at all?

      24. When asked how I would respond if I receive the job, should I indicate that I am happy?

      25. How should I answer if asked to provide an example of one time when I performed bad or did poor work and how I handled it?

    11. Preparation

      1. How can I prepare for the interview?

      2. How to get past an initial screening with your resume?

      3. How to win interviews with your cover letter?

    12. Documents

      1. Should I provide a cover letter at an interview?

    13. Interview Mistakes

      1. What are the most common interview mistakes?

    14. Types of interviews

      1. What is a stress interview?

      2. What is the screening interview?

      3. What is a panel interview?

      4. What types of questions will I get in a technical interview that I will not get in a normal interview?

      5. What is a lunch interview and how do I handle it?

      6. What are the basic table ethics for a lunch interview?

      7. Who pays the bill with a lunch interview?

      8. What is a behavioral interview?

      9. How should I handle the telephone interview?

      10. What is the main aim of the second interview?

      11. What is the group selection strategy, used during the second interview?

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  3. Job Search

    1. Credibility and Trustworthiness

      1. For job search purposes - are you bonded when you have posted bail for someone else?

      2. Is it possible to be bonded without my knowledge?

      3. What does being 'bonded' mean and what is the implication for job search?

    2. Basics of job search

      1. How to maximize your college investment?

      2. What would be some advice for new graduates entering the job market?

      3. Do you know why employers are hiring?

    3. Background Checks

      1. How should I conduct a job search if I served time?

      2. If a person was fired due to a drug test failure, can an employer refuse to hire the person based on it?

      3. Why would a company request my social security number (identification number) before I am hired and should I give it to them?

      4. If I was discharged from the military service - will it have a negative influence on my job search?

      5. How much consideration is given to the consumer report on an employee when hiring decisions are made?

      6. Can infractions on my driver-s license influence my job search negatively?

      7. I did a job search and wasn-t screened for drug use before I got hired. Can the employer request a drug screen at a later stage?

      8. Is it possible for the employer to find out whether I have completed high school?

      9. Will it come up in a background check that I have been fired?

      10. If I have recently been declared bankrupt at any stage, will it influence my job search?

      11. If I became unemployed due to a traumatic experience outside the work environment, should I disclose the information to next employer - won-t it have a negative influence on my job search?

      12. Will a criminal or arrest record influence my job search - may the employer decide not to hire me because of it?

      13. What is a credit or consumer report and where do they get it?

      14. Is it possible for a recruiter or prospective employer to find out if you have been fired for fraud or theft?

      15. When you do a job search, can a future employer get your military information or record without your consent?

    4. References

      1. Can an employer ask my previous employer about job attendance?

      2. What should I do when my most recent reference is not so great?

      3. Can a company contact a person's references after they have hired him?

      4. I am conducting a job search and the prospective employer wants to call my current employer, should I give him permission?

      5. For job search purposes, can I ask my current employer for a letter of recommendation or to be a reference?

      6. Must your previous employer answer questions about you?

    5. Experience & Qualifications

      1. When I do a job search - how can I state that I was retrenched due to re-organization in a positive way?

      2. Will it count against me in my job search if I held several temporary jobs for a period, when I want to get a permanent job now?

      3. If I have several degrees in business management and turned to the education field after being retrenched and would like to get back into the corporate world - will the teaching period count against me in the job search and hiring process?

      4. In my job search, should I mention that my reason for leaving my previous employer was because of verbal abusive language and discrimination?

      5. How can I explain long periods of unemployment when I conduct a job search?

      6. What are the most important soft skills that employers require in most jobs?

      7. If two persons of different sexes with the same level of qualifications, soft skills and experience apply for a job - how is the hiring decision made?

      8. Is it possible to still find a good job after a long period of unemployment due to disability - any job search advice?

      9. Will bad grades have a negative influence on my job search?

      10. In my job search, how can I create a good impression with an employer when he requests more information before he will hire me?

    6. Pre-employment tests

      1. How do I prepare for job entry tests?

      2. What type of job entry tests can I expect?

    7. Working from home?

      1. job search for online survey positions: how legitimate are the paying for taking survey jobs?

      2. Job search for home based work: are there any real income-earning 'stuffing envelopes' jobs?

      3. Should I take a chance on the Internet work from home opportunities?

      4. What types of home based jobs are available to a person with no experience?

      5. What are the working from home job options?

      6. Where should I look for jobs that can be done from home?

      7. What is working from home?

    8. Already Employed

      1. I am 'fed up' at work is getting another job the only option?

      2. If I am frustrated at my current employer and want to get other employment, but don't get time to do the job search - should I quit to get time?

      3. Shall I tell my current employer I am looking for another job?

      4. How can you obtain a reference from your current employer for job search purposes?

      5. How do I change my line of work?

      6. Can I quit a job after only four weeks of employment - how will it influence my job search?

      7. How can I get a higher paying job?

    9. Jobs Abroad

      1. How do I find a job in Asia?

      2. Please name a few seasonal jobs that I can find in the Alps

      3. I am thinking of leaving my home country to look for work where do I start?

      4. If I am looking for overseas employment, which jobs are the most in demand?

      5. What jobs are in demand in the Far East?

      6. What jobs are in demand in America?

      7. What jobs are in demand in Europe?

      8. How do you conduct a job search in another country?

      9. When I do a job search, will the employer regard my experience or qualifications as more important?

      10. How do I find a job in India?

      11. What is the best way for finding employment in Australia?

      12. What are the highest paying jobs in the USA?

    10. Job Types

      1. Where can I find adventure jobs?

      2. What are fun jobs for a student?

      3. What types of seasonal work can I look for at ski resorts?

      4. Should I opt for permanent, temporary or contract employment?

      5. How do I search for temp jobs?

      6. What are the benefits of contracting?

      7. What are the disadvantages of contracting?

      8. How do I search for internship positions?

      9. Must I be a student to apply for an internship position?

      10. What are the main activities of a cartoonist?

      11. What types of jobs are available in the construction field?

      12. I am doing a job search and came across a job in customer service. What does this type of job entail?

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  4. Cover Letters

    1. Format

      1. Are two-column cover letter formats appropriate for responding to job advertisements?

      2. How many kinds of cover letters are there?

      3. Does a well-designed cover letter matter?

      4. Does the look of a cover letter matter?

      5. What is the use of postscript in a cover letter ?

      6. Can you use "bullets" in a cover letter?

    2. Improve

      1. How to make your cover letter fit for the audience?

      2. How to give personality to your cover letter?

      3. What is the selling point of your cover letter?

      4. How to edit and improve your cover letter?

    3. Distribution

      1. When I send a cover letter by mail, should I also send a hard copy?

      2. What information should be included when I send my cover letter via email?

      3. How do I email my cover letter?

      4. If I don't have the name of a specific person, who should I address my cover letter to?

      5. What email address should I use?

      6. Can I fax my cover letter?

      7. Should I include my CV or resume and other documents when I fax a cover letter?

      8. What format should the fax cover letter be?

      9. How can I draw attention with the fax cover letter?

      10. Why attention is a grabbing opening vital in cover letter.

      11. How should I use cover letter to show off communication skills?

      12. Is it necessary to address a cover letter to a specific individual?

      13. To whom should I address my cover letter?

      14. Is it necessary to send resume and cover letter together?

      15. Why do you need to include a cover letter with your job application ?

    4. Tips

      1. How to spice up the opening of a cover letter ?

      2. Is your cover letter helping or hurting your job search?

      3. Should I include salary requirements in cover letter?

      4. Can careless cover letter errors mess up a job search?

      5. What is the effect of a poor;y written Cover letter ?

      6. How does a cover letter influence hiring managers?

      7. How to speak about employer's needs in cover letter?

      8. How to grab reader's attention with the first sentence?

      9. How to use cover letter to become a stand-out applicant?

    5. General

      1. How many kinds of cover letter are there?

      2. Do I always have to write a Cover Letter?

      3. How long should the cover letter be?

      4. How much information do I have to include?

      5. Hand or typewritten?

      6. What if I make a mistake?

      7. Do I use the letter to explain things like gaps in my employment?

      8. How do I format the letter?

      9. When should I write the letter?

      10. Should I proof read it myself?

      11. What if I email my application?

      12. To whom do I address the letter?

      13. Do I mention my salary requirements or expectations?

      14. Do I mention I was sacked from my last job?

      15. Do I mention my referees?

      16. Do I use a standard letter for each application?

      17. What kind of language should I use?

      18. Should I follow up with a phone call?

      19. Do I mention my marital or family status?

      20. Do I mention my age?

      21. How do I sign off?

      22. Can I repeat the information that is in my CV?

      23. What mistakes should I avoid in my cover letter?

      24. If the ad mentioned salary, should I acknowledge it in my cover letter?

      25. Should I first mention the purpose of the cover letter or thank the employer?

      26. How do I use bullet points in a cover letter ?

      27. Do I need to include a cover letter with a job application ?

      28. Why is it important to pay attention to your cover letter?

      29. Should the cover letter and resume mirror each other?

      30. How to avoid fatal mistakes in cover letters?

      31. Should my cover letter be my autobiography?

      32. How to avoid a wimpy cover letter?

      33. How do I make my cover letter more effective?

      34. How to critique your own Cover Letter?

      35. How to make a cover letter count?

      36. What are the basics of cover letter writing?

      37. Why do the majority of HR managers want a Cover Letter with a job application?

      38. How important are cover letters to HR managers ?

      39. How should I end my cover letter?

      40. How to impress employers with a cover letter?

      41. What Do You Know About Cover Letters?

      42. How can your cover letter separate your from the competition?

      43. What is the importance of a cover letter?

      44. Are cover letters important?

      45. To whom do I address the cover letter ?

      46. What is the definition of a cover letter?

      47. Is contact information in a cover letter a must?

      48. What is the role of a cover letter?

      49. What are the different types of cover letters that exist ?

      50. What are the dangers of an egocentric view in a cover letter ?

      51. Do cover letters matter in e-submissions?

      52. Why should I use two-column formatted cover letter?

    6. Types of

      1. What is a job application cover letter?

      2. Is the letter of inquiry and a marketing letter the same?

      3. In the letter of inquiry, what should the main focus be?

      4. How do I close the letter of inquiry?

      5. What is a referral cover letter?

      6. When should I mention the referrer in the cover letter?

      7. What is a thank you letter and when should I use it?

      8. What is the structure of the thank you letter?

      9. What is the purpose of a letter of acceptance?

      10. What information should be included in the letter of acceptance?

      11. What is the purpose of the letter of declination?

      12. What information should be included in the letter of declination?

      13. How can I use the cover letter to my advantage when I want to make a career change?

      14. Should I show that I have done research about the company in my cover letter?

      15. What are the strategies for writing a follow-up letter?

      16. How to write a post-interview follow-up letter?

      17. Why is it important to send a post interview letter?

    7. Content

      1. Why should I use headlines in cover letters?

    5. Back to top

  5. CV

    1. Job Section

      1. How can I compile my CV to obtain a job in teaching with only six month's work experience?

      2. I need help with a CV for freelance clerical or administration work, please advice on how to proceed.

      3. How should I write my CV for freelance work in proofreading and editing with little to almost no experience?

      4. Can I mention 'women's rights' in my CV to get a job in a male orientated work environment?

      5. How should I write my CV for a job in the accounting field?

      6. How do I model my CV for a superintendent job in teaching?

      7. Can I use the normal CV format for a job in the film industry?

      8. How can I adapt my CV to obtain a high profile job or to make a severe career change?

      9. Need advice on what to include in my CV for a job in the actuarial industry.

    2. References

      1. If I am applying for a job in projects or research, should I include my lecturer's recommendations on the CV?

      2. How can I provide references or list my previous employer on my CV if I was fired?

      3. Can I list my references at the end of the CV?

    3. Information Disclosure

      1. Should I disclose my race on my CV?

      2. Should I include maternity leave taken on my CV?

      3. Is it necessary or advisable to disclose on my CV that I also run a small business to supplement my income?

      4. Can I disclose the names of clients in my CV that I have done work for at my previous employer?

      5. Is it necessary to disclose a criminal record or felony on my CV?

      6. How can you disguise your age on the CV if you may be considered too old for a position?

    4. Situation

      1. What if I really struggle with writing a CV and don't possess good writing skills?

      2. How can I make it look acceptable on my CV if I am over qualified for the job?

      3. Is it reasonable for a prospective employer to request that I list more skills on my CV?

      4. How can I use the too young factor to my advantage on my CV?

      5. What if most of my skills have been gained through projects while at school, even though I have worked for a period. Should I include the skills gained at school in my CV?

      6. How can I relate military experience on my CV to jobs in the private sector?

      7. How can I disguise a work that I did for a long period, which I would rather not mention on my CV?

      8. Is a different type of CV needed if you have worked in another country for all your work life?

      9. How can you state 'drop-out' from a course or change in study direction in a positive way if you haven't finished the first course on your CV?

      10. What if my CV has been described as excellent, but I still don't get the interviews?

      11. How do I give myself a job title in my CV when self-employed all my work life - doing several short projects or small jobs?

      12. How can you make the work history section of the CV more presentable when you had several jobs and some together with numerous short projects?

      13. How do I include my salary history in my CV if the employer requested the information?

    5. CV types

      1. What type of CV is relevant for a job in web-design?

      2. When should I rather use a chronological CV instead of the functional CV?

      3. When should I use an inventory type of CV?

      4. Can I send the inventory type of CV to several employers at once?

      5. What does the employer mean when he says I should send a summary CV?

      6. When will I use a summary CV if not requested?

      7. What information should be included in an academic CV?

      8. What type of CV can be used for contracting work?

      9. Can I use one CV for several employers?

      10. When should I consider using the targeted CV?

      11. Can I make use of a CV template if I am not good at writing?

      12. When should I use a combination CV?

      13. When should I use the functional CV?

      14. Where can I find examples of curriculum vitas?

    6. CV Distribution

      1. Can I fold the CV if I want to post it?

      2. What format should I use when I would like to post my CV online?

      3. How can I make my CV scanable?

      4. In what format should I save my CV if I want to email it?

      5. How can I make sure that my CV can be faxed?

      6. Should I post my CV after I have faxed it to the employer?

      7. Can I fax an unsolicited CV to an employer?

      8. Is it acceptable to present my CV on a disk?

      9. What can I do to prevent my CV in email format to be blocked by Spam filters?

    7. Format

      1. Where should the education section be listed on the CV?

      2. In what order should the information be listed on the CV?

      3. Is there a difference between the CV and resume?

      4. What is a good length for a CV?

      5. In what order should the information be organized on my CV if I lack work experience?

      6. What format can I use for citing salary requirements and should it form part of the cover letter or CV?

    8. Presentation

      1. Is it acceptable to present my CV in a ring binder presentation file?

      2. Can I send my CV just stapled in the corner?

      3. What type of paper should be used for my curriculum vitae?

    9. Objectives

      1. What should be the first step in writing a good CV?

      2. What should the focus of the objectives section in my CV be?

      3. Do I always need to include an objectives section in my CV?

      4. What if I have numerous career objectives, should I include them all?

    10. Content

      1. What if I lack experience and don't have enough information to make a full CV?

      2. Should I include my marital status, citizenship, dependants and identification number on my CV?

      3. Is it necessary to include references on my curriculum vitae?

      4. What information is essential for my CV?

      5. What should be excluded from my curriculum vitae?

      6. When should I include a picture on my CV?

      7. To what extent should I include hobbies and interests on my CV?

      8. Should I include results from the exams on my CV?

      9. How many years history should be covered on the CV?

      10. How can I overcome the negative aspect of a long unemployment period on my CV?

      11. Will the CV be read if I don't put the exact starting and ending dates for employment?

      12. Should the dates for graduation from high school and or university be included on the CV?

      13. What contact details should be provided on a CV?

      14. What is the most important information on a CV?

      15. What should the CV be about?

      16. What buzz words are acceptable on a CV?

      17. What if you have not yet finished studying and are already applying for a job. How should you indicate your qualifications on your CV?

      18. What are the no-no's for a CV?

      19. Should I use present or past tense to refer to job activities on my CV?

      20. How can I make sure that my CV will get attention?

      21. What are the main weaknesses that I should avoid on my CV?

      22. What documents should I use as a basis for writing my CV?

      23. Should my CV always be accompanied by a cover letter?

      24. How can I impress the employer through my CV in the suggested ten seconds to read method?

      25. What do employers look for on a CV?

      26. Can I use one personal profile on my CV for all the jobs in a specific industry?

      27. If my position title is not representative of my actual job, can I change the title to be more reflective of my responsibilities on my CV?

    11. Countries

      1. If I have worked in another country all my life and would like to apply for a job in Australia. How should I model my CV for Australia?

      2. Is there a specific format CV for France?

      3. Is there a specific format for the CV if I would like to apply for a job in Japan?

      4. I would like to work in India, how can I tailor my CV?

      5. Do I need a specific type of CV for Hungary?

      6. What length should a CV be for a job in Sweden?

      7. Is there any specific information that is required for my CV if I would like to work in Italy?

      8. What should be emphasized on my CV for a job in Ireland?

      9. What is considered important for a CV in Greece?

      10. How do I model my CV for Germany?

o you have?

  1. Resume

    1. Format

      1. How to format an e-resume?

    2. Tips

      1. How to write a targeted resume?

    3. General

      1. What are the most important things concerning resume writing?

      2. Why am I not getting a response from my resume?

      3. How to make a winning resume?

    4. Distribution

      1. How do you send your resume electronically?

      2. How to preserve the formatting of the resume?

      3. Will your resume be ready when the opportunity comes?

      4. Does one resume fit all job vacancies?

      5. Should a formatted print resume be one of several tools?

    5. Style

      1. Which resume styles are used by job seekers nowadays?

      2. Should you consider using a functional resume?

    6. Teen

      1. Is a resume a valuable job-seeking tool for a teen?

      2. How to create a successful resume for teens?

    7. Skills

      1. Why is it important to link my skills in the resume to the job I seek?

    8. By Job

      1. Should a designer resume incorporate design elements?

    9. Content

      1. How do I write a stand-out Resume?

      2. How should my mention skills in the resume ?

      3. Should I put as many personal achievements and accomplishments as I can on my resume?

      4. Why is it important to redo your resume pieces at a time, not at once?

      5. Does the resume influence the job interview?

      6. What to consider while writing your resumes?

      7. Are specific accomplishments necessary in your resume?

      8. How to list hard and soft skills in your resume?

      9. Should creative professionals list all skills in the resume?

      10. What is the importance of keywords in a resume?

      11. Why should i use summary section of resume to highlight skills?

      12. What are the common mistakes creative professionals make on their resumes?

      13. Tell some resumes dos and donts?

      14. What should you include in your resume?

      15. Should an e-resume focus on your accomplishments?

      16. How do you use keywords to enhance your resume?

      17. Will your resume end up in a keyword database?

      18. Is creating an e-resume difficult?

      19. Do I need to send a cover letter with every resume?

      20. How to avoid employer irritation with poorly crafted e-resumes?

      21. How to improve the appearance of your resume?

      22. How to create powerful resume wording?

      23. Are regular updates to a resume important?

      24. Layoffs looming? Update your resume now instead of waiting

      25. When should I update my resume?

      26. Do employers agree on preferred resume length?

      27. 1 or 2 page resume ?

      28. Can a graduate resume be longer than one page?

    10. Improve

      1. How do I know which keywords to use in a resume?

      2. How to highlight your skills on a resume ?

      3. What should I focus my resume on ?

      4. Can listing accomplishments elevate your Cover Letter and Resume?

      5. Has someone criticized your resume?

      6. Is it important to make accomplishments the focus of your resume?

      7. How to sharpen the focus of your resume for best results?

      8. Should skills listed on a resume be more that just keywords?

      9. Where to add keywords in the resume?

      10. What is an electronic resume?

      11. Should a resume connect with reader in an instant?

      12. How to create a reader friendly resume?

      13. Where should you get your resume advice ?

      14. Do I need to match my resume and cover letter ?

    2. Back to top

  2. Interview

    1. After the interview

      1. Should I send a thank you letter after the second interview as well?

      2. What should I include in the interview thank you letter?

      3. If I met with more than one person, should I send a thank you letter to each?

      4. What format should the thank you letter be?

      5. Can I call after I have sent the thank you letter?

      6. If I reject the job offer, should I write a letter to the effect?

    2. Thank You letters

      1. Won't it appear as if I am trying just a little too hard if I send a thank you letter after an interview?

      2. How much weight does the thank you letter carry in the interviewer's hiring decision?

      3. Should the thank you letter be handwritten or typed?

      4. Can I just send an email thank you note or should it be a hard copy?

      5. Can I make use of a sample thank you letter?

      6. If I had a panel interview, should I send a personalized thank you note to each one?

      7. How long after an interview should I send the thank you note?

      8. If I know my thank you note will only reach the interviewer after a decision has been made, should I still send one?

      9. How can I make my thank you note stand out?

    3. Body Language

      1. What type of handshake is appropriate when I go for the job interview?

      2. Should I greet a woman interviewer with a handshake?

      3. What do I do when the interviewer stands too close for comfort?

      4. How should I sit?

      5. What should I do with my hands?

      6. Should I accept drinks offered?

      7. How can I read the interviewer's Body Language?

      8. How can I use my Body Language to my advantage?

    4. Questions to ask

      1. If given the opportunity to ask questions, what type of questions can I ask?

      2. What type of questions should I avoid?

      3. Can I ask for the position or to be on the shortlist?

      4. What type of questions can I ask a startup company?

    5. Personality

      1. What is a good answer when asked how my colleagues would describe me?

      2. What should I answer on the question when asked to tell something about myself?

      3. How do I answer when asked what I will do if I have all the funds and time that I could ask for?

      4. What type of books do you read and name a few of your favorite movies? How do I answer this type of question?

      5. I need tips on the best answer when asked what motivates me.

      6. If asked how I would interview the interviewer, what would be a good answer?

      7. What should I answer when asked what my weakness is?

      8. If asked what my strengths are, should I list all of them?

      9. Why do they ask questions such as 'If you were a car, what color do you think would suit you or what kind of animal would you be if you could choose?'

      10. Is it a trap when they ask what annoys me?

      11. If asked what do I hate, can I be honest?

      12. If asked what kind of person I get along with the best, what should I answer?

      13. What is the best answer for the question 'How do you measure your work effectiveness?

    6. Behavior

      1. Will they ask me examples of how I handled difficult situations or customers?

      2. Why do they ask: 'How do you take criticism?'

      3. When asked to sell a product to the interviewer, what tactic should I use?

      4. If asked for an example of how I resolved a dispute between two persons, what should I answer?

      5. Should I say how I like not to be managed when asked how do you prefer to be supervised or managed or not to be?

    7. References

      1. Will they ask me whether they can call my references?

      2. Will they ask me how I know the references and what my current relationship with them entails?

      3. How many references should I give?

      4. Do I provide originals of recommendation letters or references?

      5. Do I need to ask permission before I list someone as a reference?

    8. Dress Code

      1. What should I wear to an interview?

      2. What should I not wear for a normal corporate interview?

    9. Trap Questions

      1. What are the main questions used to create stress or pressure on a job candidate during an interview?

      2. On what do they focus with blaming questions?

      3. What are proof related questions about?

      4. I need an example of a competency question.

    10. Employment questions

      1. Will they ask why I left my previous employer and how should I answer?

      2. How should you answer 'What part of your previous job did you like the least?'

      3. If the corporate culture at my current or previous employer is less than perfect, should I say so when asked about the company culture at the employer?

      4. Will they ask why I want to be part of their team?

      5. How should I answer the question about where I see myself in 5 year's time?

      6. Why do they ask how many hours a week I prefer to work and what is the best answer?

      7. What should be mentioned as my priority when asked how I balance my work and personal life?

      8. On the question of what distinguishes me from the other applicants, what should I answer?

      9. If asked how I got to apply for the job, what should I answer?

      10. How should I answer if the interviewer asks me if I don't think that I might be over qualified for the position?

      11. What is a good answer when asked if I would consider working for the company's largest competitor when they offer me a job?

      12. If asked what my salary expectations are, should I aim high?

      13. What should I answer if asked what I see as the dream or ideal job?

      14. How should I answer when asked how many days I have been absent from my previous job?

      15. If asked what interests me about the position, what should my answer be?

      16. How can I relate my experience to the job?

      17. How should I answer when asked why they must hire me?

      18. Can you provide a few questions normally asked during the first job interview?

      19. Can they ask what my current remuneration is?

      20. When asked how do you meet deadlines, what should my answer be?

      21. How do I explain frequent job changes?

      22. Are there any types of questions that are illegal?

      23. What if salary isn't mentioned during the interview at all?

      24. When asked how I would respond if I receive the job, should I indicate that I am happy?

      25. How should I answer if asked to provide an example of one time when I performed bad or did poor work and how I handled it?

    11. Preparation

      1. How can I prepare for the interview?

      2. How to get past an initial screening with your resume?

      3. How to win interviews with your cover letter?

    12. Documents

      1. Should I provide a cover letter at an interview?

    13. Interview Mistakes

      1. What are the most common interview mistakes?

    14. Types of interviews

      1. What is a stress interview?

      2. What is the screening interview?

      3. What is a panel interview?

      4. What types of questions will I get in a technical interview that I will not get in a normal interview?

      5. What is a lunch interview and how do I handle it?

      6. What are the basic table ethics for a lunch interview?

      7. Who pays the bill with a lunch interview?

      8. What is a behavioral interview?

      9. How should I handle the telephone interview?

      10. What is the main aim of the second interview?

      11. What is the group selection strategy, used during the second interview?

    3. Back to top

  3. Job Search

    1. Credibility and Trustworthiness

      1. For job search purposes - are you bonded when you have posted bail for someone else?

      2. Is it possible to be bonded without my knowledge?

      3. What does being 'bonded' mean and what is the implication for job search?

    2. Basics of job search

      1. How to maximize your college investment?

      2. What would be some advice for new graduates entering the job market?

      3. Do you know why employers are hiring?

    3. Background Checks

      1. How should I conduct a job search if I served time?

      2. If a person was fired due to a drug test failure, can an employer refuse to hire the person based on it?

      3. Why would a company request my social security number (identification number) before I am hired and should I give it to them?

      4. If I was discharged from the military service - will it have a negative influence on my job search?

      5. How much consideration is given to the consumer report on an employee when hiring decisions are made?

      6. Can infractions on my driver-s license influence my job search negatively?

      7. I did a job search and wasn-t screened for drug use before I got hired. Can the employer request a drug screen at a later stage?

      8. Is it possible for the employer to find out whether I have completed high school?

      9. Will it come up in a background check that I have been fired?

      10. If I have recently been declared bankrupt at any stage, will it influence my job search?

      11. If I became unemployed due to a traumatic experience outside the work environment, should I disclose the information to next employer - won-t it have a negative influence on my job search?

      12. Will a criminal or arrest record influence my job search - may the employer decide not to hire me because of it?

      13. What is a credit or consumer report and where do they get it?

      14. Is it possible for a recruiter or prospective employer to find out if you have been fired for fraud or theft?

      15. When you do a job search, can a future employer get your military information or record without your consent?

    4. References

      1. Can an employer ask my previous employer about job attendance?

      2. What should I do when my most recent reference is not so great?

      3. Can a company contact a person's references after they have hired him?

      4. I am conducting a job search and the prospective employer wants to call my current employer, should I give him permission?

      5. For job search purposes, can I ask my current employer for a letter of recommendation or to be a reference?

      6. Must your previous employer answer questions about you?

    5. Experience & Qualifications

      1. When I do a job search - how can I state that I was retrenched due to re-organization in a positive way?

      2. Will it count against me in my job search if I held several temporary jobs for a period, when I want to get a permanent job now?

      3. If I have several degrees in business management and turned to the education field after being retrenched and would like to get back into the corporate world - will the teaching period count against me in the job search and hiring process?

      4. In my job search, should I mention that my reason for leaving my previous employer was because of verbal abusive language and discrimination?

      5. How can I explain long periods of unemployment when I conduct a job search?

      6. What are the most important soft skills that employers require in most jobs?

      7. If two persons of different sexes with the same level of qualifications, soft skills and experience apply for a job - how is the hiring decision made?

      8. Is it possible to still find a good job after a long period of unemployment due to disability - any job search advice?

      9. Will bad grades have a negative influence on my job search?

      10. In my job search, how can I create a good impression with an employer when he requests more information before he will hire me?

    6. Pre-employment tests

      1. How do I prepare for job entry tests?

      2. What type of job entry tests can I expect?

    7. Working from home?

      1. job search for online survey positions: how legitimate are the paying for taking survey jobs?

      2. Job search for home based work: are there any real income-earning 'stuffing envelopes' jobs?

      3. Should I take a chance on the Internet work from home opportunities?

      4. What types of home based jobs are available to a person with no experience?

      5. What are the working from home job options?

      6. Where should I look for jobs that can be done from home?

      7. What is working from home?

    8. Already Employed

      1. I am 'fed up' at work is getting another job the only option?

      2. If I am frustrated at my current employer and want to get other employment, but don't get time to do the job search - should I quit to get time?

      3. Shall I tell my current employer I am looking for another job?

      4. How can you obtain a reference from your current employer for job search purposes?

      5. How do I change my line of work?

      6. Can I quit a job after only four weeks of employment - how will it influence my job search?

      7. How can I get a higher paying job?

    9. Jobs Abroad

      1. How do I find a job in Asia?

      2. Please name a few seasonal jobs that I can find in the Alps

      3. I am thinking of leaving my home country to look for work where do I start?

      4. If I am looking for overseas employment, which jobs are the most in demand?

      5. What jobs are in demand in the Far East?

      6. What jobs are in demand in America?

      7. What jobs are in demand in Europe?

      8. How do you conduct a job search in another country?

      9. When I do a job search, will the employer regard my experience or qualifications as more important?

      10. How do I find a job in India?

      11. What is the best way for finding employment in Australia?

      12. What are the highest paying jobs in the USA?

    10. Job Types

      1. Where can I find adventure jobs?

      2. What are fun jobs for a student?

      3. What types of seasonal work can I look for at ski resorts?

      4. Should I opt for permanent, temporary or contract employment?

      5. How do I search for temp jobs?

      6. What are the benefits of contracting?

      7. What are the disadvantages of contracting?

      8. How do I search for internship positions?

      9. Must I be a student to apply for an internship position?

      10. What are the main activities of a cartoonist?

      11. What types of jobs are available in the construction field?

      12. I am doing a job search and came across a job in customer service. What does this type of job entail?

    4. Back to top

  4. Cover Letters

    1. Format

      1. Are two-column cover letter formats appropriate for responding to job advertisements?

      2. How many kinds of cover letters are there?

      3. Does a well-designed cover letter matter?

      4. Does the look of a cover letter matter?

      5. What is the use of postscript in a cover letter ?

      6. Can you use "bullets" in a cover letter?

    2. Improve

      1. How to make your cover letter fit for the audience?

      2. How to give personality to your cover letter?

      3. What is the selling point of your cover letter?

      4. How to edit and improve your cover letter?

    3. Distribution

      1. When I send a cover letter by mail, should I also send a hard copy?

      2. What information should be included when I send my cover letter via email?

      3. How do I email my cover letter?

      4. If I don't have the name of a specific person, who should I address my cover letter to?

      5. What email address should I use?

      6. Can I fax my cover letter?

      7. Should I include my CV or resume and other documents when I fax a cover letter?

      8. What format should the fax cover letter be?

      9. How can I draw attention with the fax cover letter?

      10. Why attention is a grabbing opening vital in cover letter.

      11. How should I use cover letter to show off communication skills?

      12. Is it necessary to address a cover letter to a specific individual?

      13. To whom should I address my cover letter?

      14. Is it necessary to send resume and cover letter together?

      15. Why do you need to include a cover letter with your job application ?

    4. Tips

      1. How to spice up the opening of a cover letter ?

      2. Is your cover letter helping or hurting your job search?

      3. Should I include salary requirements in cover letter?

      4. Can careless cover letter errors mess up a job search?

      5. What is the effect of a poor;y written Cover letter ?

      6. How does a cover letter influence hiring managers?

      7. How to speak about employer's needs in cover letter?

      8. How to grab reader's attention with the first sentence?

      9. How to use cover letter to become a stand-out applicant?

    5. General

      1. How many kinds of cover letter are there?

      2. Do I always have to write a Cover Letter?

      3. How long should the cover letter be?

      4. How much information do I have to include?

      5. Hand or typewritten?

      6. What if I make a mistake?

      7. Do I use the letter to explain things like gaps in my employment?

      8. How do I format the letter?

      9. When should I write the letter?

      10. Should I proof read it myself?

      11. What if I email my application?

      12. To whom do I address the letter?

      13. Do I mention my salary requirements or expectations?

      14. Do I mention I was sacked from my last job?

      15. Do I mention my referees?

      16. Do I use a standard letter for each application?

      17. What kind of language should I use?

      18. Should I follow up with a phone call?

      19. Do I mention my marital or family status?

      20. Do I mention my age?

      21. How do I sign off?

      22. Can I repeat the information that is in my CV?

      23. What mistakes should I avoid in my cover letter?

      24. If the ad mentioned salary, should I acknowledge it in my cover letter?

      25. Should I first mention the purpose of the cover letter or thank the employer?

      26. How do I use bullet points in a cover letter ?

      27. Do I need to include a cover letter with a job application ?

      28. Why is it important to pay attention to your cover letter?

      29. Should the cover letter and resume mirror each other?

      30. How to avoid fatal mistakes in cover letters?

      31. Should my cover letter be my autobiography?

      32. How to avoid a wimpy cover letter?

      33. How do I make my cover letter more effective?

      34. How to critique your own Cover Letter?

      35. How to make a cover letter count?

      36. What are the basics of cover letter writing?

      37. Why do the majority of HR managers want a Cover Letter with a job application?

      38. How important are cover letters to HR managers ?

      39. How should I end my cover letter?

      40. How to impress employers with a cover letter?

      41. What Do You Know About Cover Letters?

      42. How can your cover letter separate your from the competition?

      43. What is the importance of a cover letter?

      44. Are cover letters important?

      45. To whom do I address the cover letter ?

      46. What is the definition of a cover letter?

      47. Is contact information in a cover letter a must?

      48. What is the role of a cover letter?

      49. What are the different types of cover letters that exist ?

      50. What are the dangers of an egocentric view in a cover letter ?

      51. Do cover letters matter in e-submissions?

      52. Why should I use two-column formatted cover letter?

    6. Types of

      1. What is a job application cover letter?

      2. Is the letter of inquiry and a marketing letter the same?

      3. In the letter of inquiry, what should the main focus be?

      4. How do I close the letter of inquiry?

      5. What is a referral cover letter?

      6. When should I mention the referrer in the cover letter?

      7. What is a thank you letter and when should I use it?

      8. What is the structure of the thank you letter?

      9. What is the purpose of a letter of acceptance?

      10. What information should be included in the letter of acceptance?

      11. What is the purpose of the letter of declination?

      12. What information should be included in the letter of declination?

      13. How can I use the cover letter to my advantage when I want to make a career change?

      14. Should I show that I have done research about the company in my cover letter?

      15. What are the strategies for writing a follow-up letter?

      16. How to write a post-interview follow-up letter?

      17. Why is it important to send a post interview letter?

    7. Content

      1. Why should I use headlines in cover letters?

    5. Back to top

  5. CV

    1. Job Section

      1. How can I compile my CV to obtain a job in teaching with only six month's work experience?

      2. I need help with a CV for freelance clerical or administration work, please advice on how to proceed.

      3. How should I write my CV for freelance work in proofreading and editing with little to almost no experience?

      4. Can I mention 'women's rights' in my CV to get a job in a male orientated work environment?

      5. How should I write my CV for a job in the accounting field?

      6. How do I model my CV for a superintendent job in teaching?

      7. Can I use the normal CV format for a job in the film industry?

      8. How can I adapt my CV to obtain a high profile job or to make a severe career change?

      9. Need advice on what to include in my CV for a job in the actuarial industry.

    2. References

      1. If I am applying for a job in projects or research, should I include my lecturer's recommendations on the CV?

      2. How can I provide references or list my previous employer on my CV if I was fired?

      3. Can I list my references at the end of the CV?

    3. Information Disclosure

      1. Should I disclose my race on my CV?

      2. Should I include maternity leave taken on my CV?

      3. Is it necessary or advisable to disclose on my CV that I also run a small business to supplement my income?

      4. Can I disclose the names of clients in my CV that I have done work for at my previous employer?

      5. Is it necessary to disclose a criminal record or felony on my CV?

      6. How can you disguise your age on the CV if you may be considered too old for a position?

    4. Situation

      1. What if I really struggle with writing a CV and don't possess good writing skills?

      2. How can I make it look acceptable on my CV if I am over qualified for the job?

      3. Is it reasonable for a prospective employer to request that I list more skills on my CV?

      4. How can I use the too young factor to my advantage on my CV?

      5. What if most of my skills have been gained through projects while at school, even though I have worked for a period. Should I include the skills gained at school in my CV?

      6. How can I relate military experience on my CV to jobs in the private sector?

      7. How can I disguise a work that I did for a long period, which I would rather not mention on my CV?

      8. Is a different type of CV needed if you have worked in another country for all your work life?

      9. How can you state 'drop-out' from a course or change in study direction in a positive way if you haven't finished the first course on your CV?

      10. What if my CV has been described as excellent, but I still don't get the interviews?

      11. How do I give myself a job title in my CV when self-employed all my work life - doing several short projects or small jobs?

      12. How can you make the work history section of the CV more presentable when you had several jobs and some together with numerous short projects?

      13. How do I include my salary history in my CV if the employer requested the information?

    5. CV types

      1. What type of CV is relevant for a job in web-design?

      2. When should I rather use a chronological CV instead of the functional CV?

      3. When should I use an inventory type of CV?

      4. Can I send the inventory type of CV to several employers at once?

      5. What does the employer mean when he says I should send a summary CV?

      6. When will I use a summary CV if not requested?

      7. What information should be included in an academic CV?

      8. What type of CV can be used for contracting work?

      9. Can I use one CV for several employers?

      10. When should I consider using the targeted CV?

      11. Can I make use of a CV template if I am not good at writing?

      12. When should I use a combination CV?

      13. When should I use the functional CV?

      14. Where can I find examples of curriculum vitas?

    6. CV Distribution

      1. Can I fold the CV if I want to post it?

      2. What format should I use when I would like to post my CV online?

      3. How can I make my CV scanable?

      4. In what format should I save my CV if I want to email it?

      5. How can I make sure that my CV can be faxed?

      6. Should I post my CV after I have faxed it to the employer?

      7. Can I fax an unsolicited CV to an employer?

      8. Is it acceptable to present my CV on a disk?

      9. What can I do to prevent my CV in email format to be blocked by Spam filters?

    7. Format

      1. Where should the education section be listed on the CV?

      2. In what order should the information be listed on the CV?

      3. Is there a difference between the CV and resume?

      4. What is a good length for a CV?

      5. In what order should the information be organized on my CV if I lack work experience?

      6. What format can I use for citing salary requirements and should it form part of the cover letter or CV?

    8. Presentation

      1. Is it acceptable to present my CV in a ring binder presentation file?

      2. Can I send my CV just stapled in the corner?

      3. What type of paper should be used for my curriculum vitae?

    9. Objectives

      1. What should be the first step in writing a good CV?

      2. What should the focus of the objectives section in my CV be?

      3. Do I always need to include an objectives section in my CV?

      4. What if I have numerous career objectives, should I include them all?

    10. Content

      1. What if I lack experience and don't have enough information to make a full CV?

      2. Should I include my marital status, citizenship, dependants and identification number on my CV?

      3. Is it necessary to include references on my curriculum vitae?

      4. What information is essential for my CV?

      5. What should be excluded from my curriculum vitae?

      6. When should I include a picture on my CV?

      7. To what extent should I include hobbies and interests on my CV?

      8. Should I include results from the exams on my CV?

      9. How many years history should be covered on the CV?

      10. How can I overcome the negative aspect of a long unemployment period on my CV?

      11. Will the CV be read if I don't put the exact starting and ending dates for employment?

      12. Should the dates for graduation from high school and or university be included on the CV?

      13. What contact details should be provided on a CV?

      14. What is the most important information on a CV?

      15. What should the CV be about?

      16. What buzz words are acceptable on a CV?

      17. What if you have not yet finished studying and are already applying for a job. How should you indicate your qualifications on your CV?

      18. What are the no-no's for a CV?

      19. Should I use present or past tense to refer to job activities on my CV?

      20. How can I make sure that my CV will get attention?

      21. What are the main weaknesses that I should avoid on my CV?

      22. What documents should I use as a basis for writing my CV?

      23. Should my CV always be accompanied by a cover letter?

      24. How can I impress the employer through my CV in the suggested ten seconds to read method?

      25. What do employers look for on a CV?

      26. Can I use one personal profile on my CV for all the jobs in a specific industry?

      27. If my position title is not representative of my actual job, can I change the title to be more reflective of my responsibilities on my CV?

    11. Countries

      1. If I have worked in another country all my life and would like to apply for a job in Australia. How should I model my CV for Australia?

      2. Is there a specific format CV for France?

      3. Is there a specific format for the CV if I would like to apply for a job in Japan?

      4. I would like to work in India, how can I tailor my CV?

      5. Do I need a specific type of CV for Hungary?

      6. What length should a CV be for a job in Sweden?

      7. Is there any specific information that is required for my CV if I would like to work in Italy?

      8. What should be emphasized on my CV for a job in Ireland?

      9. What is considered important for a CV in Greece?

      10. How do I model my CV for Germany?

 

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