Design your CV
There is no perfect way to write a CV, only 'an appropriate way'
The word Curriculum Vitae literally translated means the story of your life. Your CV is a very important document; with it rest your hopes and dreams for the future - that next step up the career ladder, a better position, more money, new challenges, etc. Your CV therefore has to represent the best you have to offer if you do not want to miss out on that job you saw which was 'perfect' for you.
In essence a CV is a marketing document which presents your skills, achievements and experience in such a way that it will generate interest and may be used to set the agenda for a positive interview. Maximum impact is therefore paramount. Research shows that busy companies spend just 30 seconds reading your CV so good content is very important. Of course your CV can continue to work in your favour even after it has obtained an interview for you. It can help you at an interview by carefully focusing the interviewer's mind on your good points and on your achievements. Once you have left the interview it will continue to benefit you as the interviewer will probably reread it before making a decision, either on who should be invited to the second interview stage or who the job should be offered to.
A CV should:
- Provide your personal details: full name, where you reside, marital status and nationality
- Give places of education where you have studied with the most recent education first. Include subjects/courses/degrees taken and final grade
- Say clearly who you are, what you are, and what you are offering a potential employer
- Do justice to your achievements and skills
- Say more about your recent experience than your early life
- Be honest and positive, containing nothing negative about you
- Look attractive, be well laid out and easy to read
- Focus on your achievements and not just the tasks you have performed
- Be tailored to target specific jobs or specific organisations
- Be thoroughly reviewed for its appropriatenes
In its final form your CV should:
- Be concise - aim for no more than two or/three A4 pages but do not crowd it!
- List your most recent experience first
- Give the name of your employer, dates from and to, location, job title, day to day duties, responsibilities
- Make use of bold, italics and blocks of text to achieve a clear layout, but avoid making it over-fancy
- Make sure you account for any gaps in your CV
- Present education and work experience in reverse chronological order
- Emphasise relevant skills, including other languages, computers, interpersonal and communication skills
- Emphasise relevant achievements and experience
- List key skills and achievements as bullet points
- State out of work activities where you have leadership or responsibility, or which involve you in relating to others in a team
- If you have published any articles, jointly or by yourself, give details
- Be truthful; do not be tempted to fabricate, you could come unstuck at interview
- Use descriptive language
- Use power words, e.g., achieved, produced, established, implemented, formulated, etc.
- Be easy on the eye and consistent in appearance
Skills identification
Employers will have analysed the skills required to carry out the tasks involved in the job concerned. The key skills required are often identified in job descriptions etc. therefore it is essential to be aware of these key skills prior to writing your CV.
Be positive, but be truthful, companies will need back-up evidence of skills not just a bland, "I am good at..." statement.
Points to remember
When writing your CV keep the following in mind:
- It may be appropriate to have more than one version of your CV
- Your CV must look good and be easy to read
- You can tailor your CV to a particular job in order to draw attention to relevant skills and experience.
- Jargon should only be used when you know the reader will understand it
Optional extras - personal profile and objective statements
It can be good to start with a Personal Profile and or an Objective Statement. This is an overview of your skills, qualities, hopes, and plans. It should encourage the employer to read the rest. Check the following;
- Is it concise, punchy and informative, using power words?
- Is it concise, punchy and informative, using power words?
- Are your examples specific and quantifiable?
- Is there too much detail?
- Is the personal summary meaningful? If not, leave it out
For an example CV please click here
Call 020 7643 2219 or e-mail your CV to cvdevelopment@e-volveconsulting.co.uk and a Consultant will call you for a free career consultation.
Remember e-volve consulting is here to help you develop your CV!
