Ten Keys to a Strong CVTo help you construct a better, more powerful CV, here are ten overall considerations in regard to your CV’s content and presentation:
1. Position title and job description. Provide your title, plus a detailed explanation of your duties and accomplishments. Since job titles are often misleading or their function may vary from one company to another, your CV should tell the reader exactly what you’ve done.
2. Clarity. Document your work history and education accurately. Don’t leave the reader guessing where you were employed, or where you earned your degree.
3. Explicitness. Let the reader know the nature, size and location of your past employers, and what their business is.
4. Detail. Specify some of the more technical, or involved aspects of your past work or training, especially if you’ve performed tasks of any complexity, or significance.
5. Proportion. Give appropriate attention to jobs or education according to the length, or importance to the reader. For example, if you wish to be considered for an engineering position, don’t write one paragraph describing your current engineering job, followed by three paragraphs about your summer job as a lifeguard.
6. Relevancy. Confine your information to that which is job-related or clearly demonstrates a pattern of success. Concentrate only on subject matter that addresses the needs of the employer.
7. Length. Fill up only a page or two. If you write more than two pages, it sends a signal to the reader that you can’t organise your thoughts, or you’re trying too hard to make a good impression. If your content is strong, you won’t need more than two pages.
8. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Create an error-free document that’s representative of an educated person.
9. Readability. Organise your thoughts in a clear, concise manner. A fragmented or long-winded resume will discourage the reader.
10. Readability. Be sure to select a conventional type style, such as Times Roman or Arial, and choose a neutral background or stationery. If your CV takes too much effort to read, it may end up in the bin, even if you have terrific skills.
Finally, write several drafts, and allow yourself time to review your work and proofread for errors.
CV Design: Tips and Templates That Get ResultsEmployers prefer crisp-looking CV's that get to the point. By using the example on this page as a template, you’ll improve both the style and the substance of your CV.
Layout Add interest and clarity by using bullet points to highlight certain areas. Avoid using unconventional fonts or adding photos or graphics.
Length Avoid making your CV too lengthy. Ensure your CV is no more than 2 pages.
Job Information Provide the reader with relevant detail about your past and present employers, such as product / service information, size and physical location.
Measurables Quantify your job duties, reporting relationships and achievements with actual numbers.
Job and Education DatesMake sure the dates are clear and without gaps. If you’re a mid- to late-career candidate, you can save space by lumping early-career jobs together.
Degree CredentialsPlease be accurate and honest. Misrepresenting your degree is unethical, and could result in consequences that are embarrassing.
A Stronger CV Will Increase Your Odds Given the choice of two candidates of equal ability, hiring managers will always prefer to interview the one with the most artfully constructed and attractive CV. For that reason, candidates with high-level qualifications are often overlooked. And companies end up hiring from a more shallow pool of talent; a pool made up of those candidates whose experience is represented by powerfully written CV’s.
Many of the best candidates also have the best CV’s; and sometimes, highly qualified candidates manage to surface through word-of-mouth referral.
But unless you can afford to rely on your “reputation”, or on the recommendation, you’ll need more than the right qualifications to get the job you want.
In today’s competitive employment market, your CV has to stand out in order to get the attention of the decision maker and create a strong impression. And later on, when you meet the prospective employer face to face, a strong CV will act as a valuable tool during the interviewing process.
Truth in Advertising The best way to prepare a strong CV is not to change the facts, just make them more presentable. This can be accomplished effectively by strengthening the content of your CV.
Although there’s no regulatory agency to act as a watchdog, it is common sense to honestly and clearly document your credentials. In other words, don’t make exaggerated claims about your past.
Remember, your CV is written for the employer, not for you. Its main purpose, once in the hands of the reader is to answer the following questions: How do you present yourself to others? What have you done in the past? And what do you aim to accomplish in the future?
In addition to providing a factual representation of your background, your resume serves as an advertisement. The more effective your 30-second commercial, the more the customer—the employer—will want to buy the expertise you’re selling.
Choosing The Best CV Format Your CV can be arranged in one of two basic formats: summary or chronological.
• The summary (or functional) CV distills your total work experience into major areas of expertise, and focuses the reader’s attention on your accumulated skills.
• The chronological CV presents your skills and accomplishments within the framework of your past employers. (Please note; your last job should always appear first.)
Although the information you furnish the reader may essentially be the same, there’s a big difference in the way the two CV’s are constructed, and the type of impact each will have. Past data proves that a chronological CV brings the best results, since it’s the most explicit description of the quality and application of your skills.
The summary CV works well if you’ve changed jobs or careers often, and wish to downplay your work history and highlight your level of expertise. If a prospective hiring manager is specifically interested in a steady, progressively advancing employment history, then the summary CV will very likely work against you, since the format will seem confusing, and might arouse suspicions as to your potential for longevity.
However, if the employer’s main concern is your technical or problem-solving ability, the summary CV will meet these needs.
Crafting Your CV “Objective” Most employers find that a carefully worded statement of purpose will help them quickly evaluate your suitability for a given position. An objective statement can be particularly useful as a quick-screen device when viewed by the manager responsible for staffing several different types of positions.
While a stated objective gives you the advantage of targeting your employment goals, it can also work against you. A hiring manager lacking in imagination or who’s hard pressed for time will often overlook a CV with an objective that doesn’t conform to the exact specifications of a position opening. That means that if your objective reads “Managing Director position with a progressive, growth-oriented company,” you may limit your options and not be considered for the job of regional manager for a struggling company in a mature market—a job you may enjoy and be well suited to.
If you’re pretty sure of the exact position you want in the field or industry you’re interested in, state it in your objective. Otherwise, broaden your objective or leave it off the CV.
Beefing Up a CVTo get the most mileage out of your CV, you’ll want to highlight certain aspects of your background. By doing so, you’ll present your qualifications in the most favorable light, and help give the employer a better understanding of your potential value to his or her organisation. To build a stronger case for your candidacy, try highlighting the following areas of interest:
Professional achievements of particular interest. For example, if you’re in sales, the first thing a hiring manager will want to know is your sales volume, and how you rank with your peers. If you’ve won awards, reached goals or made your company money, let the employer know.
Educational accomplishments. List your degree(s) and/or relevant course work, dissertation, or specialised training. Be sure to mention any special honors, scholarships, or awards you may have received.
Additional areas of competency. These might include computer software fluency, ability to work to certain standards or using certain machinery.
Professional designations that carry weight in your field. If you’re licensed or certified in your chosen profession or belong to a trade organisation, let the reader know.
Success indicators. You should include anything in your past that might distinguish you as a leader or achiever.
Related experience. Anything that would be relevant to your prospective employer’s needs. For example, if your occupation requires overseas travel or communication, list your knowledge of foreign languages.
In a competitive market, employers are always on the lookout for qualities that distinguish one candidate from another.
The Dangers of CV’s Nearly everything written about CV design concentrates on what you should put in. But it’s important to know what should be left out, or at least minimised.
Item #1: Salary history or salary requirements. If your resume is strong enough, you’ll be contacted. Once contacted, be forthright.
Item #2: References.If you have high-impact or well known professional references, use them. Otherwise, “References: Available Upon Request” will be acceptable. Avoid personal references.
Item #3: Superfluous materials. When submitting a CV avoid enclosing such items as your thesis, photos, diplomas, transcripts, product samples, newspaper articles, blueprints, designs, or letters of recommendation. These are props you can use during your interview, but not before.
Item #4: Personal information. Leave out anything other than the absolute essentials such as, contact details and name.
Remember, the greater the relevancy between your CV and the needs of the employer, the more seriously your candidacy will be considered.