To obtain maximum visibility in the job market you need a marketing document that presents your skills, achievements and experience in such a way that it will get you into the ‘yes for interview’ file. A curriculum vitae (CV), like an application form, has this objective. Maximum impact is therefore essential. Most recruiters do not have a lot of time; the average time spent reading a CV is 1.5 minutes.
Uses and Purposes
A CV might be used to:
* reply to advertised jobs.
* make speculative applications.
* develop contacts.
* contact recruitment agencies.
A CV should:
* 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.
Organising a CV
In its final form your CV should:
* be word processed on good quality paper in a clear typeface.
* be concise. Aim for no more than two A4 pages.
* not have any chronological gaps. An employer will regard them with suspicion.
* present education and work experience in reverse chronological order.
* emphasise relevant skills, achievements and experience.
* be truthful; do not be tempted to fabricate, you could come unstuck at interview.
* use descriptive language. Do not make lists.
* use power words, e.g., achieved, produced, established, implemented, formulated, etc.
* be thoroughly checked for accuracy. Show your CV to a tutor, colleague or a Careers Counsellor, and have it checked for spelling, grammar and typing errors.
Skills Identification
Employers recruiting staff 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 advertisements, job descriptions, or in graduate recruitment brochures. It is essential to be aware of these key skills prior to writing your CV.
Use your Careers Information Room; employers spend time and money preparing information for your benefit, if you do not use this resource it is likely to be evident in your CV and could lose you the chance of an interview.
Prior to compiling your CV you need to identify those skills that you have developed, both within and outside the education system, which could be relevant to the type of work which you are seeking. If you find it difficult to identify your skills a simple way of doing this is to list your education, work experience (full-time and part-time), and your other activities, e.g. interests, significant events in your life, etc. From this list draw out the skills you obtained, for example:
* presenting a paper to course colleagues may indicate communication skills.
* acting as course representative may indicate negotiating and organisational skills.
* working in a pub or shop may indicate the ability to communicate with tact and diplomacy.
Be positive, but be truthful, recruiters will need back-up evidence of skills not just a bland, “I am good at…” statement.
If you are sending a speculative letter and a copy of your CV to a company do try to find out the name of the department head or director. It is rarely productive to send such letters to the Personnel Department.
Remember to keep a copy of your letters and CV or application form, so that you can remember exactly what you wrote and avoid being caught out at interview! If you find that you are not being invited for interviews, review your CV and covering letters (perhaps with the help of a Careers Counsellor – see below) to ensure that you are presenting yourself as well as you can.
Sending your CV by email
If you are applying speculatively to an employer telephone them first to find out whether they prefer a CV in paper form or by email, and if by email as an attachment or as part of the text. Note: their email system may not be able to handle your attachment, or a formatted document. It may be safer to send a well structured, well thought out, plain text version of your CV. Look at www.resumix.com which includes general information on producing a scannable CV.
Visit the www.businessballs.com web site for further extensive information.
