The Successful CV

The first impression that you create with a prospective employer is normally through your CV. This is a crucial document so spend time to get it right.

Think of your job search as a product launch - with you as the product and your CV as the promotion literature.

Firstly you need to define the product - yourself - your features, being your experience, skills, qualifications. It is important then to have in mind that the prospective employer is looking for what you are offering to the company. This is the opportunity to "sell" yourself.

You need to gain the reader's attention in the first half page - it takes a professional about 30 seconds to scan a CV and it is up to you to make sure they are sufficiently interested in you to read to the end of your CV and want more.

Ideally your CV should be on two pages. The first page should include your personal details, a concise but punchy personal profile, and the most important (latest?) work experience. Continue on the second page. Be sure to be brief yet concise, but ensure that you get your message across. The employer should get a good picture of your skills and approach.

A covering letter is useful to introduce yourself and your skills, why you think you are suitable for the job. Include your reason for applying, details of your current salary package and whether you are happy to relocate. Remember that the letter may well become detached from the CV, and most managers use the cv for assessing suitability - so make sure you include everything you need to in the CV. The letter acts as an introduction as well as dotting the 'i's and crossing the 't's. A photograph can also be useful but it should be a good one with a professional image.

Checklist

Does your CV:

• present you to another person at your highest level?
• open the door for a meeting?
• give information about yourself to someone you don't know?
• give an update about your accomplishments and objectives to someone you do know?
• serve as an "agenda" during your meeting at interview?
• serve as a "leave behind" after a meeting?

Inclusions

• Personal details - name, address, date of birth, nationality, telephone numbers/contact numbers/e-mail
• Languages - spoken and written with level of fluency
• Personal profile - this is the opportunity for you to show what is unique about you, what responsibility you can accept, show your greatest strengths, show how your contribution will benefit the employer, what you have achieved and what you are wanting to achieve - in other words, an insight into your character.
• Professional experience - listed in reverse order (most recent first) with dates, job description, type of business and turnover or size, responsibilities and achievements.
• Education and qualifications and membership of professional bodies.
• Training courses attended and systems you have used
  
• Hobbies/interests - adds to your character and may be discussed at interview but don't allocate too much space on your CV.

Never exaggerate your responsibilities or attempt to mislead or be dishonest. The facts will be checked.

Summary

• Presentation. Your cv needs to look like a professional document - if you do not have facilities yourself to make it smart, seek help.
• Check for spelling mistakes
• All qualifications must be correctly written and be true. Emphasise the more recent training.
• Leave no unexplained gaps - include any periods spent abroad - travelling can be viewed positively, as is contract work where you are broadening your experience.
• Be concise - bullet points can highlight your main areas of experience
• Focus your cv on the type of position you are seeking - if you are able to do a cv for each type of job applied for so much the better. You can highlight your attributes in relation to the job description.
• Do not list referees. Employers will ask for references.

Finally

Get someone else to review your CV to help refine it, then:

send your CV us at the address below (preferably by email as a "Word" attachment otherwise by post) or telephone for a brief discussion.

Good Luck in your career

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