27 Jan Creating a Great CV
The resume is a tool with one specific purpose: to win an interview. If it does what the fantasy resume did, it works. If it doesn’t, it isn’t an effective resume. A resume is an advertisement, nothing more, nothing less.
A great resume doesn’t just tell them what you have done but makes the same assertion that all good ads do: If you buy this product, you will get these specific, direct benefits. It presents you in the best light. It convinces the employer that you have what it takes to be successful in this new position or career.
Ask yourself: What would make someone the perfect candidate? What does the employer really want? What special abilities would this person have? What would set a truly exceptional candidate apart from a merely good one?
Experts say there are some golden rules for getting a CV correct, not least accuracy, spelling and grammar.
Don’t repeat the mistakes, they say, of a lawyer who stressed his “dew diligence”, or the applicant who ignored commas when describing his interests as “cooking dogs and interesting people”.
Increasingly, applicants are asked to send a digital copy of a CV. If this is the case then the first set of “eyes” to see it might be an automated search for key words, so experts suggest applicants ensure mandatory requirements in the job advert are included in a CV.
Tailor a CV to a specific job – it is vital to ensure the script is relevant to each job application, rather than sending the same generic CV
Keep it simple – it should be easy to read and use active language. Two pages of A4 is enough with a mini profile included in the first half page
Include key information – personal details, including name, address, phone number, email address and any professional social media presence should be clear.
Showcase achievements – offer evidence of how targets were exceeded and ideas created, but always be honest
Check and double check – avoid sloppy errors, take a fresh look the next day and ask for a second opinion from a trusted friend or colleague