Review your CV
The end of one year and start of the next is often a time to think about a change of role or employer, or both, a time to say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new.
The first step in the process is to ensure that you have the best CV you can have, one that catches the eye both in layout and content. Here are Seven Steps to start with:
- One great order of content is:
- Profile
- Key Skills and Achievements
- Career to date
- Professional Qualifications,
- Education
- Interests
Depending on your profession and expertise, you may also have a section on
- Publications
- Referees
2. If you have an existing CV, first check in detail for content and accuracy. There’s no room for error; after all, it could be a reflection on the way you do your work.
3. Now look at your current role and bring it up to date. What are your key achievements? State them clearly and unapologetically. This is not time for modesty. Provide facts and figures, evidence of your achievements, such as statistics, increase in footfall or profits.
4. Achievements are crucial to a successful CV. For your most recent roles, separate each employment into (a) Role and Responsibilities – what were you tasked to do (b) Achievements – what you succeeded in doing, and how you exceeded expectations.
5. Once you’ve written most of the content of your CV, you can go to the Profile. This is the first text the recruiter reads. Ensure it entices; you want your key relevant skills and successes to shine, so that the recruiter reads on.
6. The same is true of the Skills and Achievements section. What skills do you shine at that are key to the role for which you’re applying? What makes you stand out against the next candidate? What Awards have you won? What professional books or publications do you have to your name, for example?
7. Now check your CV against the job specification – make sure that the content is relevant to the role. Do you want to expand on a particular role or the subjects you’ve studied, or content of your qualifications?
Leave your CV for a couple of days and then come back to it with fresh eyes. Review it and note how well it reads, how it flows, how clear it is both to read and skim read. Ensure it presents you as a great fit for the job in mind.
I’d like to hear from you:
a. If you have questions about CVs.
b. If you would like 1-2-1 coaching help with getting your CV to the top of the pile, or preparing for interview.
Contact me via my email or website form and I will aim to reply within 24 hours.
