'I wish all CVs were like this' - is what employers and agencies say about a CV written by Career Consultants. However, when it is your CV, it is easy to be blinded by the fact that your CV has done you fine up until now. Discover how your CV can be even better.
So how do you win over the employer quickly and easily? 'There is a genuine acceptance and acknowledgement of the importance of the CV', says Sarah Berry. 'But most CVs commit the same sin: They are full of historical detail, some relevant and some irrelevant, and they do not answer the fundamental question of whether or not the applicant is capable of doing the job and what value the applicant would offer the company'.
Have you ever seen a good CV? Unless you have been in the position of hiring people, you will probably never have seen a good CV and realised why and how it stands out. You therefore have nothing on which to base the writing of your own CV.
A good CV is one that is effective, solid and balanced. Career Consultants when assessing your CV will look at five areas and give you a score of 100. The five essential areas are:
| Assessment Areas |
Maximum Score |
Recent Statistics show Avg. Candidates' CVs score: |
| Style and Personality |
19 |
2 |
| Effectiveness |
20 |
3 |
| Content |
19 |
10 |
| Accuracy |
16 |
8 |
| Presentation and Layout |
26 |
15 |
| Total: |
100 |
38 |
|
Let's take one example under each heading.
- How well does the CV reflect your personality? Including your personality in your CV will enhance your chances of success. What have you said about yourself on your CV? Have you been bold enough to tell the prospective employer about your key qualities?
- Is the CV geared towards the job target or field of work? Does your CV reflect your business profile, image and salary level? If you are after a £100K job your CV needs to be written in a different style than for a £40K job. Are you satisfied with your career to date? Have you reflected your career potential? Have you sold yourself as an expert within your field of work?
- Does your CV contain irrelevant information? Most CVs do in fact have irrelevant information, partly because the candidate has lost the plot. He/she has got caught up in his/her own sense of brilliance and lost the ability to sell him/herself. Don't you think that the employer is more interested in your unique selling point rather than your latest family holiday, house extension or reading taste? There is a fine balance between selling and telling. Have you got the balance right?
- Does your CV include active words? What are you saying about yourself? Are you clearly identifying how you use your skills within your CV? Does your CV go below the surface and indicate how you use the skill, in what context, why you feel you are a master at what you do, when you have made a significant contribution and who benefited from it?
- Is it easy to use as an interview document? Is the information under the right section and is it all in one place? Some CVs have two 'personal details' sections, one at the beginning and one at the end. This immediately begs the question of what is this person trying to hide: his/her age? The interviewer doesn't want to flick over pages all the time or be faced with having seen something but then be unable to find it again. Logical ordering of information is absolutely essential. If you are worried about your age then ensure that your maturity shines through.
Career Consultants has a unique CV Assessment. We will assess your CV in all five areas (45 questions in all) and make comments on the most obvious things in your CV that are letting you down. Is your CV portraying the best image of you?
If you would like some further advice or help please CLICK HERE.
Copyright © Sarah Berry 2005
Career Consultants On-line Ltd
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