CV
Think of your CV as a pick-up line…it can get you to first base or
it can mean that you strike out in the most humiliating fashion. It
says to an employer: hey, this is what I’ve done, this is what I
can do and this is how I will make your life easier. But remember
this: the only interview a badly written CV will get is with the
rubbish bin. So make friends with your spell checker, get a trusted
(and literate) comrade to read it and get feedback from others:
your parents, a tutor or someone in the industry who you know.
Or you can listen to us. Here are a few suggestions on mastering the CV:
It’s now or never
Don’t procrastinate when applying for a job. Set yourself deadlines as you would do when you were at school. Jobs don’t just magic themselves out of thin air, it takes a lot of ground work. A hell of a lot, in fact. Put in the effort or risk spending another summer at the Quik-E-Mart.
Me, myself and I
Ensure that your CV has a paragraph detailing all your outstanding skills. Pretend you are a used-car salesman trying to sell yourself and then erase the cheesiness. Simply highlight your RELEVANT and personal skills that are valuable to this job.
Go back in time
We agree with the experts and suggest listing your past/current jobs/work experience/volunteer work from the present job and then working backwards. Your potential employer probably isn’t too interested if you sold ice cream at the country fair when you were 11 but they will be interested if you volunteered last week with a leading company in a similar field.
Fire up the brain cells
Think about the job. Carefully. Consider how your skills and achievements may fit with the position and the company and ensure you get this information down CLEARLY in the CV. Include all personal details and your job history. We like the format that includes personal skills-job history-achievements-hobbies.
One CV Does Not Fit All
CV bombing is sometimes effective in that you can target a number of companies at one time. But ensure that your cover letters and even the CV itself is appropriate for each and every job. If you send a CV out that is prepared for another job, your paperwork will soon line the boss’ birdcage.
Short and sweet
Keep your cover letter limited to a few paragraphs only. This is an introduction only and should highlight your core skills. Even if you’ve done 1,001 things that you think conveys your suitability for the role, save it for the CV or, even better, the interview. Being succinct means you save your employer time when reading through hundreds of other applicants. Which is a good thing.
Other clichés (And finally):
• Print our your typed CV on clean, white, crisp paper. No manky coffee stains.
• Use black ink only, bold your headings but forget about using naff fonts for “effect”. The effect will be that you won’t get the interview.
• Keep your cover letter to one page (no more than a few paragraphs), and your CV to two pages
• Mail your finished masterpiece in a large envelope with, if possible, a cardboard background to keep it flat
• Keep. Your. Sentences. Short.
• Don’t big yourself up too much. Nobody likes a braggart. Least of all your potential new boss.
• Don’t throw in everything and the kitchen sink. CVs are not something that you just knock together. Take time to edit it and make sure it’s suitable and includes all your successes.
• Learn how to use spell check and your dictionary. Bad spelling and grammar will most certainly result in your CV being thrown away and/or posted up on the company notice board for all to ridicule.
• Don’t lie or exaggerate – no matter how tempting it may be. You will be caught out and it could get ugly.
• Make sure you account for any gaps in dates. If you were travelling for a year, make sure you include this in your job and dates summary.
• Follow the directions in the advert. If the posting says apply by email, don’t send a CV via post. You’ll be dead in the water before you’ve even begun.
• Good luck!
Or you can listen to us. Here are a few suggestions on mastering the CV:
It’s now or never
Don’t procrastinate when applying for a job. Set yourself deadlines as you would do when you were at school. Jobs don’t just magic themselves out of thin air, it takes a lot of ground work. A hell of a lot, in fact. Put in the effort or risk spending another summer at the Quik-E-Mart.
Me, myself and I
Ensure that your CV has a paragraph detailing all your outstanding skills. Pretend you are a used-car salesman trying to sell yourself and then erase the cheesiness. Simply highlight your RELEVANT and personal skills that are valuable to this job.
Go back in time
We agree with the experts and suggest listing your past/current jobs/work experience/volunteer work from the present job and then working backwards. Your potential employer probably isn’t too interested if you sold ice cream at the country fair when you were 11 but they will be interested if you volunteered last week with a leading company in a similar field.
Fire up the brain cells
Think about the job. Carefully. Consider how your skills and achievements may fit with the position and the company and ensure you get this information down CLEARLY in the CV. Include all personal details and your job history. We like the format that includes personal skills-job history-achievements-hobbies.
One CV Does Not Fit All
CV bombing is sometimes effective in that you can target a number of companies at one time. But ensure that your cover letters and even the CV itself is appropriate for each and every job. If you send a CV out that is prepared for another job, your paperwork will soon line the boss’ birdcage.
Short and sweet
Keep your cover letter limited to a few paragraphs only. This is an introduction only and should highlight your core skills. Even if you’ve done 1,001 things that you think conveys your suitability for the role, save it for the CV or, even better, the interview. Being succinct means you save your employer time when reading through hundreds of other applicants. Which is a good thing.
Other clichés (And finally):
• Print our your typed CV on clean, white, crisp paper. No manky coffee stains.
• Use black ink only, bold your headings but forget about using naff fonts for “effect”. The effect will be that you won’t get the interview.
• Keep your cover letter to one page (no more than a few paragraphs), and your CV to two pages
• Mail your finished masterpiece in a large envelope with, if possible, a cardboard background to keep it flat
• Keep. Your. Sentences. Short.
• Don’t big yourself up too much. Nobody likes a braggart. Least of all your potential new boss.
• Don’t throw in everything and the kitchen sink. CVs are not something that you just knock together. Take time to edit it and make sure it’s suitable and includes all your successes.
• Learn how to use spell check and your dictionary. Bad spelling and grammar will most certainly result in your CV being thrown away and/or posted up on the company notice board for all to ridicule.
• Don’t lie or exaggerate – no matter how tempting it may be. You will be caught out and it could get ugly.
• Make sure you account for any gaps in dates. If you were travelling for a year, make sure you include this in your job and dates summary.
• Follow the directions in the advert. If the posting says apply by email, don’t send a CV via post. You’ll be dead in the water before you’ve even begun.
• Good luck!
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