Your CV is our currency

We have completed another CV workshop with our talented community this week and I’m glad we did. When we conduct our initial search for the right candidate for the job, we have to dive into the talent pool at our disposal searching through CV’s for “the one”.  An article featured in the Telegraph earlier this year, claimed the employer gives just 8.8 seconds to your CV. Speaking in recruitment terms this is similar if not slightly less.  Mean, isn’t it?!  Your CV is our currency with your potential future employer. It has to pack a punch and quickly. With this in mind, here are our Top Tips to what makes you the Rocky Marciano of the group.

Personal Profile.

This is the teaser or hook to make us want to find out more. It needs to sell your skills, experience and achievements. Don’t use too many gushing adjectives this can switch people off. Who isn’t a “team player” or “hard working”. Make sure you include the relevant key words relating to the Job description.

Career History.

This should start with your most recent employment keep it succinct and qualify significant achievements with statistics where possible. Try not to do a long list of duties. If the chronological order doesn’t put the relevant experience to match the job your are applying for near the top then make sure your profile has some information about your appropriate skills or write a short separate paragraph titled skills & achievements detailing the relevant skills and core competencies. This should go under the personal profile.

Education, Qualification and Training.

Start with the highest level of education obtained and work backwards. Keep it brief. Make sure you do list relevant training and professional development and achievements.

Additional Information.

Use this opportunity to reflect your personality and outside interests. Talk about your sporting achievements or charitable/volunteering positions. This can showcase your softer skills.

Last but not least. 

Make sure you have plenty of white space, don’t make it too long, don’t make it too short. Make sure you check it, check it again and then ask someone else to check it. Spelling mistakes, typos, and grammatical errors are a fast track to the NO pile. Your CV is our currency – make it pay!

For more tips check out our hints and tips here

Happy hunting !