| A recent statistic I read stated that | | | | starting point - after all, your skills and |
| employers spend an average of 10-15 seconds | | | | experience will always be the same - but to |
| on each Curriculum Vitae before making their | | | | really stand out, a good CV writing tip is to |
| decision over whether to take the application | | | | tailor each version for each job. Take a look |
| further. I'm not sure if it's quite as bleak | | | | at the advert and try to match your skills to |
| as that, but for the purposes of someone | | | | the ones required. It really is simple, but |
| applying for a job, this is not a bad | | | | your CV is not worth the paper it's written |
| assumption to make. If you assume that your | | | | on if you discuss skills relating to sales |
| CV is going to be looked at for 10-15 | | | | for an IT job, yet the skills may be |
| seconds, you can start making plans to ensure | | | | transferable - you just have to prove it. |
| it makes the most of this limited eye-time. | | | | |
| In an ideal world, they'll spend a lot longer | | | | Avoid samey, empty descriptions of yourself |
| staring at your delightful prose, but it | | | | |
| really does no harm ensuring your CV is ideal | | | | A favorite CV tip of mine is to not be scared |
| however long they spend looking at it. | | | | of being unique. Think about it: if you want |
| | | | to stand out, you have to make yourself |
| It's important to realize that the Curriculum | | | | different than the others. Almost every |
| Vitae stage is not about giving them a good | | | | applicant I've ever seen describes themselves |
| knowledge of who you are - it's simply about | | | | as dynamic, creative or enthusiastic in their |
| being placed in their "yes" pile, rather than | | | | CV - it all becomes white noise. Stick to the |
| their "no" section. You'll have plenty of | | | | facts, let your achievements do the talking |
| time to prove how personable, friendly and | | | | and you should be given opportunity to prove |
| enthusiastic you are at the interview stage. | | | | all these personality traits exist at the |
| At this point you need to keep it brief, | | | | interview. |
| factual and promotional Here's some advice | | | | |
| and CV writing tips to give you the edge: | | | | Proofread, proofread and proofread again! |
| | | | |
| Keep your CV short, simple and to the point | | | | If there's one thing you should take away |
| | | | from this it's that HR people can be brutal, |
| The most important piece of CV advice I can | | | | and it won't take much for them to cross you |
| give is this: keep it brief. If you're | | | | off the list. The fact they're looking to |
| working on having 10 seconds to be seen in, | | | | narrow down the candidates as much as |
| you can't waste time with verbosity. Get to | | | | possible, so make yourself hard to rule out. |
| the point quickly and outline your | | | | One obvious thing that will make your CV a |
| achievements, past roles and skills clearly. | | | | prime candidate for removal from the pile is |
| Pass the first test of having the skills, and | | | | poor spelling and grammar. If they're |
| the rest may be (depending on how much time | | | | spotting mistakes from a 15 second |
| they devote to this stage) immaterial. The CV | | | | assessment, then something is seriously |
| should be no more than two pages, and the | | | | wrong! My CV writing tip here is to spell |
| really important stuff should be on the front | | | | check it, proof read it, and get someone else |
| page (to ensure even the really lazy HR staff | | | | to take a look - just make sure you don't |
| can't miss it!). | | | | seem careless come decision time. |
| | | | |
| It goes without saying too, that your contact | | | | Don't be Cheap |
| information should be clear, correct and up | | | | |
| to date. It's no good you making it into | | | | Cutting corners on a job application is never |
| their 'yes' pile if they have no way of | | | | a good idea, and although this shouldn't make |
| contacting you to take the application | | | | a difference, we're all guilty of judging on |
| further. | | | | appearance from time to time - so don't give |
| | | | them the ammunition. Using cheap paper won't |
| Outline your key achievements early | | | | impress your interviewer much; likewise a |
| | | | shoddy photocopy suggests you're sending the |
| At the very start you can make a useful | | | | CV to anyone with a postal address. Spend the |
| summary of who you are to ensure you get your | | | | little extra on some good quality paper to |
| positives known from the very start. Your | | | | make sure the rest of your effort doesn't go |
| main achievements should be backed up with | | | | to waste. |
| evidence to support them, and a short career | | | | |
| history will give them a clue of the kind of | | | | When it comes to writing a Curriculum Vitae, |
| experience you can provide. My advice: the CV | | | | you really should ensure that everything is |
| should show your main selling points right | | | | perfect. I hope this advice on how to write a |
| away, so make it stand out at the top. | | | | CV that stands out is helpful: Don't cut |
| | | | corners, get to the point quickly and stand |
| Tailor it to the job you want | | | | out as the star you undoubtedly are, and your |
| | | | applications to interview ratio should |
| A generic Curriculum Vitae is a great | | | | dramatically increase. |