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jobpilot international: Career Journal
CV TIPS
The Content
Getting it all across
A profile to open with?
Only use a profile if it genuinely adds value by highlighting your own unique
selling points. Leave career overviews and objectives to your covering letter and
avoid vague labels - a list of skills means nothing and will work far better
demonstrated further down the page.
Spend time instead ensuring that an opening isn't necessary, letting your
achievements throughout your CV work together to clearly show what you are
capable of doing, and the career path you have carved out for yourself.
Skills or experience?
What will clearly sell what you are capable of doing?
If you open with key skills pool what you have achieved and focus your
experience into transferable and desirable skills. Clearly demonstrate
communication, project management and presentation skills with key actions
and achievements.
Or instead define each of your roles in terms of the skills you demonstrated and
developed. Clearly illustrate each skill with a concrete point and show what you
are capable of doing, paying attention to your most recent achievements. Show
a clear development and an employer will see what you have done and where
you are set to go next.
Work in reverse chronology.
A prospective employer wants to know what you last did and how that makes
you an ideal candidate.
Lead with achievements.
What your skills have accomplished best demonstrate what you have to offer.
Take ownership of your experience by using active verbs and positive language.
Managed a team of 20 is more powerful than being involved in team
management. Back everything up with fact. Be quantitative as well as
qualitative. Outline budgets handled and teams managed to make your skills
tangible.
Avoid the graduate trap.
However long you studied for or how well you did it all soon becomes
background information in a professional market. If you're not a recent graduate
your professional experience will always be more relevant so put it first and
keep education details to a minimum.
Your degree and where you received it should suffice, unless it is particularly
vocational or demonstrates a broad range of experience with subjects that will be of use.
References.
Employers will ask for references when they need them. Leave these details off
and use the space to say something more important.
More tips about: Layout
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