When it comes to finding a new job, your CV can either make or break you! So it’s very important to always see your CV as your sales document, that is selling you and your skills. If employers are interested in you and you are getting job interviews, then your CV is doing its job. If there is “radio silence” and nothing is happening for you, then it probably needs some changes.
Your CV may be the document that helps you progress your career within your current organisation or it may be required to introduce you to a new organisation or even a new career path. Either way, a successful CV follows a very simple but effective outline. It should be clear and highlight you, your strengths, current work place and work place achievements. Ultimately it becomes the document that sells you, so it is very important that your CV gets noticed and therefore gets you job interviews!
Page one
Page one of your CV is very important. It should clearly state on page one, your skills and what you can offer a potential new employer. It must include all of your most important information and key strengths. It should be a summary and clear snapshot that helps a recruiter or employer to make their decision about you. No one should need to read beyond page one before they can fully understand what you actually do, and what you can offer an organisation. Details on page one will include:
- Name
- Mobile Number / Email (There is no need for your address or any more personal information)
- Career Profile/Executive summary – this should be a detailed paragraph on your skills and qualifications, years of experience and what you are looking for now. If you are professionally qualified then mention this in the first line of your career profile, eg. “A CA qualified Finance Manager with over 15 years experience……….…..” Also consider then including 3 to 4 major accomplishments, ensuring these are relevant to the types of jobs you will be applying for.
- Professional Qualifications/Education/Additional Training (either on page one or the last page)
- Career summary table – this will list employers, positions, industry, dates (years only)
- IT Skills (optional) – (either on page one or the last page)
Page 2, 3 and beyond
- Company Name and dates – starting with the most recent
- Your Job Title – you can also convert this to explain what the job actually does. Eg “Head of Learning (Career Coach/Trainer) “
- Description of the Company – If it’s not obvious, include a very brief description of who they are and what they do e.g. “Manufactures tables and chairs, 100 staff and a turnover of $50m pa”
- Key Job Responsibilities
- Key Achievements – Make sure you can back up your achievements and make them tangible. Always detail where this achievement added value to the business, and explain the outcome.
- Interests & Community Involvement – detail any volunteer work or NFP organisations you are involved with. This tells an employer more about you as a person and the majority of employers will look favourably at seeing this on your CV
- Referees available on request (optional to show this)
How long should my CV be?
Depending on the length of your career it should be between 2 and 4 pages, 5 pages at the very most for senior executives. This includes 3 to 4 key strengths on the front sheet, backed up by tangible achievements.
Is there a particular look for current CVs?
It is important to choose a font style that is easy to read. Calibri, Arial or Arial Narrow are good choices. Try to avoid using Times New Roman. Ensure as much white space as possible so your CV is easy to read. Highlight company names and clearly label the years or timeframes you have worked. Make it easy to digest, don’t ask people to read between the lines.
Responsibilities vs Achievements
A good CV needs both, but should be heavily weighted to tangible achievements, as this showcases your own specific skills and abilities. Examples include ‘Reduced reporting time from 5 to 2 days, (then detail how you did this)’ or ‘Undertook specific initiative (detail this) that resulted in a cost saving of $2m for the business’.
Once you are happy with your CV then ensure the recruiters you are registered with have your new version. Then start reaching out to your network and get your CV out there!
If you do feel you need assistance on updating your CV then you can contact me directly to find out more.