Writing a CV

So look, we all know there are 101 ways to write a CV. That everyone that has an opinion will give you their 10 pence worth. You can’t please everyone, and so you should just write your resume how you want and every agent, client or employer can just take it as it comes?WRONG.

There are rules and opinions that are common amongst every recruiter I have worked with and clients I have sent CVs to.

So here’s the thing, the CV is your way of grabbing someone’s attention.

Attention spans aren’t what they used to be.

In other words, unlike our parents we get easily distracted because, well, er, sorry I was just checking my Insta account (you get the idea). So just like an elevator pitch you have a limited timescale to win someone’s longer (time) investment.

With that in mind what would you put at the top of your CV (under your name, I mean everyone introduces, themselves even in the digital age)?

No not your education, try again. List of skills and software you can use, really? Even if you work in IT you are wasting 15-20 seconds of your pitch on your capabilities within technology? The 00’s are the last time anyone was impressed that some could develop in Java or answer 3rd line technical questions.

In this era, people want to know who you are, the level within a business you work at, and the type of projects you have successful worked on. It is a business enabled world baby.

So you’ve given them an understanding of how they could position you in their business but why should they chose you over the other CVs they’ve got to look at or what else you can add to their current team? Well I guess it would be a great idea to tell them how you’ve been instrumental in making the other company’s you’ve worked for better by having you around.

Specifically tell them what you are most professionally proud of over the last 5-10 years.

Around 6-8 bullets points that demonstrate your worth to the companies you’ve worked for and how that would be good for the potential employer.

We’ve got their attention – phew. Now it’s time to show them the details:

Where you have worked

Your role

How long for

Skills (and yes software/platforms can be included)

And the projects or specifics you delivered whilst working there This should be repeated for the last 10 or so years. Key to this section is to describe the role in a few sentences and then use around 4 bullet points to highlights specific skills and achievements. This assists in breaking up the page and keeping the attention of the audience.

What about work history previous to the last 10 years? A line or two saying that work prior to this time was in a. industry b. roles and that further information can be provided on request should suffice. If something from that time is relevant to the role add it as a key achievement in the opening section.

Education and qualifications – it comes at the end because it was important when you did it and shows that you can commit and have a level of IQ and to some organisations it is still more valued that EQ…..

Personal information.

Finally be prepared and accept that each role that comes up may require you to have to do a tailored version of your CV. A role that is the next step in your career should be worth 30-60 minutes of your time (investment) to highlight the right experience from your career to date.

That is really it, oh apart from a few words of wisdom from my interaction with the world of recruitment and talent acquisition:

• Don’t use boxes
  • It takes up space that you could be using to sell yourself in
  • It’s not a restaurant menu
  • “I don’t like boxes on CVs so I binned it” – quote from a HR Director
• If you bold titles don’t underline
• If you underline titles don’t bold
• Make sure you use the same font all the way through
• Don’t rely on your software package to check for grammar or spelling mistakes: edit, edit, edit
• Then ask someone you are confident has good language skills to read it
• Never, and I do mean never, pay someone to write your CV
• If you are using a font size below 10 to fit in the words, you have too many words – delete some (edit)

Miles Austin-Raffan is Managing Director at Think Well Partners, he’s always open to having a discussion about your career, or how to improve your opportunities in the UK job market. Pleases contact him at enquiries@thinkwellpartners.co.uk to book a meeting.