Are you just about to write or update your CV? We've got some advice that should point you in the right direction.
Start from scratch. One of the biggest barriers people come across when it comes to updating their CV is knowing where to start. Starting a fresh CV will make sure that each job listed on your CV is consistent and, more importantly, written with hindsight to present these jobs in a context that helps get you an interview.
Don’t just dive in, research first. Although you know yourself quite well, you need to look at your CV from an outsider’s point of view. Look at job adverts before you start writing and pay careful attention to the words used. Have you missed any important points when describing a previous role? Is there a skill or achievement that you were not sure about including? Looking at what the market needs right now should help your focus.
Speak their language. Your CV should be written with the reader in mind. Use the terms employers use to describe responsibilities and accountabilities. This approach makes your CV more accessible and familiar (and therefore more compelling) to the person that will eventually read it.
Focus on achievements more than responsibilities. Some of the worst CVs are those that use bullet points to describe what a job entails instead of talking about success. The employer looking at your CV is likely to know exactly what the job description is because they hire for the role – so tell them how you did well, how you changed things and what you did that was different.
Edit your CV for ‘skim reading’. After you have written your CV, read through it carefully and then cut out all the unnecessary words. Most employers will scan your CV rather than reading it in detail. Use bold to highlight the key words you really want to emphasise. Target your CV to each role - it is worth highlighting and arranging points on your CV to match the role you are applying for.
Write a summary. CVs all tend to look a bit similar to an employer once applications for a job start to pile up. A short, punchy profile at the start of the CV should help convince. Once you’ve finished writing your CV, you should add a short profile which is aimed at convincing the recipient to read the whole CV.
Keep your online CV up to date. Employers are likely to look you up on the web and LinkedIn will probably be the place they find you. Make sure your profile is up to date and once you have written your CV make sure that both are consistent.
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