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Making your CV Work for You:
Until your interview, you are only as good as your paperwork and perhaps
telephone manner.
This makes your CV and covering letter crucial. They are essential tools in
most job searches. Like any marketing document, a CV should help you sell
yourself.
Preparation:
Think about your skills, competencies, qualifications and experience. What are
your unique selling points and strengths? Think in terms of what you have
achieved.
If you are replying to a specific job advertisement, review what key words and
tasks were used in the advertisement. Which of these words applies to you? Use
these words in your CV.
Helpful Hints:
Remember that you want your CV to be read and responded to. Include
enough information to stimulate interest, but not so much that you bore the
reader. If you provide small, digestible pieces of information you stand a
better chance of having your CV read. Three pages maximum is preferred, but
keeping it to one page is even better! Every word must contribute to the
overall message - so keep it brief and ensure that the content is relevant to
the job you are applying for.
Ensure that your CV is well structured and well laid out; this gives the
impression that you think logically and makes it easier to review. Remember - a
CV that is hard to read is often put aside and forgotten. When writing the CV,
remember that self-opinion is best avoided. Aim to include factual information
or objective evidence and remember to focus on the benefits of your
achievements.
Pay close attention to reply instructions in advertisements (e.g. spelling of a
contact's name). Always have someone else on hand to check your spelling and
grammar. Nothing can ruin your chances of getting a job faster than easily
preventable mistakes. Avoid colored paper or fancy fonts, if you plan to fax or
e-mail your CV, you'll get a much better result with clean fonts and a simple
lay-out.
The First Page:
This should contain your personal details, your home address and contact
details located right at the top, followed by a brief summary of educational
credentials and qualifications. An overview statement should be included
covering your strengths in the relevant area, skills and experience, and the
type of position sought.
Pages Two/Three:
Here you should highlight your employment history. Present this in reverse
chronological order, (i.e. last job first). If you have only worked for one
company, break it down with an entry for each position or project dealt with.
For each position held, briefly describe responsibilities and work undertaken.
Do include achievements, not just regular tasks, if possible, quantify them in
sales, financial or production terms.
Each professional position that you've had must include at least one statement
of accomplishment. For your current and recent positions, you may want to have
several bulleted items under the job that list your most significant
experiences.
List your hobbies and interests in no more than three lines, and only if they
are relevant to the position in question. Any voluntary or charity work or
external posts you hold are worth including. Always include any languages,
courses or training you may have done, or any professional memberships.
It is recommended that two referees be given at a later date - including the
referees' official titles, addresses and telephone numbers.
The 'Covering' Letter:
CVs are seldom used alone, they should always be introduced by a letter or a
telephone call. The letter can really let your personality come through.
Remember, recruitment consultants and employers read hundreds of CVs, an
interesting introductory letter can make yours stand out.
Your letter can be used to pick up points which modesty or space prevented you
from including in your CV (i.e. to highlight your key strengths relevant to the
job). An introduction letter can save you from having to rewrite the CV each
time you want to target your application to a specific advertisement or sector.
Nevertheless, keep your CV up to date. Using an out of date CV looks sloppy at
best and may exclude you from consideration.
Recruitment Consultancies and CVs
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation, (REC, formerly FRES) has an
important role to play in raising recruitment industry standards through
members who must adhere to a Code of Practice. REC members believe that
candidates have a right to decide how their details or CV are put forward to
clients, so have issued the following guidelines about best practice.
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Always ask the recruitment consultancy for a copy of the CV they are intending
to send to clients on your behalf.
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Ask the recruitment consultancy to explain its policy on submitting your CV or
details to a prospective employer. Will they always contact you before putting
you forward? If you always want to be consulted before your name is put forward
for a vacancy, tell the consultancy- but bear in mind that employers often put
consultancies under a great deal of time pressure. To avoid missing
opportunities you will need to stay in close contact with the consultancy.
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If you are happy not to be consulted on each occasion, again tell the
consultancy, but make sure you inform them in writing of any companies that you
do not wish to receive your CV.
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Only allow the consultancy that first contacts you about a specific vacancy to
act on your behalf. Multiple submissions by different consultancies can confuse
potential employers - they do not multiply your chances of success.
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Always ask the recruitment consultancy if it is a REC member. Members of REC
comply with Codes aimed at giving you a high standard of service and they are
subject to REC complaints and disciplinary procedures.
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