Make a point


The reality of the Curriculum Vitae is that it is the initial 'selling tool' for you, the prospective candidate for an appointment or job.

In the UK and certain other countries you should not produce more than two or a maximum of three pages. In the USA, maybe five or six. Avoid using coloured text but, instead, a coloured heading would look good. Do not put your CV into a binder. Of course, everything is subjective!

Clearly, once you are selected for interview other factors come into play but the CV is undoubtedly regarded as the first foot in the door; so how important a part does it play? A great deal really in terms of influencing the interviewer or decision maker to allow you the opportunity to express yourself in person. Without a suitably constructed CV you are likely to be by-passed for the vacancy in question.

So...if you are serious in your intent or ambition, your treatment in compiling your personal selling tool is extremely important and definitely worthy of your time and effort. With this in mind we show some key ideas to assist with your task and hope you will find it of some value, even if you happen to be an experienced interviewee. However, we wish to stress that this is only a guide and the content is naturally yours, and remember that white space allows the person involved in the selection process an easier read.
REMEMBER TO PUT SOME VITALITY INTO YOUR CREATION- be clean cut, neat and positive.

Step by step


one

Start by putting your name and address, telephone number, mobile and email address

two

Head the document with the words CURRICULUM VITAE

three

Now begins the CV proper...Give a heading for the subject of PROFILE. This is an important element and allows you to produce a brief sketch in a few key lines about yourself and what you can offer in work terms.

four

Move on and add another heading - SKILLS. This is an opportunity to outline in a few lines your special ability and expertise. You do not have to be over modest either.

five

Now add a third heading which is just as important as the other two - but maybe in two or three lines: ACHIEVEMENTS - in other words, something you have accomplished. Perhaps something others might admire you for.

six

Your new heading will be EMPLOYMENT HISTORY. Give some of that white space now and talk of your employment details. Start with your current or last employment and work backwards to your first employment giving more prominence to those you regard as being the most important to you. Naturally if you have had many jobs or positions you will have to 'take a view' on how far to go back, or whether to group several into one space, if some are not over necessary to explain in detail. Head up each work record with the name of the employer, the period of employment (with dates) and the position you held or hold, then, of course, the description of what role you carried out and other relevant factors using 'bullet points' clearly spaced out.

seven

Once you have outlined your career to date, try to create a little more space before you head up the next section which is EDUCATION. You might have a sub-section for easy reading - listing first the educational facility (school, college, university and/or professional establishment) then the period and followed by the qualification(s) achieved. Naturally this should be more particularly detailed if of special relevance and the most recent stated first, working back in time.

eight

In this final section, list your HOBBIES & INTERESTS. This will obviously be your heading. Whilst some may not consider this to be over important it has been known for a candidate to be appointed purely because they had the same interests as the decision maker.

Finally...


Now you have completed this honest masterpiece, do finer tune it and make sure you have used spellcheck on your computer, or ask someone to proof read it. Good luck!