|
|
Home: Employment full menu: CVS and applications
The Curriculum Vitae
Caroline Morris - November 2006
caroline.morris@kirklees.gov.uk
What is it?
'Curriculum vitae' sounds good but there are widely differing views as to what it means. We use the term 'CV' for
convenience but it is sometimes called a Resume. Confusion is best avoided by not giving it a label at all, i.e.
many people place the title 'curriculum vitae' at the top of the page – this is unnecessary and a waste of valuable
space. Much better to have your full name or the name you feel most comfortable with, emblazoned across the top –
that is, after all, the name of the product you are selling!
Why do I need one?
Constructing a first class CV is hard work and not much fun, but once completed is well worth the effort. The aim of
the CV and accompanying application letter is to achieve the interview. It is at the interview that you will have
the chance to persuade the interviewer to give you the job.
Always remember that for a direct application, the CV never travels alone. It is only 50% of your sales literature.
The remaining 50% is the letter that goes with it.
A successful CV
To get an interview requires an understanding of the selection procedure. The initial selection process is not
really one of selection at all but one of rejection. Your aim is therefore twofold:
Minimising Rejection
Early rejection can be quite arbitrary and maybe the responsibility of a junior member of staff. Early rejection is
frustrating but you can minimise the risk by placing as much emphasis on defence as on attack. There is a saying in
sporting circles – 'as long as you have the ball they cannot score'. Making just one of the errors outlined below is
the equivalent of giving the ball away. Make more than one and you will probably score an own goal.
- Quality of presentation is vital and first impressions count. The quality of the application reflects the quality of the candidate - so keep it neat and clean. There is little point in taking the time and trouble to construct a first class CV if it is going to be spoilt by being folded up and stuffed into a small envelope. Use A5 or A4 envelope's so that it will arrive in pristine condition.
- The CV should be typed or printed – never hand-written. Good photocopies are acceptable. Bad photocopies give the recipient the impression that they are just one of many on your list.
- Use good quality paper.
- Avoid spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Get someone to check your CV for this or use 'spellcheck' on your PC. If you have made an error you will be the last person to spot it.
- Pay attention to detail. For example, include your postcode.
- Keep it relevant. If you give a blow-by-blow account of your life story, the reader will have no reason to call you for interview. Your CV must intrigue the reader, so what you choose to leave out is arguably more important than what you choose to include. Your aim is to make the reader say "I must see this person to find out more".
- Avoid using 'jargon' or buzzwords that may have been used in your present or last company. Think - will it make sense to an outsider?
- Avoid using the first person singular. Space is at a premium so a continuous narrative style is unwise. You also run the risk of boring the reader to tears. Omitting all the 'I' references improves clarity and power. After all the reader knows that the CV is about you so there is no need to keeping repeating that fact.
- Choose your words carefully and avoiding drawing attention to irrelevancies. There is of course a thin dividing line between subtlety and vagueness, so be careful not to overdo it.
- Never include salary on your CV. If an employer requests it include this in your letter.
- Some HR consultants advise you to omit your age arguing that if age is important, let employers work it out from your date of birth.
- If you are applying for jobs because you have been made redundant, try not to say this in your CV. Remember that you are not being made redundant – your job is.
- Avoid negative phrases.
- Never lie. Do not make false claims regarding qualifications or experience.
Maximising Selection
The expanded aim of your CV is to present your selection of facts about yourself and your experience which are likely
to be relevant to the particular job or situation so you compel the reader to interview you or to recommend that a
superior should do so.
- Stick to the facts.
- Concentrate more on what is recent and important than on what is distant, and hence, probably not as important.
- Concentrate on functions you performed and skills you developed. Use action verbs/words e.g. liaising, negotiating, planning, developing, handling, etc.
- Quantify your responsibilities e.g. numbers, volumes, area.
- Quantify your achievements. If you increased sales, say by how much. If you re-organised an administrative department so that it worked more efficiently. Give examples.
- Choose the right format. You must select the CV style with the most selling power for you. If you are applying for an advertised vacancy that really interests you then it is worth constructing a CV that is slanted towards that job.
For the general purpose CV you can use chronological format or one which outlines your experience under sub headings.
If your career has been one of logical progression, i.e. a series of jobs within the same profession/discipline but
with increasing degrees of responsibilities, then the chronological format will probably show this in its best light.
If your career has been somewhat diverse then a long string of dates showing a sequence of unrelated positions would
not be impressive. A summary of your Skills, Abilities and Achievements may be more powerful here.
Positive words to use on your CV
They will help you to make a positive, favourable impression with a potential employer consider using some of the
following words on your CV or application.
| Achieving | Efficient | Processing |
| Administered | Engineered | Productive |
| Analysing | Establishing | Proficient |
| Built | Expanding | Profitable |
| Capable | Experienced | Quantified |
| Competent | Guided | Repaired |
| Communicating | Implementing | Resourceful |
| Consistent | Improving | Specialised |
| Controlled | Initiating | Stable |
| Co ordinating | Instigating | Successful |
| Created | Leading | Supervising |
| Designing | Managing | Training |
| Directing | Organising | Versatile |
| Economical | Participating | Wide background |
| Effective | Positive | |
| Efficient | Productive | |
Phrases to use on your CV
Employers often look for a particular development of skills or career in applicants. Consider using some of the
following phrases to show you have considered your personal development.
The Career Path
- 'A measured and progressive career pattern'
- 'A career that has developed and shown a regular pattern of achievement'
- 'A regular pattern of achievement and increased responsibility'
The Experience and Capability Factor
- 'In depth experience of...'
- 'Successful leadership of...'
- 'Successfully co-ordinated...'
- 'The commercial experience and personal qualities necessary '
- 'A good general grounding in...'
- 'An introduction to...'
- 'Acting as the fore runner'
- 'From design stage through to drawing and production to testing and completion'
- 'A high level of commercial awareness'
- 'A broad cross section of activity'
- 'Experience in...'
- 'Specific emphasis can be placed on...'
- 'With full profit centre responsibilities'
- 'A thorough and comprehensive in depth knowledge of'
Further help
|
|
Facebook
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
StumbleUpon
Reddit