Cv writing workshop

http://www.newmonday.co.uk/career_advice/cv_writing/covering_letter.html

CV writing workshopPreparation Before you begin, you need to have a clear idea of what you are aiming for. It may have been several years since you last wrote out your CV, since then the industry and your own goals and ideals may have changed considerably. Even before you begin creating your new CV, it’s important to establish what your ideal new job would be (be realistic, Britain already has too many struggling rock stars!) and what information would need to appear on your CV. So, to start off let’s take a few minutes to lay the basic foundations. Who am I really?Part of your job hunting, or career change process should be a self-assessment. This may sound long-winded but without a clear idea of your strengths and weaknesses, a realistic idea of what you can expect or step up to, and confidence about your own unique selling points, you may never find an ideal job. Remember, you can’t be all things to all people and your CV needs to be tailored towards a targeted sector. Why not spend five minutes sketching down a few notes about your professional profile to date? Here are a few guidelines:

What are my strengths? In which areas did I excel in my previous position? In which working environment would I thrive? How can I minimise my weaknesses? What are my mid to long term professional goals? Which areas of past experience are no longer of any relevance? Can I define exactly what it is I do, professionally? Do I have a proven track record? What personal attributes can I bring to the role? How motivated am I towards this change?

The basicsYour CV is a reflection of your professionalism. It needs to state quite clearly that you are the man or woman for the job. A good CV should contain:

An attention grabbing summary page A clear, uncluttered layout Active and precise description Job specific information Articulate, concise language No mistakes No more than two/three pages

Throughout this process we’ll be considering what the recruiter would like to see on your CV. Further on in the workshop we’ll be discussing customising individual CVs for each application, but at all times you should consider the following points which recruiters look for in a CV:

The right skills and quantifiable experience Suitable interpersonal and communication skills The ability to flourish in the company’s environment The competence and confidence to adapt to the job


The modern CVWith the advent of word processors, the visual impact of CVs has improved dramatically. Attention to layout not only reflects your sense of professionalism but, more importantly, makes it easier for the recruiter to browse through. Bear in mind that they may be shifting through dozens of CVs and may not take the time to notice the important details. Without creating a CV that looks like a Christmas tree, you should aim to effectively impart a limited amount of information which will ultimately secure you an interview. Quality takes precedence over quantity. The most significant change is the introduction of a summary page. Although there are several popular styles which we will be discussing, the summary page is the first and last selling point of your CV. It outlines your professional profile, key skills and experience, and strengths and achievements. We will look more closely at this in the very next section. If presented effectively, it could land you an interview, at the very least it will prompt the recruiter to look further at your CV. And finally…Here is a list of assets which every employer looks for when filling a professional post, your aim is to include as many as possible in your CV.

Competence and experience Relevant skills and the ability to adapt them to the new role Strategic thinking Creativity and problem solving ability Leadership Interpersonal and communication skills Personal management skills Integrity

CV writing workshopProofing and checking a CV This is possibly the most important part of the entire process. A small error, or misleading information, can seriously undermine all your effort. At a professional level, grammar, spelling and punctuation should all be impeccable. Ensure that details, contact numbers and references are accurate (e.g. claiming to be proficient in Quark Express sounds dubious when the software package is actually called Quark Xpress!). Our checklist will help you with some of the common errors. Attention to detail is a skill that transcends all jobs and it begins with your CV. If you have had to produce a CV at short notice, then checking the details is especially important.

FACT: 70 per cent of CVs which are received by newmonday.com have at least one mistake in them. The most common error on a CV is the misuse of apostrophes in it's text. Did you notice that one at the end of the last sentence?

Proof reading your own work is difficult. Preferably get someone else to check it for you. Don't just look for textual errors, but use common sense and question the logic in descriptive pieces. Do not rely solely on a spell-checker (they do not distinguish between 'where' and 'were' for instance). Facts and fictionLying on your CV is done so at your own peril. We're all guilty of occasionally stretching the imagination, but sooner or later you will be expected to deliver according to your claims. Psychometric testing and


interviewing skills are often quite effective in weeding out inaccurate detail. HR departments routinely hire the services of private companies to verify qualifications. Rather than being vague with details that are inadequate (a dead give-away), leave them out and focus on other allied skills which you are confident with. Honesty is a good virtue, valued by employers. Minimising negativesAll of us have so-called 'holes' in our CVs, areas which may show ourselves in a negative light. Instead of trying to hide it or cover up, you can reduce the point, or turn it your advantage by focusing on another skill which compensates for this lack. Here are some potential pitfalls, and suggestions for dealing with them. In most of the topics below, we suggest you use a skills-based CV format. This gives you more scope for reducing or leaving out details that expose negatives. Lack of track record: refer to vocational work, or unrelated work which shows your diligence. Emphasize your skills which apply to the new role. Present your willingness to learn as an advantage. Career change: give positive reasons for changing career direction, place emphasis on your determination and courage to make the move. Make your past sound relevant. Be open and honest. Insufficient qualifications: focus on experience and workplace skills. If you're studying, or are halfway through a course, then mention it. If you have succeeded without qualifications, then turn it into a positive and mention to what extent you've 'beaten the odds'. Foreign qualifications: try to establish the local equivalent of your qualifications and state this. Alternatively specify the length of your study, the number of subjects and the institution you attended as a means of showing the standard of the course. If the qualification is recognised locally be sure to mention this, the recruiter may not already know. Gaps in your CV: if you've taken time out to travel or pursue a different activity this is now perfectly acceptable, try to accentuate how the experience has benefited you. Don't lie, it's important not to give the impression that you've been sitting around doing nothing for six months. Informal study, family care or recovering from illness are feasible excuses, provided you can back them up. Quitting your previous job: if you are currently unemployed, the recruiter will want to know why you left. You can get away with short periods, otherwise simply state; left for personal reasons. The employer might be suspicious that you may do the same to them, make sure you have a good explanation saved for the interview. We all have standards, and it's acceptable to leave a position at short notice if justified, but be sure to back up your reasoning. Being fired: never mention this on your CV. Even very successful CEOs occasionally get the sack and football managers have a particularly poor track record! Never let it cripple your confidence. The details can be discussed in the interview if necessary. If the reason was due to a serious misdemeanour on your part (such as accountability), focus on the


situation rather than your own shortcomings, and how the experience has enriched your business acumen. Too much experience: this can be a frustrating situation, but it is easier to swing to your advantage. If you're considerably older than the employer is looking for, focus on how your experience can benefit them, and emphasize your youthful outlook (if this is realistic). Objections are often centred on an unwillingness of older people to adapt, so you need to reassure the recruiter (on your profile). You can state your intention to step down the career ladder in order to solidify certain experience, or move into a bigger corporation. Perhaps you have some personal reasons to give, such as stepping into a lower profile position to focus on raising a family. Too many short jobs: the employer will no doubt wonder about how long you'll stay. By honestly confronting them, and stating your seriousness to remain in the position, you can avoid suspicion. Contract work is one excuse for a patchwork CV. You can also bundle several short jobs into one title (e.g. Freelancing sub-editor: XYZ, ABC, DEF companies). Personal development is perfectly understandable, stating that you were not happy with your initial career path and have 'been looking around' is feasible provided you can reassure them that you are now serious about your new direction. Checklist

Is it easy on the eye? Is the appearance consistent and suitable for the specific role (i.e.

formal presentation for accountants, 'bells and whistles' for a designer)?

Have you checked the grammar, punctuation and spelling? Are the names of all proper nouns correct and capped up? Are all the details you've given on this particular CV relevant to this

application?

Profile details Is it concise, punchy and informative, using power words? Are your examples specific and quantifiable? Is there too much detail? Is the personal summary meaningful? If not, leave it out. Now, read through it one last time, you're bound to find one final

mistake!

CV writing workshopAn expert's opinion Many of the CV's we receive at newmonday simply haven’t been compiled with fore-thought and logic. We asked some e-cruiters to share some of their thoughts on what makes a CV really stand out amongst the many, and how to leave a professional impression. We also consulted some of the recruitment specialists whom we work with. Here are some of their comments: E-cruiters


"Layout is very important, it’s easier to read and digest skills and experience that have been bullet pointed. Some people reel out lengthy text which is unlikely to be read."

"An overview of your background is all that is necessary, save the details for the interview."

"People tend to puff up their CV with nonsense and meaningless words. Phrases such as 'team player' make no impression if they’re not backed up with examples."

"Seventy per cent of the CVs we receive are too long. Two pages is sufficient to make the right impression and secure an interview."

"People often omit critical details, such as their current employer - recruiters all have respect for confidentiality. Don’t forget to mention your gender, if it isn’t obvious according to your name."

"Make use of a personal summary to briefly describe yourself out of the workplace. Recruiters like to look for this at the end of a summary for any interesting additional information about character."

"Work experience is the first thing people look at...you must spell out what skills you have, transferable or otherwise."

Recruitment specialists"The CV is used as a process of elimination. It should cover one or two pages, any more can be quite off-putting to have to look through. Even people with a lot of experience should try to put all the relevant information on one page. "Generally there are three purposes to a CV. It highlights your values to a potential employer, it gives a structure to what you have done and is used as substance for the interview. "A CV should be concise. Precision and relevance are very important. It needs to be geared towards the area of work you are going into. Use bullet points because then you can start each sentence with an action word, such as developed, or managed. "

Catherine Fleming, a psychologist with Career Psychology Ltd., a careers analysis and advice service

"The CV needs to be clearly laid out. Bullet points are good. Obviously there shouldn’t be spelling errors. If you’ve had a gap in your employment, don’t worry about it, as long as you can explain it. "Don’t bother putting your age or date of birth on a CV, it’s just a waste of space. Your level of experience will give away your age and if you make it to interview, the interviewer will have an idea of age on meeting you."

Dylan Armbrust, a magazine editor for Future Publishing "To be honest, I don't place too much emphasis on the CV. It's much more important for me to meet face to face and start talking to the person because that's when you discover the hidden skills. "I like to refer to the ‘Feng Shui CV', the CV that's easiest on the eye! I usually gloss over a CV very quickly because I always like meeting people in person anyway and hearing all the gory details then. It sticks in my memory better.


"Originality is always a good way to present a CV because it shows personality and that's who you are! Don't be afraid to show it."

Rebecca Cleary, MD, KSC Webstars, specialists in online recruitmentThe 10 minute guide to writing a CV Writing a CV is an important task that requires a great deal of time and effort, but sometimes we have to produce a CV at short notice. To help you, we've summarised our comprehensive CV writing workshop. A modern CV should be no longer than two or three pages, aimed at selling yourself to the recruiter in less than 30 seconds. Remember, they are busy people, inundated with CVs, and your CV should be no more than an advertisement of your key skills and experience. "The CV is used as a process of elimination. It should cover one or two pages, any more can be quite off-putting to have to look through. Even people with a lot of experience should try to put all the relevant information on one page", says Catherine Fleming from Career Psychology Ltd. Before you begin, you need to have a clear idea of what you are aiming for. It may have been several years since you last wrote out your CV, so make a few notes about your strengths and weaknesses, areas you excelled during your current or previous position, your ideal working environment, your mid to long term professional goals etc. Recruiters will be looking at your CV to find out if you have the right skills and quantifiable experience, suitable interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to flourish in the company's environment and the competence and confidence to adapt to the job. These are the attributes you need to put across when writing your CV. There are two types of CV format and you should use the one that suits you best; • Chronological CVs: are more traditional, they list previous employers and job roles in detail, and are suited to professionals who have a formal history of experience (for an example click here). • Functional or skills CVs: are better suited to contractors, graduates, people who have moved around a lot, or taken time out to pursue charity work or similar activities. They are also useful when making a complete career change. These types of CVs are more descriptive and focus more on skills and direct experience (for an example click here). Attention to layout and economical use of space has a big impact on the weary eye of a recruiter. The traditional CV style wasted an enormous amount of space and included unnecessary information. Use a letter head style to included your name and basic contact details. Leave out date of birth, marital status, National insurance number, driving licence and nationality details etc. These particulars can be included, if necessary in a brief personal summary at the end of the CV. • For a chronological CV template click here• For a skills-based CV template click here.

http://www.newmonday.co.uk/career_advice/cv_writing/newmonday.com_skills_template_word_version.doc

http://www.newmonday.co.uk/career_advice/cv_writing/newmonday.com_chronological_template_word_version.doc


The summary pageThe summary page should make an immediate impact on the recruiter, and it gives you a chance to show off your personality and personal attributes. It comprises of the following (in the order that they should appear on the page): A descriptive profile: of your professional designation (e.g. a chartered accountant or web designer), backed up by key features of your professional self, and also including your immediate ambitions. Ideally this should be punchy, precise and no more than three (15-word) sentences. Key skills: listed as bullet points. Eight points is sufficient, make sure they're relevant to the particular position and concisely written. This will include not only your formal training, but also workplace acumen (e.g. proven skilful negotiator). Make sure you quantify your results (e.g. increased turnover by 40 per cent), and be careful of meaningless phrases (e.g. good team player). Try to avoid single words spilling over on to a new line, this wastes space. Achievements: these should be presented in the same manner as skills, although about three significant achievements are enough. Recent job experience: which would be basic details of your most recent, or most important role so far. Include your job title, the name of company and date of commencement. This should be followed by a two-sentence description of the role and about six bullet points of your key responsibilities, tasks and achievements in the role. This should full up the first page. If you've done a good job, the recruiter will be reaching for the phone to call you in for an interview before even reading the second page. Page twoSecondary work experience and qualifications can appear on the second page. If you have a long, important, career history then you can indulge yourself a third page. Details of jobs held more than 10 years ago, minute details of more recent jobs, reasons for leaving a previous job, current and past salaries and details of referees can be left out entirely. Remember that less is more, avoid squeezing too much onto the page, use white space to effect and choose a font that is easy to read. Carefully selected adverbs and adjectives can turn a dull CV into an articulate masterpiece, it says something for your professionalism and communication skills. Make use of our list of power words. Avoid jargon, clearly state what you were accountable for and quantify or back up your claims. Including insignificant detail and non-relevant experience is a dead give-away. Don't worry if your CV has a few 'holes' in it from a year abroad or a study sabbatical, today's recruiters are very understanding providing you have a good explanation to back yourself up in the interview. At the end of your CV you can include a brief personal profile, a descriptive piece that details any non work-specific attributes and activities such president of your local Rotary club, public speaking, hobbies, volunteer work etc. Recruiters like to see the 'human' aspect of a


candidate and often you can make a further impact by mentioning key attributes of your character that are commendable. Each time you apply for a job your CV should be customised to suit that position. By looking at our examples of CVs you can see how clear and simple layout contributes to the appeal of a CV. You can begin by downloading a chronological or skills-based CV. For more detail visit our CV wizard. ChecklistChecking your CV is possibly the most important part of the entire process. A small error, or misleading information, can seriously undermine all your effort. At a professional level, grammar, spelling and punctuation should all be impeccable.

Is it easy on the eye? Is the appearance consistent and suitable for the specific role (i.e.

formal presentation for accountants, 'bells and whistles' for a designer)?

Have you checked the grammar, punctuation and spelling? Are the names of all proper nouns correct and capped up? Are all the details you've given on this particular CV relevant to this

application?

Profile details: Is it concise, punchy and informative, using power words? Are your examples specific and quantifiable? Is there too much detail? Is the personal summary meaningful? If not, leave it out. Now, read through it one last time, you're bound to find one final

mistake!

Try to print out individual copies of your CV rather than sending out photocopies – it may suggest that you are desperately sending your CV out to anyone you can. It's perfectly acceptable to email your CV, but send it as a MS Word document (preferably in Word '95 format). For more details visit our section on checking a CV. Covering lettersWriting a good covering letter is equally important, without it your CV may not even get read. Keep it formal and concise and address it to a named individual. The covering letter should comprise of three paragraphs as follows; An opening paragraph: introducing yourself and your job title (possibly mentioning a unique skill applicable to the role), and a reference to the job advertised. A main paragraph: outlining why you think you would be suitable for the vacant role, the benefits you can bring to the prospective employee and a few firm attributes which make you an ideal candidate. A closing paragraph: with contact details and a firm commitment to follow through on the application within a specified time limit. For more detail visit our section on writing a covering letter.


http://www.newmonday.co.uk/career_advice/cv_writing/proofreading.html

http://www.newmonday.co.uk/career_advice/cv_writing/cv_wizard.html




And finally, remember that your CV is a direct reflection of your professionalism and should be well written and free of mistakes. By keeping it brief, you have shown the recruiter that you have fore-thought and an understanding of priorities. A good CV should contain:

An attention grabbing summary page A clear, uncluttered layout Active and precise description Job specific information Articulate, concise language No mistakes No more than two/three pages

Writing a covering letter Whether you are applying for a job or writing a speculative letter to a company your covering letter could make the difference between getting a foot in the door to a new job or having the door slammed in your face. Covering letters are not just sent as a courtesy, but are an introduction to your potential employer. They are designed to complement your CV and provide extra information about you. The covering letter is the first impression a potential employer will have of you and without a good impact, they may not progress far with your CV. Introducing yourself – making an impactA covering letter should be concise and ideally no more than three paragraphs long. It needs to introduce you to the potential employer, say what you want to do for the employer, and show how and why you are suited for that particular work. Its main aim is to get your CV read. The style of the covering letter should be reasonably formal and business-like and match the CV or application form you are sending. It should be typed using a clear font and on good quality, plain white or cream paper, preferably the same as the CV. If you are emailing it, make it look business-like.

Always write to a named individual, whether you are applying for a job or writing a speculative letter. If you don’t know who to address the letter to, use your initiative and contact the company to find out the name of the relevant person. Make sure you check the spelling of their name, no one likes to have their name spelled incorrectly.

The opening paragraph should let the reader know why you are writing to them. If you are writing to apply for a position with their company, make clear which job you are applying for and where you saw the advertisement, give the title and date of the publication that the vacancy was advertised in. For speculative letters outline what kind of work you are looking for.

You need to show an interest in the position you are applying for and that you have some knowledge of the employer. Find out about the company by looking for other advertisements it may have, search the internet for its website, look through the company’s literature and scan business journals and newspapers for other general information. Refer to any recent news about the company, this will show you understand what the company is about.


Explain why you want to work there and emphasise what you can do for the company. Avoid using phrases like ‘I think I could gain valuable experience with your company’ or ‘this is an area of my skill I have always wanted to develop’. The employer will hire you because of what you can do for the company, not because of what you think you can get from working there. Be keen, but genuine and avoid using cliché phrases.

Don’t state the obvious, e.g. I am writing to apply for the position, as you will see from my CV etc. Rather reword the opening of each paragraph to get straight to the point, e.g. I am confident that my legal experience would make me a suitable candidate for this position and have attached my CV for further reference.

Why should you get the job?Paragraph two needs to tell the employer, in more detail, why you are suited to the job and what skills you have got to offer. Why would the employer benefit from taking you on? This is the most important section of the covering letter and will probably make an employer decide whether to look at your CV or not. You need to flag up two or three of your key selling points and give some concrete information on the skills and experience you have. Make sure you choose points that relate to the job you are applying for so you can match your skills to their needs. The covering letter also gives you a chance to show off skills that you might not be able to get across in the CV, such as maturity, teamwork or interpersonal skills. Make sure everything you say about your skills and experience in your covering letter is backed up by evidence in your CV. Positive endingsDon’t let your letter fizzle out at the end with just a bland ‘yours sincerely’. Finish the letter with a strong, proactive phrase which sets the scene for the next stage – being called in for an interview, e.g. I am available for interview at your convenience and look forward to meeting you. If you have addressed the letter to a named person (and you should have done), you should end the letter with Yours sincerely, if you wrote Dear Sir or Madam, it should end with Yours faithfully. ChecklistHere’s a final checklist to make sure your letter includes everything it should do.

Do you know which individual to send the CV to and is it addressed correctly?

Does the letter show an enthusiasm for the position you are applying for?

Does it show an understanding of the employer? Does it show clearly what you can offer the employer? Has it got a positive ending? Have you double-checked to make sure there are no spelling or grammatical

errors?


Click here to view an example of a covering letter

Dispatching a CVThere are three main methods of dispatching a CV:

Post Email Fax

With all these methods, make sure you make a follow up phone call to check that your CV has been received. PostThis is by far the best method. Even if you fax or email a CV be sure to follow up with a posted copy, using a hard-backed A4 envelope. It’s important to print your CV on good quality paper, using a high-resolution printer. All this increases the appearance of your CV, shows that you aren’t desperately sending out your CV en-masse and always gives a professional impression. Don’t use manila, or coloured paper. It’s quite likely that your CV will be photocopied or faxed, coloured paper only makes this more difficult. EmailSubmitting your CV by email can be done in several ways. A data copy of your CV is a good addition, not a replacement for your posted copy. An emailed version of your CV on its own should only be sent when deadlines are pressing and your posted copy may not reach the employer in time. Formatting your CV for email can sometimes be a nightmare. Text versions, including the CV in the main body of the email can cause all kinds of problems and should be avoided at all costs. Line breaks, tabs and all other formatting can just disappear altogether, leaving your CV looking like a random assortment of alphabetical fridge magnets. Most computers these days can read MS word format in some version or another. It is best to save your CV in a Word 95 document to ensure that everyone can view it properly. Note! The trouble with word documents is that spelling of unusual names can appear as a spelling mistake, underlined in red. Although this won’t show up in the print out, it doesn’t look too good on the screen. To avoid this, right click on the word and select the ‘ignore’ option. An alternative to this is the Adobe Acrobat format. A plug in for MS word allows you to save your document as a non-editable acrobat file. Most computer systems can read the acrobat format, but to be on the safe side, it should be included as well as the word document. FaxFax is a rather poor, although still popular, method of submitting your CV.


The output often appears blurred, and if the potential employer doesn’t have a plain paper fax, it will come out as a curly roll of grease proofed paper that is more likely to be thrown away than read properly. If you must submit your CV by fax, phone to let them know when you’re about to send it. This will avoid it getting lost between everyone else’s faxes. One important thing to remember is that the received fax will have a font size one point smaller than the original. If you have reduced your font size to make it fit on one page, it’s best to restore it to around 11point size and spread it over two pages. If your CV font size is less than 11, and already on two pages, it’s time to start trimming it. Doing a test by using a fax to make a copy of your CV is always a good idea. When you come to send it, put it on "Fine" mode, this will give a higher resolution output. CV wizardThroughout this wizard you will find CV examples. For more information simply roll your mouse over a section of the example and a caption box will appear.

This step-by-step procedure consists of three parts. Firstly we'll introduce you to the CV summary page and tips for improving it. We've provided a CV template, making step two easier. Working from your old CV, you can fill in the relevant details and remove the unnecessary or outdated information. Finally we'll show you how to customise your CV for a specific job application. There two main styles of presenting a CV: • Chronological CVs: are more traditional, they list previous employers and job roles in detail, and are suited to professionals who have a formal history of experience (for an example click here). • Functional or skills CVs: are better suited to contractors, graduates, people who have moved around a lot, or taken time out to pursue charity work or similar activities. They are also useful when making a complete career change. These types of CVs are more descriptive and focus more on skills and direct experience (for an example click here). How long should my CV be?The overwhelming opinion from recruiters is that a single summary page and a secondary page with employment history and education details is more than adequate. For professionals, we recommend a combination of the two – a skills-based summary page, followed by a chronology of your experience. FACT: The longest CV received by newmonday so far has been 14 pages!

Begin by using your old CV as a starting point:• For a chronological template click here• For a skills-based template click here. The summary pageAll modern CVs now include a summary page. This is a descriptive 'teaser' which outlines your main selling points and can give the recruiter an immediate overall impression of your suitability. Remember that they may have received many CVs for a position, and can find it tiresome scouring




through pages and pages of detail, often glossing over the important bits and ruling out your chances for an interview.The summary page is a chance to make an impact, and it gives you a chance to show off your personality and personal attributes. If it is well presented and articulate, it will speak for itself. To help you create some eye-catching sentences, we have compiled a list of power adjectives and adverbs. These are listed at the end of the workshop, to access them immediately, please click here.

Begin by including your contact details, letter head style. Remember that space on this page is at a premium. ProfileThis is a descriptive overview of your professional profile. It occupies most of the summary page and consists of three key elements:

1. A descriptive introduction of your professional designation (e.g. a Chartered Accountant or web designer), backed up by key features of your professional self, and also including your immediate ambitions. Ideally this should be punchy, precise and no more than three (15-word) sentences.

2. Key skills, listed as bullet points. Eight points is sufficient, make sure they’re relevant to the particular position and concisely written. This will include not only your formal training, but also workplace acumen (e.g. proven skilful negotiator). Make sure you quantify your results (e.g. increased turnover by 40 per cent), and be careful of meaningless phrases (e.g. good team player). Try to avoid single words spilling over on to a new line, this wastes space.

3. Achievements: these should be presented in the same manner as skills, although about three significant achievements are enough.

ExperienceThe next important part of your CV is your most recent or relevant work experience. The manner in which this is presented depends on which CV type you choose to use. Either way, you should leave enough space on the summary page to include at least the most important outline of your experience. The rest of your experience can follow on page two. Note: Try not to clutter the summary page with too much detail. Clear use of bullet points and white space should effectively draw attention to a handful of key points that will prompt the recruiter to read on or even confirm an interview. Arnold Buckle12 Gardener Close, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1SDtel: 020 8553 1007(h) 07939 121 144 (after 7pm)email: [email protected]

PROFILE

An MCSE qualified IT professional with broad ranging experience in IT support, programming and web design. Capable of quickly adapting to changing environments and supervising a development team. Flexible committed individual with excellent communication and troubleshooting skills, aiming to specialise in web development.

http://www.newmonday.co.uk/career_advice/cv_writing/








Skills• Well-versed in Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop and Illustrator with recent advanced courses in all four packages • Proficient Visual Basic programmer, with experience in database front-end creation • Qualified MCSE - all aspects of Windows NT, TCP/IP and networking • Proven ability to competently manage an IT helpdesk team

Achievements• Successfully built and launched several websites, including a functional charity site • Contributed significantly to the building of a £300,000 dynamic e-commerce site • Achieved a distinction in qualifying for MCSE • Implemented a comprehensive call-centre system within budget and deadlines

EXPERIENCEMar–Oct 00

Web designer, Web Wizards Design Company, LondonBuilding of high profile b2c sites, inclusive of Flash technology and integration of purchasing system.• Development of back-end database systems• Page design and programming• Liasing with clients regarding look and feel (budgets up to £100,000)

The ContentsThe rest of the CV should ideally be no longer than two pages, although professionals with a long career history will need more.The three sections are:

Secondary experience Qualifications Personal summary

In order to squeeze everything in you're going to have to be ruthless. Qualifications and previous work experience that is unlikely to make a significant impact should be left out. For instance, a complete list of 'O' levels isn't necessary if you've subsequently gone on to complete an MBA. Likewise full details of early job roles won't be read if you've made a career change, or if subsequent positions you've held have included far more important responsibilities. Here are some details that you can leave out.

Details of jobs held more than 10 years ago Minute details of more recent jobs Reasons for leaving a previous job Current and past salaries Failed examinations Nationality and age Details of referees Full details of hobbies and interests

Master Copy: Before you take a red pen to your current CV, we suggest you create a master copy, including any detail which may be relevant to



















any application. This copy can be as long as you like because no one else is going to see it. The reason behind this is customising. Shortly we will be discussing how to tailor each individual CV to the relevant application and it becomes much easier if we have this lengthy master copy to work from. To save you time and frustration in laying out your CV, we've supplied some downloadable Word templates:Template Chronological Skills-based

Work experienceThis follows on directly from the summary page. Ideally you should aim to squeeze the details of your current or most important recent position onto the summary page, the rest can follow on the second page. Starting with the most recent jobs, or positions within the same company, list them according to the following example. 03/96 to date: Financial Controller

Anyco.com, London

Responsible for the financial management and systems of all franchise operations and publishing activities within the United Kingdom. • Preparation of monthly and quarterly group accounts and subsequent reporting and analysis • Substantially improved management and financial controls, including the introduction of a £500,000 cost saving restructure • Responsible for developing cost strategies for staff recruitment, training and development • Effectively managed a staff of 43 • Negotiation and control of grant-aided projects in excess of £2 million • Responsible for budgets, forecasts and treasury management • Project leader in the successful implementation of new computer systems

Job title: using the official title may be misleading, therefore consider re-wording it to more accurately describe your role. The responsibilities section is clearly the most important section and will require some clever use of words to keep it brief yet informative. Use bullet points and remember that the aim is simply to catch the recruiter's attention. Elaboration can take place in the interview. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Avoid jargon Clearly state what you were accountable for Quantify and back up your claims Use positive and powerful language, but don't waffle

(e.g. managed 50 active accounts, increased profit by 40 per cent in first 12 months…)






















QualificationsThis section should be quite brief, outlining only your most recent qualifications and any courses which are relevant to the new role. Your highest professional qualification is the most important one (i.e. degree) and should be listed first. You may want to follow this with professional courses (e.g. Marketing management diploma), and reserve your secondary level qualifications (e.g. 'A' levels) for last. Details of older qualifications should be left out. Any other relevant courses can be listed below this.PC skills: these have become an integral part of business management, and most office based jobs for that matter. It is worth listing software with which you are proficient. EDUCATION1987-1990: BA (Hons) Accounting and Financial Management

University of Kent

1997IMM Marketing Diploma (part-time)London Open University • Member of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants• Member of The Institute of Management Further short-courses in time and personnel management, and desktop tools.Desktop skills: fully proficient in Word Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Lotus Notes

Layout: The name of the qualification should always be mentioned first, thereafter the order is usually determined by the most efficient use of space. Juggling long words is often necessary to optimise the use of each line. Remember to remain consistent. Interests and additional informationMentioning personal interests may be an unnecessary waste of space unless they are likely to show relevant skills which are relevant to your professional profile. Recruiters often take a glancing look at CV summaries for any other useful information. This is a good opportunity to mention other pertinent details that do not fit in to any of the above categories, e.g. chairman of local cricket club shows your leadership or organisational ability. If you feel it will enhance your appeal you can include a one sentence descriptive personal summary at the end of your CV to show your character strengths, e.g. keen on health and fitness, read extensively on several subjects, local drama club These show you're a regular person, with some personality and responsibility. Be careful, if you have an array of outside activities, it may suggest that you could be easily distracted from your office work. PERSONAL SUMMARY

My personal interests and hobbies include; creative writing such as prose and poetry, tai chi, membership of the Wimbledon Wafflers Debating Society, club secretary Twickenham Rotary Club, Samaritans voluntary counsellor, walking and cycling. • 39 years of age, married • Punctual, motivated, highly organized and competent individual











• Prepared to relocate and participate in company functions • Clean driving licence, excellent health

ExamplesYou may wish to use a different style. Here are examples of a skills based and a chronological CV. • Skills-based CV• Chronological CVCustomising your CVAs we have mentioned before, each time you apply for a job your CV should be customised to suit that position. This requires assessing the position you are applying for and identifying the key strengths which you can apply to the role. Be aware of the ideal person they are seeking and try matching your CV as closely as possible to a basic imaginary profile of that individual. Starting with the personal profile, eliminate those strengths which are unlikely to appeal to the specific employer, and then elaborate one or two key areas, particularly experience which is most relevant to the new role. Showing that you've done your homework about a company will certainly impress, and this is where you reveal that. The work experience section of your CV is going to need the most work. Minimize previous roles that are not similar to the new job, and elaborate on the responsibilities which are likely to show your suitability for the new position. Mention specific examples to prove your point. Recruiters are usually impressed when you've made the effort to customise a CV. They will notice the forward-thinking in rearranging priorities on a CV to suit them personally. And finally…Take your time to create a complete CV. Starting with your existing CV, and using the examples or templates we've provided, fill in the details over several days. Return to re-check, amend and edit details when your concentration is fresh. The manner in which it is presented is a direct reflection on your own standards of professionalism.In the next section we look at ways to fill 'holes', minimize negatives and make an impact without compromising the truth. Most importantly we'll run you through a checklist for spotting mistakes.



Education

Cv writing workshop