CV Tips
Here at the UK Knack Group we are often asked what exactly a CV is.
The abbreviation ‘CV’ means Curriculum Vitae deriving from the Latin expression, roughly translated as ’the course of life’.
However, it is important that the meaning is not taken literally, bombarding the reader with too much information.
Think of this document as a motivational exercise, getting the reader to look at the front cover of your personal ‘marketing brochure’. Get it wrong and lose the sale! Remember you are selling a product, that product is you and should always target your specific career goals.
Remember, your personal ‘brand’ is your unique qualification. Coupled with key personal attributes, strengths, values and passions that represent tangible value to your target audience and prospective employers.
There are several stages to securing a real career position, all are integral in being successful.
The CV is your personal marketing brochure and needs to be achievement focused. Remember you are selling yourself and relating clear analogies to your target market that underpin how you can help prospective employers.
Writing a high quality CV without professional assistance is not an easy task. But potential job hunters still need to have some knowledge of the basics on their own. One of the main elements that make a CV into a brochure that markets you is to ensure that it is succinct, to the point and seen as a document that is there to win you an interview or meeting – you have just 13 seconds to attract the reader!
We all need a strong CV; it is there to open doors and should essentially cover the following points:
A strong objective and profile, a feel good factor, no one is going to play guessing games, tell them what you want to do and how you can do it for them utilising skills, background and qualifications.
Pick several key achievements that are a result of something you did that had a beneficial result for the organisation you worked for.
Career history, education and personal development which demonstrates the environments in which you have gained those skills.
Always ensure that all your contact details are at the top of the first page. If they are interested in you, they will want to get hold of you. It is surprising how many people neglect to add all their contact details and lose out on opportunities.
Cut out the buzzwords, they make your CV sound like everyone else’s, even crass. Adopt your own language and keep it simple – Good Luck!
Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk
