CV-writing tips and advice

It is difficult to write a CV that does its job properly: selling your experience to get you interviews. That’s it - a CV should not be an exhaustive list or a complete history, it is a sales document.

Here are some tips:

Message: what is your personal brand? What do you offer to potential employers? Your CV should address these questions in an engaging way. Your CV needs to sell your attributes.

Length: two pages is the preferred length. Recruiters will often read a CV in seconds rather than minutes. Your CV must be brief and easy to read.

Format: keep it simple; avoid unusual typefaces and too much formatting or the design and layout will detract from your message.

Profiles: I like to write a two or three paragraph profile at the top of page one. This is one of the key parts of the CV. You should see the opening lines of the profile as synonymous with an elevator speech – this part summarizes your professional experience and what you can bring to the table in a few lines. The recruiter should be able to establish what you can offer in seconds.

Achievements: these should follow the profile and are a list of three to five professional achievements from recent roles. They may include awards. If possible they should be supported by hard data; money generated or saved, time saved by process improvements and so on.

Then write up work experience in reverse chronological order. Keep it brief. Use bullet points and focus on the use of positive action words and searchable keywords.

Other sections will include education/professional qualifications, personal contact details and possibly systems and technical knowledge where appropriate.

There are many issues to consider when writing a CV. That’s why many people call on a professional CV-writer to help them with this crucial document. My Career Advice company DJMRO offers senior, professional CV-writing as well as two unique careers packages for executive job-seekers; Individually-tailored CV Marketing Campaigns and DJMRO Career Boost. See my Linkedin profile and www.djmro.com for more info.

Contact me anytime to discuss how I can help boost your career. My CV-writing service is priced at just £149 (UK) - a small price to pay for a document that could find you a new role.