By

Bianca Praino

November 2020

Top Tips for a G-O-L-D-E-N

 CV

I have always said there is no right or wrong way to write a CV. However, looking back on my experience of working in careers and recruitment, I would have to say there are commonalities of what constitutes a successful ( and in some unfortunate instances, an unsuccessful CV),  which has led me to re consider my stance that there is definitely a wrong way. 

Essentially, a successful CV gets you noticed!

A   golden  CV gets you where you want to be!

Your CV is wrong if it is not getting you to the next stage of the recruitment process. If you have been submitting numerous CVs and not getting anywhere, something is wrong and it is time to take a long hard look at your approach.  I have reviewed hundreds of CVs for individuals experiencing rejection after rejection and by the time they came to me are utterly disillusioned, disheartened and completely beaten down. Are you one of these people?

Fear not! There is a way!

The thing people do not realise is that writing a CV is a skill in itself. I have had numerous career sessions with MBA, PHD graduates and highly skilled professionals who have a proven ability to write in a coherent and articulate way, however their approach with their CV is completely off the mark. This is not because of a lack of writing or language skills, but a lack of understanding and awareness that a CV is a unique document- not like any other, and therefore requires a unique and tactful approach. It is also one of the most important documents of your professional career so it is worth putting in the effort to get it right. 

The good news is that as a careers consultant, I have worked with people who have gone from having an unsuccessful CV to a golden one which not only got them a job- but the job they wanted. This is hard core evidence that developing a successful CV is not an impossible task. 

So, what makes a golden CV?

Below, are my top tips for developing your   Golden CV! 

G             for..     Ground work

• It is worth putting the effort into developing your CV when you consider the return of investment it could bring you. Never forget it is a work in progress document, which you will always be adding to, updating, and developing regardless of age and stage. The most important thing is to put in the time and effort, especially at the earlier stages of your career, which makes it a lot easier when it comes to tweaking and developing it at a later date. The key things to consider to have a good foundation to your CV are:

Professional profile

• This provides context right at the beginning of your CV around your current situation, your main skills and attributes and what kind of opportunity you are looking for and why. This is also where you can tailor your CV and include information about the specific role and organisation you are applying for.
• Try to stay clear of cliches and overused phrases, such as: 

‘I’m enthusiastic, motivated, passionate’,

‘I can work well by myself and as part of a team’,

‘I am an asset to a team’.

Structure

• How you decide to structure your CV is vital to what information stands out to the reader so think carefully! If you feel your academic qualifications are more relevant to a role you are applying for, then put that before your work experience. Employers/recruiters take on average around 8.8 seconds to skim a CV so you want to make it as easy as possible for them to find the information they are looking for. 

Sections

• When done well, this shows the breadth of experience, skills and extra -curricular activities you have done alongside your professional career
• However, when done wrong, it is confusing and downplays what you have to offer not only as a professional but also the personal attributes and traits you have, which are valued and sought after by employers. 
• Take the time to map out all of your experience and decide what sections you want to have and what section each experience fits in. 

Layout

• As well as the content, and possessing the required criteria for a role, the layout of a CV is really significant as if it is not pleasing to the eye, this could have a negative impact on the readers’ judgement and opinion. If you are a creative person and enjoy adding a splash of colour, borders, etc that is fine, however consider whether these add anything to your experience and skills because otherwise, it can simply be distracting and off putting. Your skills, knowledge and experience should shine through alone, without all the extras
• It is also vital to research CV layouts based on country context and whether the layout and formatting of your CV matches the expectations of the country you are applying to. 

O       for…   Own it

• Don’t forget it is YOUR CV and you have to be proud of it first and foremost. If you wouldn’t give it a 10 out of 10 then don’t send it to employers or recruiters expecting them to give it a 10 
• Try to stay away from templates as it is all too obvious when someone has used a CV template or builder and takes away from any originality, or authenticity. It often gives the impression that you haven’t taken the time and effort to create a layout yourself. Moreover, it is a nightmare for you to edit/add anything to templates. 

L           for…     Language

• As mentioned above, a CV is a unique document, and requires a specific kind of writing and use of language- mainly the language of employability
• You are not expected to be a labour market expert, but understanding the skills relevant to your chosen industry is important
• Use buzz words enlisted in the job spec, to demonstrate how you meet the requirements and criteria. 

D        for….      Detail and Demonstrate!

• Always get someone to proofread your CV to make sure the grammar and spelling is correct  and there are no inconsistencies.
• Demonstrate what you have to contribute and the value you could bring through highlighting when and where you have applied your skills  and knowledge in previous roles. It's not about 'selling yourself', it's about demonstrating the contribution you have made and the positive impact you have made.

E             for…     Evidence 

• The most successful CVs I have seen are ones where the person’s work experience is bullet pointed in a clear, concise way, which shows they have reflected on the skills they demonstrated and developed in a specific role
• It is not enough to describe what you have done, you have to provide evidence
• Quantifying your impact through providing statistics, figures, and examples of where and when you have made a positive and valuable contribution shows confidence and competence.

N         for…       NOW

• NOW is the time to start working on your CV. Whether you need to start one, or it’s to develop your current one, stop procrastinating and start doing it. It is not as time consuming and laborious as you anticipate and ever little helps. The time is NOW! 

N is also for NEVER get someone else to write your CV for you! Writing your CV is a vital part of your career journey, which urges you to reflect on your career history to date, the skills, knowledge and skills you have acquired and where you want to go next. 

All too often, people say to me that they hate writing CVs/ cover letters because they are not good at selling themselves. This is a mindset thing, which requires a shift where you adopt the viewpoint that it is not about ‘selling yourself’, but merely evidencing where and when in a professional context you have demonstrated a skill. 

Remain focused in what outcome you want from your CV. 

For some personalised, tailored feedback on your CV, please get in touch at careers@praino.co.uk.

Ciao for now!

Bianca.