Your CV

CV advice for the CV weary

It’s time to get your CV out and bring it back up to date. - I can imagine the groan that accompanies the thoughts around this statement! For many people the issue is more about where to start and the fact that it takes some real effort to put something together that is going to sell you.

I mean EVERYONE tells you how important it is to have a great CV and that if it’s not great you’ll never get a job again! Everyone you talk to also has their own opinion on CV’s, from number of pages to the ideal font to use. There is also an array of ‘professional people’ offering their services to assist you in putting your CV together (me included).

So as you sit staring at the screen with your old CV staring back at you (or have you only managed to find the hard copy!!) the question is where do you start?

Before you reach for the phone, the shredder or the delete key here’s a few things that you should know and/or consider.

•   Preparing your CV can be a pain – but what everyone tells you (and is probably the only thing that they say that is correct), your CV is the first step to getting a job so you’ve got to make it good. 
•   Layout is important, but the content is more important, so make sure you get the content right
•   Everyone has an opinion on your CV – listen to all the advice that you get and then use a combination of this to make it work for you – its YOUR CV!!
•   Get professional help from someone who knows what they are talking about. Jane next door who can type and has found a template on the internet – whilst well meaning, is unlikely to have the skills to tell you what you should include content wise.
•   Keep it up to date. Once you’ve got it how you want it, then is should be straightforward to keep updating it
•   You can save a lot of money by typing your CV yourself. Get a professional to give you some guidance on your CV and then put it together yourself – or now is the time that Jane next door can really help. 
•   Don’t be too different. I understand that you want to stand out, but a CV in a pile of 200 that is too hard to understand or read is still going to get a NO, even if it is in the shape of a butterfly
•   Get the basics right otherwise don’t bother – check spelling, check grammar, be consistent with layout, provide full contact details. You will be surprised how many CV’s I have seen without up to date telephone numbers.
•   Sell yourself and your skills – not sure what this means or what to write here – we need to talk!!

I’m afraid your CV is very important, but I am also pleased to say that help is at hand and that you don’t have to put it all together on your own. Yes there are plenty of books, templates and ideas on the net that you can use and everyone under the sun has an opinion on what you should do. All this ‘generic advice’ is great, but not specific to you. I believe every person is different and therefore every CV should reflect that difference, reflect your style, your personality and your career to date.

Get in touch and let me show you how we can make your CV great in one hour.