The Good CV

Your CV is a marketing document and the product is you. Before you create your CV, you should be clear about your unique skills and advantages you have to offer an employer.

CV basics
If in your CV you write a long-winded description of yourself and how you should be the one to be hired, the reader could easily get bored. Many of the other CV's they've read that day has probably said the same thing. So keep it short. However it is possible to go too far and make your CV too small. A single page CV is not enough for all expect the absolute beginner. An employer will read two or more pages if you make the first page of your CV compelling to the reader to make them read on.

Your CV should not have a covering page. Just get straight into the real stuff. What's more, it is unnecessary to use folders or binders on your CV, as these will just be removed for ease of copying. A paper clip or staple will do. Your CV should show you to be a competent individual and as such should not contain distracting computer graphics or be on coloured paper.

Tailoring the CV
If you are applying for a job that has been advertised on a job board then you can use the job description to appeal directly to what the job is asking for. For example if the job description asks excellent IT skills, you would write more about any history you may have with IT. Try to do this for all the skills the job description said the ideal candidate should have. However if you are approaching an employer or recruitment contact directly, then you will need to decide for yourself what skills will be your focus.

Possible problem areas
Most employers will regard any gaps in your CV with suspicion. This means any breaks in your career history e.g. on account of full-time education, parenthood, ill health or any other reason should be approached in a direct and positive manner. You do not need to go into detail. Simply drop it in chronological order and state what you were doing during that time.

Explaining the moves
If you have had a lot of previous jobs, and the moves were not always of your choosing, do not list every reason why you left each one. You will make a better impression with a small paragraph which says in effect 'I know the period from x to y looks a little fragmented, but the moves where because of corporate failure, relocation and mass redundancies.' Also make it clear where appropriate that several companies you worked for briefly where part of the same group. If you don't it will make you look like a job hopper. Specifying it shows you to be a trusted and worthwhile employee.

The power of words
Every word in your CV and covering letter will be looked at carefully by the recruiter. You needed therefore to scrutinise every word to ensure that each is doing its job properly. Could it convey a more powerful message? For example:

-    Appointed    could become    promoted to or selected as
-    Site/unit      could become    cost centre or profit centre
-    Ran             could become   created and developed
-    Supervised  could become    trained and motivated

Definite don'ts
All recruiters have their personal hates. The wise candidate will avoid the most common:

-    Omitting something they ask for in the advertisement
-    Fudging periods of employment, or giving only partial disclosure of qualifications,
     education or job responsibilities
-    Trying to be funny
-    Using jargon, whether of your own profession or that of your career consultant
-    Failing to check the documents you're sending for spelling mistakes
-    Getting the recipient's name wrong

Follow these tips, and you will already be ahead of many of your competitors for the vacancy.