CV Preparation
It is very important to remember that a CV works very hard on your behalf. It is the document that opens the door for you to discover the opportunities inside a company. It is also the first contact the prospective company has with the job seeker, so it is vital that it stands out immediately.
It may seem obvious how to prepare and present your CV, but so many candidates forget the basic principles.
Presentation and length can be both crucial factors in determining whether or not you will be chosen for interview. Try to keep the length down, focusing on the experience that is relevant for your current career. The older you get, the longer a CV can become, but you need to ensure that you are not carrying a load of redundant information. This is easy to do as so many people keep updating CVs with their current job information without taking the pruning shears to the older parts of their CV. So make sure the oldest parts of your CV get some attention too.
Think carefully about the formatting of your CV and the fact that most people will be reading the information online (at least initially) – good fonts to use are Arial and Verdana for example, and make sure that key words and phrases are used throughout the CV as many recruiters will use filtering and search technology to help them prepare shortlists of candidates to research further. However, ensure that any keywords and phrases become an integral part of your CV, and do not detract from an easy read.
Recruiters are perhaps not unreasonably impatient when looking through dozens of CVs. If the information does not come off the page readily, you will be passed over even though you may be ideal for the position. This is also why a good covering letter is essential.
Any CV has four distinct sections;
- Personal details
- Educational background, including any success in professional examinations
- Employment history
- Interests and achievements
Personal details
This section should cover your name, address, working status (residency, work permit etc) a daytime telephone number (if convenient), evening/mobile number and e-mail address.
If you are applying for a role in another country it is also useful to set up and use a Skype account.
Educational background
Include a list of your schools (and dates attended) Examinations Taken, Levels and grade. If you have a degree always state the level of degree or your would-be employer/recruiter will assume you do not have a good one. Similarly state your examination record for professional examinations.
Employment history
It is vital that the CV is complete and nothing is omitted. If you miss a year out to go off on your OE, or you have gained experience not relevant to the career that you are progressing, still ensure that you give an indication of this on your CV or the employer may consider that you are hiding something.
Employment history is best written in reverse chronological order starting with your present position as this is the most relevant and must be emphasised. Accurate dates need to be given and most importantly specific experience gained and responsibilities undertaken must be listed in appropriate detail.
Although it is difficult to advise on what to include and what to leave out in this area, short concise sentences and short paragraphs tend to hold the attention.
It is a good idea to show progression and illustrate a variety of experience. Do not write reams about one aspect of the job just because it is the part which you happen to enjoy the most. Points to keep in mind are evidence of interpersonal skills, technical skills, decision-making skills and computer literacy. Major achievements such as special projects and secondments should also be highlighted.
Interests
This area of the CV is often overlooked and in many cases omitted altogether. However many interviewers will use this as a good measure of an individual's personality and it gives them an opportunity to find out what makes the candidate “tick”.
One finance director I know will look at this area first and if skiing and cricket are mentioned, assuming the technical skills and experience are met, an interview is almost guaranteed.
On the other hand a partner in an international firm interviewing for a Bermuda posting saw car maintenance and computer chess as one candidates main interests and rejected the application almost on-sight. The main method of transportation in Bermuda is two wheeled and if you do not have an interest in outdoor pursuits than your social life will be very much restricted.
So do not make yourself out to be a skydiver if you have never done a jump and be careful at the interview stage - windsurfing should not be the main reason for an overseas posting.
Remember that even if you are a good skier or cricketer, the finance director will still want to know how good an accountant you are.
A good CV and covering letter will get you an interview, so please look at our interview notes for further information.
Further help
We will not create a CV for you from scratch – there are other professionals who can do that for you, but we will be happy to give further advice to registered candidates.
