Thursday, July 23, 2009

Your CV As A Sales Brochure

By Glenn Hughes

If your view of the CV is around the level of necessary evil, you are selling yourself massively short. It is the document for you to show the world (specifically people who might want to pay you money) exactly what you can do. Why then do people treat their CV like the yellow pages and produce boring, sterile documents that get binned as soon as they are looked at

In the English speaking world, it can be considered rude to boast about yourself- nobody likes a smart alec so why should anyone like that sort of arrogance in a CV. The bottom line is that there is a significant difference between arrogance and confidence. Your CV is a place to show others exactly how valuable you have been to those companies fortunate enough to employ you

Coming over like a pushy double glazing salesman in a CV will no help you. Not unless you're looking for a job selling double glazing anyway! Quiet confidence in factual achievements leap out of the page as they are honest and have the recruiter wanting to know more. Achievements in the past show a track record that is likely to be repeated (at least in the recruiters eyes)

Being honest is what it is all about. There is a common myth flying around that it is alright to lie on your CV. Popularized by television programs like The Apprentice, lies on a CV seem to be worn like some badge of Honor. In the real world where most of us live, however, lying will get you fired, and certainly not hired which I assume is your goal

Spelling, grammar and punctuation are vital in a CV. Whilst the proper English police won't be turning up on your doorstep if you spell a couple of things wrongly, you won't be getting many interviews if you do. Spell checkers are excellent but the best answer is having someone else to proof read your CV. You would be amazed what they will pick up as you are too close to the subject to be objective

Your educational and professional qualifications should be listed separately. Educational qualifications are gained through institutions like colleges, schools, etc. Professional qualifications are gained through companies, training providers and the like, They are different and should be listed separately

Passing a driving test of any sort shows people that you have a degree of persistence, independence and stickability that many people simply don't have. It is a common assumption that everyone drives. They don't. Make sure that anyone reading your CV knows that you can drive (if you can), and specifically, which classes of vehicle that you are licensed to take out on the road

Never ever put your date of birth on to any document that may be passed on electronically. You never know who will read your CV and what they may use the information for. Identity theft is a very real issue, so please don't make it any easier than it already is for someone to steal yours

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