Thursday, July 23, 2009

Why Fear Your CV- It's Your Time To Shine!

By Glenn Hughes

Your CV is a selling document. It's probably the best chance that you will ever have to show someone else just what you can do. It may help to think of it as a glossy brochure, rather like the one you might pick up in a Mercedes or a BMW showroom advertising their latest model car

English people are reserved and shy. Popular myth or is there some truth in the statement. If the soccer matches that I've attended are anything to go by, reserved is one adjective that does not apply. Your CV is not the place for reservedness, rather a place to show the world exactly how you can contribute. Do you have to boast? A little, but there are ways to show your achievements without being a pain in the derrire

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

You worked hard for your qualifications so please make sure that they are included on your CV. Work back wards from the highest level of qualification through to the lowest, separating out the professional qualifications and the educational ones

A clean driving license is a great asset. Whether or not this is necessary for the job you are applying for is largely irrelevant. It shows you are careful, have a healthy respect for the law (or that you are clever enough to avoid being caught) and can be called upon in an emergency. If you have a license but have convictions, just show what class of vehicle that you are licensed to drive.

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

About the Author:

0 comments:

Post a Comment