What to put in a CV Part 3
How to use the hidden question answers to shape your CV.
In Part 2 we looked at those hidden questions:
“Who are you?”
“What are your skills?”
“Why should we interview YOU?”
In broad terms, these translate to: Personal Statement & Interests, Key Skills & Work Experience, and look and feel of the CV. Don’t be fooled, the look and feel of your CV tells the reader more about you than you think: Can you communicate clearly? Does it show attention to detail? Have you written the CV yourself? And yes, it’s possible to tell. There are plenty articles about needing to stand out from the crowd when writing a CV and that can mean it’s tempting to use a funky CV layout. If you choose to use a funky template, and that’s your choice, don’t forget the 7 second rule. I’m often asked whether you should include your address and that is entirely personal. It can be helpful if you’re applying for a local job, however if you’re applying for a job away from home it could be a reason to put your CV on the “No” pile – don’t give the reader that option. And what about length? Keep it to 2 pages.
Be a star - Shine!
Personal Profile/Summary/Personal Statement call it what you will – this is your first chance to shine. What is written here, in this opening paragraph, sets the scene for what you’re marketing – you. Go back to the answers you had for “Who you are” this is where they get incorporated. You have 4 or 5 sentences to communicate who you are and what value you can offer the reader. Don’t rush it. Take your time. Read it out loud. Does it sound like you? It needs to sound like you. Remember, the reader is going to meet you, the person you’ve written about in that paragraph. You and your CV are a partnership. Your second chance to shine is the Interests section. This should go at the end, and I've written a more detailed article about Interests and why they’re important.
Be Sexy - Skills, Education, eXperience & You
The next two sections are Key Skills and/or Work Experience. If you are new to the job market skip Key Skills and start with a timeline of work experience starting with latest first and a brief synopsis of the role and responsibilities. Follow this with your Education. Again, Education and how much to include is something I’m often asked. If you’re new to the market then yes, in the majority of circumstances it’s sensible to include all of it. If you have been in the job market for a few years, scale back Education, and include your Key Skills as well. These should be limited to 5, or 3 if you prefer. Odd numbers work best. This section is about what you are offering the company. Not what you think they want, well it might be if it’s one of your skills, but always what you are actually offering.
In summary, know who you are, and what you’re marketing. Keep the CV clear and simple and don’t give the reader an excuse to put your CV on the “No” pile – remember the 7 second rule.
