Rita Mylett, a personal styling and image consultant and president of Network Mayo, offers Mayo Advertiser readers some tips about creating the perfect CV.
A quality CV can give you an advantage for getting on the shortlist of preferred candidates for a job. If you are like most who write their own quality CV, you have many available resources. You have literally hundreds of examples available on the internet or in CV writing books and manuals.
Most employers want to know if you have the educational and work background that qualifies you for the job. If you meet the criteria, you will get a second look.
Your CV does not have to be a masterpiece to present your qualifications, too slick a presentation may cause a prospective employer to question the document. However, this is not an either/or situation where either a CV extols great accomplishments or is bland. You can — and probably should — dress up your CV to present yourself in the best but also most realistic possible light.
Ten quick CV writing tips
Some of the following 10 tips include psychological research findings that apply to crafting a quality CV to get on the shortlist of preferred candidates for a job.
1. What CV style is best for you? Review CV styles to see which you like best and which you think will project your credentials in the most favourable light. Speciality job search internet sites give sample CVs.
2. Define your objective. After you have listed your name, address, telephone, and email address, start with your objective. In an age of computer generated CVs, you can easily modify your objective to fit different jobs. However it is important that you are clear on your objective and avoid going too far afield from what you want in a job and from what you can offer to an employer.
3. Be mindful of accuracy and style. Use the active tense. This language style is forceful and engaging. Avoid language that is generalised glitter. Keep your text free from spelling or grammatical errors. Needless errors can keep you off the shortlist. Use a high quality paper.
4. Make a conscientious impression. Many CV screeners fancy themselves “personality” experts who can judge personality by virtue of the written word. They usually overestimate themselves. Nevertheless, some CVs are transparent and suggest a personality style. If you present like a “complainer” or that you have an elevated opinion of yourself, you may not get past a preliminary screening. To avoid sending the wrong message, submit your credentials in a standard, informational, style. A conscientious presentation conveys a conscientious image. That is a “safe” personality profile to present.
5. Take an organisation's image into account. Because a quality image is a strategic resource, organisations expend considerable effort to enhance it. What does your target organisation(s ) do to promote its image? Can you create an image through your CV that is consistent with the image the organisation projects?
6. Present your job history in an organised way. Create an organised chronological presentation of your job history with dates and important functions. Start with your most recent job. Emphasise accomplishments.
7. Cite your educational history. Start with your highest degree or accomplishment.
8. Strengthen your presentation with special accomplishments. Add suitable job-relevant information: special honours, voluntary work, news articles, statements of appreciation from former employers, and special skills. It is usually understood that you'll present references, but you can state something like “references provided on request”. However, if you have a highly regarded person as a reference, use the name.
9. Show integrity. Present an accurate history and this is an integrity indicator. Now more than ever organisations conduct background checks and this includes confirming educational and work credentials.
10. Attend to the visuals. An attractive CV layout can give you a slight edge to get on the shortlist. A quality layout suggests extra diligence. Look for attractive CV layouts that you can create yourself.
Rita Mylett, RMiBranding.com
