Is your CV ready? by Corinne Mills

In today's uncertain economic climate it makes good sense for everyone to have their CV up-dated and ready to go - just in case.

Writing your CV seems like it should be easy to do. However, anyone who has tried it knows that it's not straightforward. On the one hand it's a simple historical record of your career to date. On the other, it's a carefully crafted business proposal which sets out the business case for why you should be invited to interview. It is deceptively tricky.

For those running or working for a small business, there are additional challenges. You are likely to have been involved in a much wider range of tasks compared to those working in larger organisations. Your versatility will have been an asset. However, in your CV, you need to focus specifically on the aspects that are of most relevance to your target employer, rather than simply listing down everything you've ever done. Otherwise there is a danger that you will appear as a "jack-of-all-trades".

Here are some tips to help you write a CV that will get you short-listed for the jobs you want.

Research: Find out as much as you can about the job you want and the employer's requirements. Study advertisements, job descriptions, talk to recruiters or those who work in a similar role and ask their advice on what gives a candidate a competitive edge.

Match: Use the information gained from your research to help you show in your CV that you have the specific skills, experience and approach required. Ensure these key aspects are included within the first half page of your CV so the recruiter can quickly see your suitability.

Evidence: Unsubstantiated claims won't work. You need to prove you have what they need. So instead of your CV saying you have "good communication skills", give an example of where you demonstrated this to good effect e.g. "Invited to join the sales bid team because of my ability to translate technical detail into language that the customer could understand".

Language: Avoid long sentences using the "I" pronoun such as "I did this...I did that...." Instead use bullet points e.g. "Led this... Created that..." which will seem much more dynamic. Never include any criticisms of others, business setbacks or failures unless you were able to turn them around.

Professional presentation: This needs to be of the highest standard with a layout that is consistent, attractive and easy to read. All spelling and grammar needs to be checked and double-checked.

Other sources of help: Check with someone you trust on whether the impression you are hoping to create with your CV has been achieved. A good CV book can be very helpful in guiding you through the process of writing your CV. For those who are unsure about their next move, then working with a reputable career coach can be of great benefit as they can help you explore your options as well as supporting you through the job search process including uncovering opportunities, devising your CV, interview preparation etc.

When your CV can mean the difference between working in the role you want, or not working at all, then it makes sense to pay attention to getting it right.

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