Thursday, July 23, 2009

Your CV As A Sales Brochure

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

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

Over the top boasts about how all businesses that you have worked for in the past would never have survived without you have no place on a CV. Live in the real world, be factual about the achievements that you genuinely succeeded in delivering and you will have people knocking down your door to interview you. Make sure that if those achievements were as a part of a wider team effort that you highlight your particular achievements

Most mothers taught us to be honest. So where did we learn to lie? Your CV is one place where lies genuinely have no place. No half truths either please. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. There is nothing, however that says you have to put anything in your CV about your mistakes. Focus on the good things that you have done. Mistakes? Leave them out

Simple, old fashioned attention to detail goes a long way on a CV. For example, taking time to get the exact dates that you were employed between shows honesty and attention to the smallest detail, particularly important in some job roles. Pay particular attention to grammar, spelling and punctuation. This will also pay great dividends as there are so many people who just don't

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

Age is a sensitive subject. Too old or too young can be a problem. Our advice, leave your age out of the document- it's for you to know and for the recruiter to find out. In any case, never include your full date of birth as your identity needs to be kept safe- this is useful information for anyone trying to steal that identity

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