Making Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) Work For You

Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a Latin phrase meaning “The way your life has run”. In modern business it is the first contact that the potential employer may have with the job seeker.

There is no correct or incorrect way in which to lay out a CV although it does need to highlight your past achievements and strengths relevant to the job you are seeking. When you are writing your CV always bear in mind that the main purpose of the CV is not to get you the job. The main purpose is just to get you to the interview stage and that is when you sell yourself.

Imagine you are the busy boss or human resources manager who has to go through all the initial applications. In these difficult times a job advertisement could generate hundreds of applicants, which means hundreds of CVs landing on their desks. Just on the strength of those CVs they are going to select the candidates for interview. So what can you do to make your CV stand out from the rest?

As in life so with CVs, the first impressions count. That means that your CV is fresh and clean and does not look as though it has been doing the rounds. Do not try and make your CV stand out by printing it on coloured or patterned paper, use good quality A4 white paper.

It is a good idea to keep a master copy of your CV on your computer and that makes it easy to edit for specific job applications. For instance if you are applying to be a junior executive in a financial company your sporting prowess may not be as important as if the job was with a sporting goods company.

Do not make your CV too long, just 2 or 3 pages maximum. Long rambling CVs do not find favour with busy executives. On the same note keep sentences and paragraphs reasonably short as this makes for easier reading.

Need less to say both the grammar and spelling should be perfect. It is a good idea to get someone else to proof read your CV before you send it so that nothing slips through the net.

The most relevant experiences that you are likely to have had will have been your most recent jobs. Therefore when writing out your work record it should be in chronologically reverse order with your most recent employment or education first and working back to your school days.

Remember the main purpose of the CV is to get you into the interview but it may well also form the basis of the interview itself. You will be asked questions based on what you have written in your CV so be prepared for this. For instance if there is a gap between two periods in your CV you my well be asked to explain this so have your answer ready.

Writing a CV can appear daunting, especially if you have never had to write one before. However, there is a lot of help available both on the Internet and in book form which can guide you through the process. There are also professionals who can write the CV for you but for most people there is no need to go to this expense.

You are the best person to sell yourself.

Making Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) Work For You