Writing a CV is an important stage of your job hunting so take it seriously. Here are some useful tips about writing a CV:
- including the kind of information that matches the type and level of job that you plan to apply for in such a way that recruiters find you interesting as a candidate
- selecting where to place your emphasis: it could be knowledge and education (recent graduate, for example); it could be results; it could be intangibles such as changing organisational culture – this depends on what stage you are in life and what type of professional roles you have
- prioritising your information so that what is most important catches attention first, so that you do not look naïve enough to focus on trivia and so that the detail is left for them to ask at your interview
- including enough evidence of what you have to offer to appear convincing and professional, without boring people to death or sounding like a job definition
- stretching yourself in terms of the way you write and the words you use: the CV has its own grammar that need not use sentences and paragraphs but if you think of a recruitment consultant writing a very concise report about you – then you will not go far wrong
- choosing an attractive style, which means simplicity: avoid boxes, graphics, templates in your WP programme, photos (unless you are a performer) and get your fonts right (Tahoma and Verdana are the best when you email your CV to recruiters and you can use 9.5 point size to give yourself space)
- testing and checking your new document: try your CV out on friends and partners and have at least one person proof-read it; there is no room for error and spell-checkers do not find every mistake; switch off your grammar checker because it does not apply to CVs at all
25 Words to Use on your CV
#1 Adapted
“Reacting to market conditions, I adapted our strategy gaining valuable market share from our key comptetitors.”
#2 Budgeted
“Having budgeted £200k, I implemented cost-cutting measures which resulted in actual spend coming in at 15% below estimated.”
#3 Cultivated
“I cultivated relationships with existing clients achieving a 35% increase in repeat business”
#4 Doubled
“I doubled employee productivity by implementing new time management procedures.”
#5 Evaluated
“Through customer research I evaluated areas where our service could be improved.”
#6 Formed
“I formed a new user experience team which helped overcome existing bug issues.”
#7 Yielded
#8 Generated
#9 Halved
#10 Improved
#11 Judged
#12 Kindled
#13 Levereaged
#14 Maximised
#15 Negotiated
#16 Obtained
#17 Promoted
#18 Qualified
#19 Resolved
#20 Supervised
#21 Transformed
#22 Utilised
#23 Validated
#24 Widened
#25 Zipped
Leave a Reply