PREPARING YOUR CV OR RESUME
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Introduction – To obtain any type of employment a CV or Resume is essential. However you need to know how to prepare a winning CV that stands out from the rest. There are instances where thousands of CV’s are received for certain job vacancies in Sri Lanka. Hence, you need to be able to catch the attention of prospective employers, through an unique CV or resume. It is also worth remembering, to always have a comprehensive CV prepared, irrespective of whether you are on the lookout for a job or not.
Key Points to note in preparing your CV
1. Keep the length of your CV down to two sides of a single sheet of paper. Prospective employers do not have the time or patience to pursue lengthy CV’s. Therefore, your ability to capture the essence of yourself, in a short and concise manner is essential.
2. Keep it concise by using bullet points. This type of CV layout allows potential employers to skim your CV and quickly pick out important information first.
3. You need to prepare a few drafts, before you can finalize your CV. It is advisable to obtain the opinion of a few experts, in order to “fine tune” your resume.
4. Before getting down to writing your CV, do some homework, by reflecting on your academic achievements, work related achievements, extracurricular achievements etc. Ideally pen these achievements down on separate sheets of paper, so that it will be simpler to refer to them, when writing out your CV.
5. You do not need to provide details of referees unless specifically requested. Therefore keep this information out of your Master CV and include it only if required.
6. Do not provide related referees. It should always be non-related, ideally former superiors, professors, lecturers and even your present superior if appropriate. Keep your referees informed and obtain their prior consent. Also follow up with them to monitor any changes of job positions, personal circumstances etc., and update your records accordingly.
7. Double check spelling and grammar meticulously. Research has shown that prospective employers often eliminate CV’s containing errors. Further, it creates a bad first impression and makes you look unprofessional
8. Do not include private or personal information about spouse, children or parents. The information can be provided at the interview, if requested. There are clear cut ethical and privacy conditions that employers have to abide with and you should be aware of them.
9. Include contact information such as your full name, complete address, phone no, email address. This information is more than adequate for any prospective employer to contact you.
10. Including your LinkedIn ID on your CV is an excellent idea. Your LinkedIn profile should be up to date and show more than your CV does.
11. List your work experience in reverse date order, making sure that anything you mention is relevant to the job you’re applying for. Include your job title, the name of the company, how long you were with the organization, key responsibilities and span of control. (How many team members directly report to you?)
12. If you have held positions in different professions, group them separately. For example if you are a finance professional but held a marketing position, state them so that you highlight your versatility.
13. Clearly outline your strengths and do not it difficult for prospective employers to figure them out. Give a few examples to highlight your strengths
14. Provide details relating to your education and training. When providing information about education, you do not need to indicate your G.C.E. O/L and A/L results if you are a Postgraduate or Graduate degree holder. (It is obvious that you have completed your O/L and A/L)
With regard to training, do not state programs that you merely participated in. instead, highlight only significant training initiatives that are relevant, both local and overseas.
15. When highlighting career accomplishments, it is ideal if you can include numbers and statistics. For example, if you increased sales – by what %, market share – by what %. Please remember quantification is King!
16. Do not target to include your extra-curricular achievements in sports, music, drama, debating, cadetting, scouting etc., Merely stating “played cricket in school” is not impressive. Did you captain the team, played in the first XI or played in the big match? State these achievements which are special and makes you a good all round candidate.
17. It is a good idea to share your CV with a top professional in your industry and get their feedback and further improve your CV. If possible carry out a mock interview with them to sharpen your skills in facing job interviews.
18. Hobbies and interests should always be stated at the end of the CV. Do not provide long lists but merely state the ones you are passionate and most actively involved in.
19. If there are career gaps they should be indicated. Do not be shy to state that you were unemployed or took a career/study break. Leaving gaps makes prospective employers feel suspicious that you are hiding information.
20. Always include a cover letter when submitting your CV. This allows you to show your personality and outline why you are interested in the job. It permits you to include details that your CV does not contain. A cover letter will considerably boost your chances and set you apart from other candidates with similar backgrounds and CV’s.
Conclusion – You should use your CV or resume, to convey and sell your life story. Hence it is a very important “Personal Branding” tool.
It is also important to review and update your CV periodically, to reflect changes in your Personal Brand story. Use a template that is neat and impressive, that reflects a WOW! impression. Include your photograph if desired. There is no hard and fast rule in this regard. If you are photogenic, why not demonstrate it? It may be a key selling point.
“The purpose of a CV, is to obtain an
interview”
(Author)
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