Careers

The perfect CV

A good CV is simply one that gets you an interview for the job you want. It should document your experiences and qualifications giving a good first impression of you and your skills.

A good CV is simply one that gets you an interview for the job you want. It should document your experiences and qualifications giving a good first impression of you and your skills. CVs should include the following aspects:

The length and detail of a CV will vary depending on where it is being sent to but for a recruitment consultant, the more information you supply, the more jobs you will be deemed suitable for and the more interviews you will secure. So what should you include when submitting a CV to a recruitment consultant?

Personal details Nationality, status, full driver's licence, willing to relocate, non-smoker, etc.

Career summary and skills Key aptitudes and a short summary of your experience. Show as much evidence as possible.

Achievements Statements that will catch the employer's interest and provide talking points at interview stage. These could be presented as bullet points.

Qualifications Schools, colleges and universities attended, qualifications gained at these establishments plus any professional memberships.

Career history Positions held, company name, and responsibilities covered in each role. Also dates and length of time served. Keep this concise and ideally tabulate your information for ease of reading. Be specific and to the point so your CV will stand out from others that are more general.

Use your covering letter to home in on specific skills you have and that are needed for the job. A succinct and well-organised CV will be taken more seriously.

Submitting a CV on spec
Remember that this company is not actively seeking your employment so your details will get a quick once over and kept if thought relevant.

A short and concise covering letter expressing your interest in the company and your key skills is appropriate for this approach. A poorly presented CV calls into question the plausibility of the information it contains. The way your CV looks will reflect on your ability. If you are unable to provide a well-presented document about yourself then your capability to fill an important role will be put into question.

It will probably take a little while to get your CV right. Ask friends and colleagues for honest opinions of your personal strengths and get an extra pair of eyes to check spellings, grammar and layout. Don't lie or exaggerate. You will not be successful if inconsistencies are picked up from your CV at interview.

* Lewis Woodward, Reed Accountancy

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