Job hunting is not something most people do very often. Many executives and managers are unsure about how to present a CV. There is no single standard, but the following 10 points highlight our suggestions for an effective document.
- The CV should be two or three A4 pages, typed and clearly laid out.
- Be sure that your layout and fonts work well when the document is e-mailed, as this is the primary method of sending in a CV. We recommend an MS Word document which can easily be attached to an e-mail; if you want to prevent any unauthorised changes to the document, set it up as Read Only.
- Contact details (mobile phone and e-mail) must be clear and easy to find – ideally top of first page. Summary of education should also go on the first page, followed by your current job or last job. Career history should be in reverse order. Ensure that at the very least the latest job and achievements are on the first page.
- Describe each employer briefly. Even well-known companies require some sort of introduction. Pay particular attention to company size (ie. turnover and number of people) and where your business fits within the structure; brief summaries of customer types, contract values, numbers of sites etc can be helpful, but don’t overdo this.
- If you have had company specific job titles that mean nothing to the outside world, use a title that is better understood (but does not falsely elevate the position).
- Give a brief description of what you are or were responsible for and bring it to life with some dimensions (ie. value of sales, direct reports). Use phrases and short sentences; avoid long narrative.
- Your CV is not just a record of your responsibilities - employers need to know how you performed in each role - use bullet points to highlight your achievements.
- Employers don't need as much detail about what you were doing five years ago, still less 10 years ago - taper off the coverage.
- You don't need to include hobbies and interests. If you want to do so, keep it brief and make sure they are real interests - you may well be questioned on your involvement at interview.
- Personal summaries are generally a waste of space. Search and selection consultants are particularly sceptical about long lists of carefully balanced, positive clichés eg. "firm but fair", "happy to work unsupported or as member of a team", "results orientated but caring about others".
This information is also available as part of our Job Hunter's Guide.
