21 Tips For Creating A Cv That Will Stand Out From The Herd
I have just read of a caretaker position being advertised
. 700 people applied for the job! Imagine the poor person who had the enormous task of wading through 700 CVs. Do you think he/she would have read every CV? I think not. I'm sure they would have found ways to weed out the vast majority. At best, they would have gone through 30 or 40 and the rest would have probably gone into the recycling bin.
So how do you get your CV to stand out when there are hundreds of people chasing the same job? Not so long ago, if a job was advertised, most owners or employers would probably have received two or three enquiries. Suddenly, the job market has changed beyond recognition. Now managers will be receiving more CVs than they will be able to cope with and they will find ways to ditch anything that doesn't stand out in some way, shape or form.
In this article I want to share some tips for preparing your CV so that it will get noticed. And please remember, your CV isn't designed to get you the job, it is designed to get you the interview.
PREPARING A CV
1.In readiness for creating a CV, write a story about every job you have ever had; the skills you learned and your achievements along the way. Then.....
2.Condense that info into a really short and sharp synopsis, no more than 3 - 5 pages. And even those pages need lots of white space. Use bullet points rather than sentences. Busy managers do not have time to go through 55 pages of everything you have ever done in your life. The aim of this preliminary exercise is to write the story for yourself; to remind you of all the amazing things you have achieved in your working life.
3.Put a photo in your CV. Two schools of thought here, some think Yes - put a photo in your CV to make you more memorable. Others think No, particularly if you are not photogenic (and some of us aren't). If you don't photograph well, then leave it out! If you do decide to put one in the CV, then make sure it is a corporate looking photo. No cleavage (women) ...no shirt open to the waist (men or women!).
4.Abbreviate your qualifications - most people know what a B.Comm or an MBA is, you don't need to go into masses of detail.
5.Make sure you mention any recent training - organizations do like to know that you are a life-long learner. But make sure it is recent training, no-one is interested in something you did 20 years ago.
6.In particular highlight any training that is relevant to the job being advertised.
7.Have some very strong testimonials - include contact details so references can be checked. Don't ask relatives for testimonials.
8.Make sure you mention ways you can add value to the organization in particular mention skills and results you have achieved. But don't lie. You will be found out.
9.If you are not good at writing, pay a professional to do it for you, after all this is a document which is designed to 'sell' you. What are you worth?
10.If applying on-line, keep it short and simple but 'bold' your achievements, they will stand out. DON'T USE CAPS - IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU ARE SHOUTING!
11.Use a coloured cover and put your CV into a coloured envelope, it will stand out.
12.Put it into a sleek, slim, black box. Again, it will stand out.
13.Hand deliver your CV and make sure you impress the receptionist. In my own case, I used to ask our receptionist to put a smiley or a not smiley on the application depending on how well the applicant had treated the receptionist!
14.Include a 2 minute video or
15.Get one of your referees to make a 3 minute audio about how great you are and what you did for their company.
16.Put a hand-written note with the CV on very expensive, thick paper.
17.Have a generic CV for highlighting the key points of your career to date, but make sure you tailor your CV to suit each job you apply for. Different jobs will need to draw on different parts of your skills, talents and experience.
18.Match your CV to the company - if it is a creative company then be creative. Attach a helium balloon, have it delivered by gorilla-gramme, or be really brave and deliver it yourself dressed in a clown costume! However, if it is a serious company, treat your CV seriously. First impressions count.
19.Google yourself. See what is on Youtube, Facebook and MySpace, and any of the other social networks. This process is used more frequently than most would be employees realize. If you are presenting a professional image in your CV and you have a Youtube clip of yourself half naked at a drunken party, which image is going to make the biggest impression? I don't know how you get such photos removed, but I would move heaven and earth to remove them.
20.Be enthusiastic when you write your CV and letter to the company. That may sound very strange, but enthusiasm comes across, even in a written document. If you don't get enthusiastic about what you have to offer, who will?
21.Believe in yourself. If you have recently been made redundant, you are probably feeling pretty battered. Try and do things that keep you busy and motivated, use the time to go to the library and find out what is happening in the world; in the market; in your industry. I know a number of people who have been made redundant; found another job and then wished they had used the time to paint the kitchen, or clear up the garden. But most of all, do things that make you feel good about yourself, because when you get that interview, you want to present that wonderful, cheerful and energetic you.
by: Ann Andrews
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