How to put your best put foot forward – your CV
THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF PAPER IN THE WORLD
Research has shown that the average CV has 20 seconds to make an impact when it hits the desk of the average recruiter - whether he or she is a Managing Director, an HR Manager or a Recruitment Consultant. This means the top page of your CV is vitally important to your future. It secures interviews.
This may seem terribly unfair - your life story in 20 seconds - it sounds impossible. But look at it another way. Your CV is like a television advert. That has about the same amount of time to get its vital message across.
Just think of the huge amount of research that goes into making that advert stick in people's minds.
- What is the key message?
- Who is the target audience?
- What are they looking for?
Or ask yourself how many busy senior executives (maybe you yourself) in your past experience have refused to look at documents running to more than two pages. And how much time have you given to CVs that have hit your desk? One of our executives owned up to five seconds.
Your key message is a very brief summary of three or four relevant key achievements for which you have been responsible or over the last three to five years.
- Increased turnover by………
- Reduced costs by…………
- Improved sales by ……………
- Led crucial negotiations resulting in……………
Active words and very few of them. But if you get them right they will secure you interviews. Once you are at that all important interview, then you can tell your life history or achievements in whatever detail is appropriate.
For us, or any Interim Provider your CV should start with a strong one liner describing your professional product - "I am an Interim Manager specialising in xxxx". In our view the narrower the focus the more successful as an Interim Manager you are likely to be.
How many pages? If you have hooked the reader on page 1 then a second (and if absolutely necessary a third) page might help clinch the interview decision. You should focus not so much on what you did but on what you actually achieved. You should set out two or three line summaries of your interim management and/or consultancy achievements - mention names where possible, dates, plus the type and size of the business.
Layout and typeface - Use Arial 10pt, 11pt or 12pt which is recognised as the most legible on a pc screen. Use of bullet points and bold for headings is acceptable but avoid multiple font sizes, differing typefaces or colours. Avoid putting details in headers or footers as this appears faded on screen.
Key words - these are crucial as word searches frequently used to search for suitable candidates e.g. MRP, SAP, Supply Chain Management, CRM, MBO, Prince 2 etc, etc. It is also important that you name companies you have worked for or been a major supplier to. Every profession or discipline has its keywords - we and our clients will be looking for them.
Focus on what you have done over the last 10 years. Qualifications gained 20 to 30 years ago have little relevance (except for professional financial accreditations)
Please do not tell your reader that you are charismatic, a born communicator, a great motivator, a skilled team leader, a financial genius or any other litany of business virtues you care to invent and which appear endlessly in so many CVs. Subjective hyperbole is so boring! Your achievements will speak for themselves in the CVs we advocate and spelling out your virtues really is a waste of precious space and your 20 seconds.
Below, we show the key information we believe should appear on your dynamic CV.
Covering letters/e-mails. If you are responding to a specific opportunity it will give you a distinct advantage if you use the covering e-mail to detail how you meet the criteria in the job specification. Often, when we request this information, candidates ignore it or respond with "CV attached" which makes us wonder whether they have actually read the brief.
A good CV will not guarantee your getting an interview with the client, but a bad CV will definitely lose it for you.
Final tip - always try out the CV on a good business friend, who will give you an honest opinion. Like any marketing document it needs continual re-appraisal and refinement.
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The 20 second Curriculum Vitae
NAME
Profile: A maximum three line summary of your professional product…" I am an Interim Manager who specialises in…" and of what differentiates you - your USP's. As a senior manager your core management and leadership skills are taken as read. It is only your specialist knowledge, skills and experience that are important. Clients invariably look for specifics.
Career History and Interim Assignments
Date: from/to:
Company - name, location, what it does - do not expect the recruiter to know - size e.g. turnover and numbers employed in the operation you were part of.
Job Title or a one phrase description of duties if necessary.
Key achievements - this will distinguish your CV from others.
e.g. Increased turnover/profits by… Reduced overheads by….. Opened up new markets in X & Y producing £z of sales.
Use positive language with real figures which you have achieved. Be clear whether you led an initiative or were part of a team. Focus on the last 10 years.
Previous career: Anything more than 10 years old summarise in a brief paragraph, especially anything relevant to a particular application.
Education: Tertiary only plus relevant memberships. No one is interested in O Levels/GCSE's or A levels taken years ago.
Personal Details: Family status, personal achievements and interests - this is your choice but keep it short!
Address
Telephone
Mobile
E-mail
Maximum 3 pages with minimum 10pt Arial and sensible margins.
