Never underestimate the value of a good CV
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Advice from Career Management, with over 10 years experience assisting mid to
senior level individuals with their careers, is that the importance of your CV
should never be underestimated. A good CV should be like a meticulously planned
sales document, provoking interest and response.
The first thing to understand about the job market is that it is a market.
Within it there are buyers and sellers, and the laws of supply and demand are as
valid here as anywhere else. Being good at your job is not enough - so are many
other people. To an extent, therefore, success depends on your ability to sell
yourself, and the first stage in this process is your CV.
First Impressions
The first question an employer will ask when reading a CV is “Can this person
fill my need?” You need to ensure that the experience relevant to the role is
outlined at the very top of the CV. Keith Church, Regional Director of PCS
Executive, states “Never apply for a role with a generic CV, make sure that you
tailor it for each and every position, without exception.”
The personal statement is a crucial part of the CV and provides an excellent
opportunity for a candidate to give an overview of their skill-set and career
goals. More importantly they can ensure that their goals and experience are
relevant to the position applied for. Keith comments, “So many candidates put
their personal statement at the back of their CV or fail to utilise it to their
advantage at all. The nature of CV’s has changed over the years and filling a
personal statement with unquantifiable skills and stock phrases really won’t do
any you any favours.”
The Main Body
The body of a CV can be adjusted to your individual job search campaign. You may
need a chronological style CV, that is, you have worked for impressive companies
and your recent experience will stand you in good stead for your next position.
Alternatively a functional style CV may suit your campaign best, which will
display your work experience and skills at the top of the body of your CV. This
is particularly useful for someone who wants to change career direction or
industry. PCS Executive advise that you have several versions of your CV so you
can choose the most appropriate to edit for each position.
Keith concludes with the advice that "Anyone serious about changing careers in
this current climate should ensure that they devote the necessary time and
effort into making sure they have the correct marketing plan in place and with
this the appropriate supporting documents."
About the Author
Personal Career Solutions have been operating in the career
management and
outplacement field for over a decade and can provide professional input
into your career to make sure you are on the right
road. To meet with a consultant for a free, no obligation appraisal
please visit
www.personalcareersolutions.co.uk
or call 0844 880 6690 to speak to a representative.
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Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2009-10-30 12:44:53 in Personal Articles
