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Creating Great CVs and Resumes
First of all, what is the difference between a CV and a resume?
A Resume is a short overview of your career to date and your qualifications for a job. Short being the operative word.
A CV is a longer document that goes into more detail about your achievements in education and previous jobs and may also include details such as research or publications you have been involved with.
1. Keep it Specific
There is no "One size fits all" resume or CV. Edit yours for each new application, emphasising the skills and experience that are particularly relevant to the position.
2. Be Brief
For the vast majority of jobs a one page resume is the ideal, two pages the maximum. Even in the case of CVs brevity counts - long CVs are less likely to be read in full at the screening stage and less likely to make an impact on the readers.
5. Research
Find out what the employer is looking for, by visiting their website, speaking with current employees if you know any and reading anything you can about the company. Then edit your resume or CV to emphasise your relevant skills.
6. Use Action Verbs
While there is no need for full sentences when describing your previous positions, using words that suggest action on your part, rather than passive involvement, is very important. For example
- "implemented a successful cost-saving strategy" NOT "overheads were reduced with a cost-saving strategy"
- "contributed to the development of ...." NOT "part of a team that developed....."
There is a good overview of useful action verbs here.
7. Don't Underestimate Yourself
When listing your experience ask yourself the following questions about each job you have had:
- What challenges did this job present? How did you overcome them?
- What benefits did you bring to your employers?
- What made you better at this job than other people?
- Were you promoted or did you receive any special recognition for your work?
If you have positive answers to any of these question include brief references to them.
8. Don't Leave Gaps
In your chronology of work/educational experience make sure that all your time is accounted for. If there is a 6 month gap where you were apparently doing nothing, you will be asked about it at interview.
9. Don't Lie
If you were let go from a previous position don't mention this specifically in the resume or CV but don't lie about it either and be prepared to deal with the issue at interview. While you can emphasise the positive in any experience you have, make sure it is all true - emphasis is good, exaggeration is bad.
10. Proofread
Always print out and read your work before you send it - errors in print are somehow easier to see than those on a screen. Get at least one other person to read it through for errors or omissions.
A spell check is not proof reading.
Make sure your writing is clear and unambiguous. These resume bloopers illustrate nicely that what you write, and believe to be clear, can easily mean something else entirely to the reader.
Article copyright FionaHarrold.com 2003. All Rights Reserved.
