How to Write a CV That Wins

Buy any book on writing a CV or look at any website, and you are left with the impression that there are so many ways to write one.  Well, to be honest, there are many ways to write a good CV.  Do you write one that is chronological or one that is functional?  How many pages do you write?  Do you use bullet points, or paragraphs?  It’s enough to give you a migraine.  No matter what you read on the subject and what you may feel is the best way, the fact is there is no best way.  CVs vary greatly in style, size and content.  And when producing one, no matter what format you choose, remember these nuggets of advice.  Try this method and hopefully it will help you develop a CV that wins more often than not.

• Construct a full and detailed CV with contact details, a personal summary, education and qualifications, courses attended, professional memberships and work history with the most recent first.  Include all of your interests.  Put all necessary detail in.  You may end up with a document in the region of 4 to 10 pages (if not more) depending on your experiences.   Make a list of your core skills and personal attributes. This is your fully detailed work and life history and serves as the library for adapting CVs to suit particular applications.  Once it is all down on paper (or computer), you are 90% there in producing a good CV.
• This is important.  Write a separate CV for each job application.  Understand the application and remove all information on your detailed CV that is of little or no relevance.
• Be concise.  For instance, it is more important to state your qualification and when you achieved it rather than including the name and address of the colleges you have attended. 
• When it comes to work history, the same applies.  Only the name of the company and the time (months and years) you spent there.  Include job titles and split the detail per job into ‘Achievements’ and ‘Responsibilities’.  Bullet-point them too.  Never leave time gaps in your employment history.  If there are gaps, then maybe you had a sabbatical.  If you were unemployed, then maybe you undertook some voluntary work.  Include it.
• Produce a CV that you feel has all the relevant information.  Once complete, read it through and cut out any unnecessary words and sentences.  Again, make the wording concise and give the wording impact by using active verbs.  Make your ‘achievements’ tangible, eg, ‘increased profit margins by 99% in first year’.
• Aim for 2 to 3 pages, and if necessary, do not include referees if they end up on the fourth page.  Instead include a note in the cover letter.  Now cover letters are a different subject, but in essence include why you feel you are best suited to the position you are applying for.  Information you cannot fit or do not want on your CV you can add in your cover letter to give it greater impact.  Just ensure the cover letter isn’t more than one page.

Remember, producing a good CV is a personal thing.  The layout needs to be clean and clearly structured.  It also needs to be easy to read, concise and to the point.  It needs to get the point over to the reader in the clearest possible language, and it needs to highlight your attributes.  Don’t forget to use active verbs too.  Now, the downside is this.  You cannot legislate for the CV reader.  Each recipient has their own preferential style when it comes to CVs.  Give your CV to friends and family and get their honest opinion on how easy it was to read and whether it got the point across.  Just make sure they are honest about it.  The only thing you can do to give you a better chance of getting that interview is to take on board these tips and see how you fare.