A CV, no matter how good, will not get you a job by itself. However, a good CV will attract the attention of the recruiter and, at the very least, secure you an interview. The purpose of a CV is to reveal your accomplishments and qualifications to a potential employer. And of they like what they see, they'll soon be in touch for a face-to face-meeting.
Think of your CV as a promotional brochure about you. You need to show a potential employer what you have achieved so far and where your knowlegde, skills and any relevant experience lies. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to emphasise the skills and attributes that a particular employer is looking for.
But your CV is also a written example of your communication and organizational skills. A well done CV is a marker of what kind of valuable employee you would be. Likewise, a sloppily-produced CV is the best way to remove yourself from the running before the race even starts.
There's no shortage of books and websites on CVs and CV writing �some of them contradictory, but most of them useful. A [few hundred bucks] on a good CV book will be money very well spent if it teaches you the fundamentals of CV writing.
But try to stay in touch with current thinking in CVs too as CV advice follows trends. The web is home to plenty of free advice and information � much of it is written in the Unitied States, but can be a useful predictor of CV fashion.
With so many different occupations, professions and sectors open to graduates, there isn't a single CV template that works for everyone. There are, however, generally accepted ways to arrange the information on your CV to present it in the best light.
The two styles that you'll come across most often are the 'chronological format' and the 'functional format'. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to presenting your information. A third style, the 'combination', is a compromise between the two and has become more popular in recent years.
1. Chronological
This is the most common CV style because it's the one that most employers prefer. In the chronological format, the emphasis is placed on education and employment experience. The applicant's school, university and job history is presented in reverse chronological order, with the most recent placed at the top of the list.
The chronological CV is good if your recent qualifications and experience are relevant to the job. Potential employers can easily see what you have done, and how you have progressed and garnered relevant skills and knowledge.
Despite its popularity, there are some reasons why the chronological format may not be right for you. If you are just entering the workforce from university and have little track record of part-time or summer working, a CV like this may actually highlight your lack of experience. Alternatively, you may have held summer jobs recently that have no relevance to the position you're applying for. If you are re-entering the workforce after a couple of years bumming around, this kind of CV can also highlight your recent inactivity. Any large gaps in your 'learning' history will be evident, and you may be asked about them.
2. Functional
In this non-linear format, your skills and achievements are emphasized. Your employment history is summarized or avoided all together. Your skills and previous relevant experience (including educational experience) are presented at the beginning of your CV. They are organized so the employer can see how your skills relate to the job position you are applying for. (In a chronological CV, employers may simply be looking at any jobs you have held previously to see if you have the experience they are looking for.) It may take more effort to write a functional CV, but you are free to highlight your talents instead of your recent job experience.
The functional CV can be particularly effective if your education and working experiences have been in a similar vein; it will allow you to highlight your skills rather than itemize what might look like a one-dimension history.
But the functional CV may also raise concerns in some employers' minds as to whether you are withholding information. This doesn't mean that functional CVs are ignored or that they can't be effective. But an employer looking for a clear history may be put off by the functional format, especially if you've used it to hide your inexperience or a long period of 'time out'.
If you don't have any problems with the reverse chronological format, use it instead. If you still like the idea of the functional format, you may want to make it more acceptable by combining it with the chronological format and creating a combination CV.
3. Combination
The combination CV is simply a functional CV with a brief employment history added. Skills and accomplishments are still listed first; the employment history follows. You need to reveal where you worked, when you worked, and what your job position was. This will allay an employer's worries about your experience, and it still allows you to emphasise your talents and how you would use them for the job you are applying for. While most employers might still prefer a chronological CV, this is a good alternative to the functional CV.
Whatever style you choose, keep it concise. Employers have lots to do, so don't make the mistake of asking them to read through an unnecessarily long CV. A long, wordy CV will put off someone who is already short on time. CVs should be one page, if possible, and two if absolutely necessary to describe relevant work experience.
A two page CV is no advantage if it's full of information that isn't reasonably applicable to the position you're applying for. Use the space only if you need it to fully describe your accomplishments.
Make every word count. Your use of language is extremely important and ensure the CV addresses your potential employer's needs.
Email your way to the top jobs on the Internet
An electronic CV is simply your CV in a format that can be sent via email or the Internet. The advantage to having an electronic CV is simple � you can respond instantly to job openings posted all over the world. No need for faxing or queuing at the post office.
If your CV is on a PC hard disk, floppy or CD, you already have it in electronic format; but that's not to say it's in the most useful format. While it's true that most email systems can accommodate document attachments � be they in Word, WordPerfect, Quark or otherwise � it won't be true that every person or organization to whom you'd like to send your CV is willing or able to receive it in that format. Plain text (also called ASCII text or MS-DOS text and recognised by its three letter file extension '.txt'), however, is universally accessible and, in many cases, required.
Even if you are submitting your CV in hard copy form, bear in mind that it might be processed by electronic scanning equipment. More employers are using scanning software to sift through large volumes of applications. |
