Bringing your CV out of the 90s!

, ,
CV 1990s

When I started my career in outplacement in the 1990s, the CVs I helped people prepare looked a bit like the one above.  To call it inappropriate now is an understatement.  Printed on white paper, and produced in 12pt, Times New Roman font was the standard. And of course, contact details included home address and telephone number only – no mobile phone, email, or LinkedIn URL to be seen.

In the same way we see things constantly changing around us, so too is it important for your CV to adapt and develop – not only in terms of what is expected by today’s recruiters, but also how your own skills and experiences have grown and developed.

So, what does ‘good’ look like today?

  1. It’s incredible to think that date of birth, marital status, place of birth and health were the norms – hugely inappropriate and with legislation in place now to stop most of these being asked as part of application processes.
  2. Using the first half of the front page of a CV – the most important part – to outline anything that isn’t going to attract the reader and entice them to interview you shouldn’t be on there.
  3. As a starting point, you should create a strong personal profile establishing your level and capabilities.
  4. This should then lead into a section covering your key strengths, qualified with substantial examples to ensure the reader knows what you can bring to the organisation. Using the STAR acronym (Situation – Task – Action – Result) is the best way to convey these.
  5. Avoid hackneyed expressions and try and identify phrases that really mean something in relation to the role you are applying for.

In these days of over-communication, there is only a matter of seconds to pique somebody’s interest enough for them to read the whole of the CV, so craft it wisely.

Use your initiative

Don’t forget, if a job role calls for a CV and covering letter, you can tailor both to your specific skills and the requirements of the job.

The job market is busy at this time of year. So, spend some time making sure your CV is up-to-date and your LinkedIn profile reflects the messages you have shared. This should give you the opportunity to advance to the next stage, and the all-important interview.

Speak to our team if you are in need of our services.