Your CV

June 13th, 2008

This is the first thing a potential employer is going to see. All the reasons they should give you an interview—on one side of A4. Needless to say, mistakes are easy to make. Here are some commonly encountered ones that’ll get your resume shredded instantly.

Images and borders—Unless you are applying for a position that entails a great deal of creative license, avoid graphics, fancy borders and elaborate fonts. Also, it is not always
necessary to attach a photo to your resume, but if one is required, make sure that it conveys a professional image.

Length—No one has the time or the patience to read a Dostoevsky-esque resume, nor do they want Cliffnotes. Ideally, keep the CV to a single page in length, and make full use of it.

Spelling and grammatical mistakes—Some 50 percent of recruitment consultants regularly encounter these errors—don’t be one of the culprits! Ask someone else to read a printed copy before submitting it; don’t rely on computer spellchecks.

Neglecting the personal profile—This short blurb (anywhere from three to five sentences) gives a brief preview of who you are to the reader. It sums up your career background, areas of expertise, key skills and motivations. Make it good.

Disorganization—Make sure the most relevant information is on the first page of the resume. Consistently put dates in reverse chronological order.

Lack of Basic Info—If you have a non-gender specific name (e.g. John Wayne was born Marion), make sure to include your title or gender as part of the personal information in order to avoid embarrassment, among other reasons. Also, remember to include your phone number and/or e-mail address, which should be professional, containing your name. (e.g. no ilikefatchicks@hotmail.com)

Lack of focus—Focus on the job you’re applying for by tailoring the information to the requirements. This to-the-point style is simple and effective. Tailoring your CV will also convey the message that time and effort has been spent, thus giving the impression that you’re serious about getting the job.

Exaggerating and boasting—While the idea of the CV is to sell yourself, it is unwise to exaggerate or boast. This will come across as arrogant and tactless.
And never lie.