What Your CV Says about you

Ever heard the phrase “ a picture paints a thousand words”?  Well, we also say  that words can paint a thousand pictures!

As recruiters we are constantly reviewing candidate CV’s. If we read 10,000 plus CV’s per year here at Career Team,  we would not be exaggerating! So we feel qualified to let you know how your marketing document is representing you...

Have you ever thought that three pages of black and white text don’t reflect you or your skills or your personality? – you are not alone. Conversely, a moving theatre of colour and video is probably too much of a mini production for most people. So somewhere in between is the key.

Here are some tips:

Keep those CV’s 100% up to date – no excuses. Current contact details and residential location are imperative.

A brief overview of your skills and what you are looking for should feature next.

Followed by a complete overview of your periods of employment and unemployment - there should be no gaps and all timelines should be explained.

What about including your top 10 attributes?

Communicate any career highlights or personal highlights as this will start to engage the reader and give some “life” to the black and white text that represents so many people.

Extra career activities should also feature – things that make you happy that you spend your leisure time doing – things that make you a balanced individual.

If you are including a photo – think carefully if it represents you NOW! It will reflect to the reader who you are but will also create disappointment if upon meeting you it is not a recent or professional photo – this is not your facebook profile!

Be as professional as you can be while letting a little bit of your personality shine through.

Don’t underestimate what you are conveying in your CV document ... both said and unsaid!
Remembering that your CV is the trailer to the main feature. Your personal impact will be your best representation once you secure that interview – make your CV work for you not against you!