Getting the CV
right: first impressions count....
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| Scrub up well do
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imagine
yourself in the place of the reader, your prospective
employer. What response to you want them to have to
your CV? Have that in mind when you construct it. Write
it imagining that you are the employer and that the
employer is getting really excited as they read your
CV and realise that you could be the one!
Your CV as a selling document: the
reader should feel interested and curious to learn more.
They can find out more at the interview. The purpose
of the CV is to get you that interview.
It must be easy to read: readers
may skim the CV for as little as five seconds before
they decide whether to actually read it. So the appearance
of your CV matters enormously.
Length: 2 pages are ideal. Certainly
no more than 3 pages. Any more than this and the reader
may not feel that they even have time to start. Once
they put down your CV, or close the Word document, they
may not open it again.
White space: don't have too much
crammed on to each page, it will be easier to read if
there is a good amount of white space on the page.
Contact details: make it easy for
the reader by putting your name, address and contact
details (landline number, mobile number, e-mail address)
at the top.
Profile: next come a few lines that
sum up your skills and that position you. You may wish
to amend this for every job you apply for so that it
is absolutely relevant to that position.
Employment history: then record
your employment history, with the most recent positions
first. Rather than record what you did, think what your
prospective employer might value. What were the benefits
to the organisation of what you did?
Dates: note the dates (month and
year) on the right-hand side of the page. The employer
will skim down this column looking at length of service
and looking for gaps in your CV (see below).
Ancient history: the further back
in time you go, the less you need to explain about the
role. Unless of course, that role is very relevant for
the position that you're applying for.
Gaps in your CV: you may have had
career breaks. If you don't explain any gaps in your
CV they will raise questions in the prospective employer's
mind. At best they will come back to you to ask about
the gap, at worst they will move on to somebody else's
CV. Include a short sentence on how you used that time.
Were you raising a family, a carer, on maternity leave,
unemployed, travelling? Give some indication of what
you did during that time that was productive, that involved
doing something that the employer might value.
Did you do a DIY project on the house, some personal
development work, study and keep up-to-date, give some
assistance to a friend setting up new business? Include
any temporary, contract, unpaid or voluntary work. For
example: "managed a household and a team of three
lively children", "learnt website design".
If you can find something that may have a value for
your prospective employer, all the better.
But be honest. You may have to talk about any aspect
of your CV at the interview.
Education: next record your professional
qualifications and education, most recent first. You
may want a separate section on computer and systems
experience if this is one of your strong points. If
not, leave it out, you can always get training and improve
your skills if necessary for the role.
Things to leave out: photograph;
religious or political allegiances (unless they are
relevant to the position).
Optional: date of birth; nationality:
you may want to include this if it shows that there
will be no difficulty for the employer about employing
you; marital status. If you think that any of this may
be perceived less than positively by the prospective
employer then leave it off.
Personal details/further information:
this could include clean driving license if driving
is going to be a part of the job. Leave this information
out if you have points on your license. You can mention
interests or hobbies briefly if they add something to
your CV.
References: leave information about
referees until your prospective employer requests them.
Finishing off: use your spellchecker
and check punctuation. Generally short sentences are
easier to read. If you can split a long sentence into
two or three shorter sentences then do so. You want
the reader to be able to read quickly and efficiently
and absorb your key messages.
Review your CV before sending it:
if you have time, send the CV the next day when you
have had time to review it from a different perspective.
It can also be useful to get somebody else to review
it. Accept any feedback as constructive rather than
as criticism. Be appreciative of any suggestions for
how you can present yourself on paper in a way that
will give the best impression to the reader.
Clean white paper: print your CV
on plain, white, good-quality, paper. It will look professional,
clean and clear. That is likely to get you more positive
attention than trying to catch someone's eye with gimmicks.
Final review: look once more at
your finished CV, imagining yourself as your prospective
employer reading your CV. If the impression you're getting
is not completely positive, then change your CV.
Different CV for different jobs:
amend your CV, the profile and perhaps the detail in
the employment section, for each job you apply for.
Tailor what you write about your skills, abilities and
achievements to the particular job profile you're applying
for.
Covering email or letter: make your
covering letter or e-mail short and sweet; specify the
position you're applying for and one or two reasons
why you're interested in the job and would be good at
it, drawing on a key example of your work experience
to support this.
Keep a copy: make sure that you
label the Word version of your CV and letter with your
name when you e-mail them out (e.g. Sara Longmuir CV.doc
and Sara Longmuir letter.doc). Then on your system rename
both documents with the employer name so that it's easy
for you to see which CV went to which employer. You
may also want to print out a hard copy of the CV and
letter. File the hard copies where you can find then
if you're called to interview a few weeks later.
Other feedback: don't expect a recruitment
company to check your CV. At Mature Accountants, however,
if we notice something that we think may not work in
your favour, we may ask your permission to give you
feedback. We will make this constructive, with suggestions
for improvement. It's better to get feedback from us
than to be continually missing out on getting to interview
and not knowing why.
One-to-one coaching: if you'd like
Sara to give your CV a detailed review and provide one-to-one
feedback at reduced coaching rates for New Accountants
registered candidates, then please email her at sara@matureaccountants.com.
Feedback for us: if you have any
feedback for us about this information and any suggestions
for improvement, please email sara@matureaccountants.com.
Sending your CV to us: send your
CV to us when you register, but make sure that it has
your name as part of the filename!
Going for the interview can be a
nerve-wracking experience, but it doesn't need to be.
As a newly qualified accountant you have the world at
your feet and you may as well take full advantage of
the current market conditions. You are a valued and
scarce resource and employers will be competing for
your services. But you might as well give yourself the
best chance of success at the interview - if you get
offered the job you can always say no!
So here are some common-sense tips
- you would be amazed how many people forget the basics.
- Sit down and work on your CV.
Remember - everything in your CV is a target for questioning.
Your CV is your shop window and first impressions
count - there are no hard and fast rules but 2 pages
is enough to convey the essential information, and
PLEASE use spell check. At newaccountants we don't
"tart up" your CV or hide your identity
like most agencies so whatever you send us will be
what we put forward to our client.
- Make sure you can talk about
every transaction/project you have been involved with.
- You should be able to present
your background and experiences in such a way that
you cover the qualities and skills that they are looking
for.
- The client is seeing if you are
suitable for a role with them - they DO NOT
want to hear your detailed life history.
- It is worth taking half
an hour to write bullet point answers to the following
questions:
- Why
are you looking to leave your current job? (Only talk
positively about your reasons, do not put down your
current employer but talk about your current ambitions
relevant to the role for which you are being interviewed)
- Why
do you want to move into the new role?
- Why
would your background put you in a good position to
make this move?
- What
do you know about the firm you are interviewing with?
- What
are your key strengths? (Make sure you can name five,
ranging from your relevant skill set to your personality
strengths - these could include analytical skills,
drive etc)
- What
are your weaknesses? (Clients will hope you are realistic
and aware that at this stage you do not know everything
about the industry or sector for which you are applying.
Talk about areas relative to your development that
you need to extend)
- Name
a time when you were challenged at work. What was
the outcome? (The client will look for you to talk
positively about experiences and how you learned from
them. This gives them an insight in your ability to
cope with difficulties and attempt to overcome them.)
- Where
do you see yourself ten years from now? (Clients may
not expect you to say that you see yourself in the
same place for all this time but they will want to
see a level of commitment)
- What
else are you looking at now? (This is where you could
be tripped up - remember your audience). Do not tell
them the names of
other companies you are meeting but give them an idea
that you are being introduced to other organisations
with a similar culture in order to be seen as a focused
and thoughtful individual - that is, of course, only
if you actually are meeting other people. (If not
let them know you are holding out for the right challenge).
You may not even be asked any of
these questions but the time you put into thinking about
them will give you confidence and awareness of what
you come with as you enter as a candidate to meet your
'potential employers'!
DON'T FORGET - FIRST IMPRESSIONS
COUNT SO:-
- Arrive on time (at least
five/ten minutes before the scheduled interview time)
- Dress in a manner that
is appropriate for the company - better to be overdressed.
- Turn your mobile phone
off!
- Talk enthusiastically and
clearly.
- Direct eye contact, a firm
handshake and a smile are all essential.
- Good luck.
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