Complete Guide on CV Preparation
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The decision to recruit is like a buying decision on the part of an employer. This creates a very clear picture of what a CV must include:
- It must meet the needs of the target organisation where possible. This means a single generalist CV is unlikely to be sufficient.
- It must highlight your achievements and how they relate to the job you are applying for. It must give the reader a clear indication of why you should be considered for this role.
To decide what to include in your CV and where, follow these principles and guidelines:
- Generally, the document should contain no more than 2 pages. Sometimes, a one page summary is all that is required.
- Your CV should be honest and factual.
- The first page should contain enough personal details for a recruitment consultant or potential employer to contact you easily.
- Choose a presentation format that allows you to headline key skills, key achievements or key attributes.
- Your employment history should commence with your current or most recent job and work backwards.
- Achievements should be short, bullet-pointed statements and include your role, the action you took and a comment on the result of your action.
- Where information clearly demonstrates your suitability for the vacancy you're applying for, and enhances your chances of being short-listed, include this information near the beginning of the CV.
- Leave out information that is irrelevant or negative.
- Include details of recent training or skills development events you have attended which could be relevant.
- List all your professional memberships and relevant qualifications.
As we work through examples in this section, we will continually refer back to these principles and guidelines.
