WHY SOME CVs WIN INTERVIEWS AND OTHERS DO NOT
A professionally
written CV will win you an interview because it is -
·
Well-written, starting with a profile statement that highlights desired capabilities
· Designed so that important facts can be read quickly and easily
· Preceded by a well-written cover letter, formally introducing yourself and
elaborating on
...highly relevant areas of the CV
· Presented on two pages or less - just the right amount of information
· Grammatically correct with no spelling errors
· Laser printed on quality paper
· Thermally bound, standing out from the rest and showing the extra effort
expended
...in its preparation
The first
impression that your CV makes will be its last if it is -
· Poorly written and organised
·
Missing a profile statement
· Difficult to read
· Without a cover letter
· Too long or too short
· Grammatically incorrect with spelling errors
· Photocopied or inkjet printed on plain paper
· Folded
A
well-written, well-designed, and well-presented CV will
maximise your chances of getting to the interview stage!
Writing
and Organisation:
Your CV not only presents your qualifications and work
history, it also demonstrates the quality of work that you produce. Your CV
tells the prospective employer a number of things about your decision-making,
organisational, and communication skills. This is an opportunity to impress
them with your ability to provide them with a professional document.
Profile
Statement:
You are just a name on a page until you add a personal
touch with a lively and captivating summary of your best qualities. Your personality
shines through and the reader wants to learn more about you.
Headings:
There
is no set rule as to what headings should be used. However, they should be
instantly recognisable and lead the reader to the information they seek.
Design::
If
it is not possible to quickly find specific information, the reader may not
bother. A CV that is well laid out and presented will enable the reader to
retrieve the maximum amount of information in the 20-30 seconds they have
allotted for the task.
Cover
Letters:
Business etiquette dictates that a focused cover letter
accompanies the CV or application form. It is expected. The job hunter who
does not write a cover letter is seen to be a person who either cannot be
bothered or does not know any better.
Length:
The reader only wants to know specific information.
What information is presented and what is left out is the
CV writer's job. Too little information and the
reader is left with the impression that the candidate is unqualified. Too
much information and the reader could get bored and not even get to the important
parts. If all the information you need to convey can be attractively presented
on one page, then one page is all you need. A two-page CV allows for more
detail. The first page grabs the reader's attention with crucial information,
and the second page enhances and confirms that information. When the number
of candidates for a position will be very low, (e.g., upper level executives
in highly specialised fields), more than two pages may be required.
Grammar
and Spelling:
Even if perfect grammar and spelling are not necessary
for the job, mistakes look sloppy and show that you do not care about details.
Careful proofreading will catch these errors.
Printing
Quality:
Photocopies are inferior. Photocopying says, "This document
has been sent as a mailshot - the writer is not serious enough about the job
to be bothered to put
the time and effort into applying specifically for this job."
Also, the original needs to be sharp because your CV may be photocopied and/or
scanned for distribution within the company. For clarity and ease of reading,
inkjet printing does not compare favourably to laser printing.
Paper
Colour and Quality:
100 gsm weight paper, either white or ivory, is appropriate.
Strongly coloured paper may stand out from the rest but will not be practical.
Some colours do not photocopy, fax, or scan very well. This makes it difficult
for your CV to be circulated inside the company. Using inappropriate or poor
quality paper will infer that your standard of work is also of poor quality.
Extra
Effort:
When you present yourself for an interview, you make
sure that you look your best. Your CV presentation should also be at its best.
You can achieve this by including a couple of extras. Thermal binding and
hard backed envelopes, coupled with your well-written and well-designed CV,
demonstrates your enthusiasm and above-average interest in the position available.
To win you have to be the best!
At Pro-CV this is our job.
WINNERS
AND
LOSERS
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