Post on 18-Oct-2014
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What’s wrong with my CV? A: Nothing. There’s nothing particularly wrong with your CV. Q: So how come I don’t always get shortlisted? A: Ah! Well that’s not the same question. Fact of the matter is, your CV is probably fine. But fine is no longer enough to get you onto the shortlist. First problem ...
Trusted agency
From within
Using proven people
Close colleagues
Adver;sing
CVsEmployerApproach
Job-HunterApproach
Daniel Porot’s marvellous model (tweaked a bit)
Adver;sing
CVs
Too many of the jobs that are out there are being filled before they even pop up into public view.
So you can be this fox, who has learned how to find prey
beneath the snow ...
… or this one, who is still hoping against hope for a juicy,
visible meal in the winter.
WIDGETSIncorporated
We put the jetinto widget
Rowan ManahanI’m the MD, bitch!
If you have to go the conventional route and join lots of other people in the hirer’s funnel ...
0
7
5
3
1
86%
You have to recognise the HUGE elimination rate at the first stage - getting from the big pile onto the “possibles”
pile and thence to the shortlist, is truly Darwinian.
“Screening and Selection” or “Screening & Elimination? With no malice, the reader is looking for a reason to chuck your CV - any CV - into the bin.
Who really MATTERS?
(Hint - not you. You need to follow Johnny’s advice and get really good at stalking the people who will be
reading your CV. You have to get into their heads.)
The Ladders research, from Spring 2012, used eye-tracking software as recruiters read hundreds upon hundreds of CVs.
NameCurrent title / CompanyPrevious title / Company
Previous position start/end datesCurrent position start/end datesEducation
These are the hotspots.
“If you wish to persuade me, you must think my thoughts, feel myfeelings, and speak my words.
So get good, really good, at understanding what this reader of this CV for this job is worried about ...
Linkedin is the 800lb gorilla, but it can cause complications if it in any way contradicts the CV that you have sent in to a company. Not a
problem if you are an X and you are positioning yourself only for X-type jobs. Very tricky indeed if you are transitioning into Y- or Z-type jobs.
Great site - highly recommended. The webinars give you a real insight into how recruiters are viewing you and what they are looking for.
Curriculum Vitae (abbrev. CV)
A brief account of a person’s education, qualifications, professional history and occupations, typically sent with a job application.
ORIGIN: early 20th Cent.: from Latin, the course of life
Operative word: brief
EDUCATION & TRAINING
INSTITUTION QUALIFICATION YEAR
Project Management Institute
Project Management Prince 2(Practitioner Level)
2013
College, Location Masters in Business AdministrationThesis: Implementing ERP in the multinational setting
2011
Company, Location Advanced Presentation Skills 2009
ACCA ACCA – Membership 2007
College, Location B.Comm – 2:1 hons, Top 10 in classElectives: Human Resources and I.T.
2003
School, Location Leaving Certificate525 points achieved
2000
This is one area where a typical CV can start to really sprawl.
EARLY CAREER
JOB TITLE COMPANY YEARS
Early (and frequently irrelevant) career details can add pages...
I am a highly experienced Accountant, with a number of years experience in the financial area including the Multinational sector and Financial Services. Prior to taking up a career in Accountancy I ran the family business for a number of years. I possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively & professionally with clients and colleagues at all levels. I’m a team player with a strong work ethic, while I’m an enthusiastic learner with ability to adapt quickly to new and challenging work situations.
This, on the other hand, is 88 wasted words and does not make me want to meet this candidate.
One false word, one extra word, and somebody’s thinking about how they have to buy paper towels at the store.
Brevity is very important. If you’re going to be longwinded, it should be for a purpose. Not just because you like your words.
Amen!
SELL DON’T TELL,
Far too may writers waste far too much space detailing the things they are responsible for. I can’t distinguish one Management
Accountant from another on the basis of responsibilities.
ContributionsSuggestions
WinsSpecial projectsOver-and-above
DIFFERENCE
Tell me about the things you have done that are in some way special, the things that have made a difference to your boss.
WOO THE EYESIf your document is badly laid-out, has too small a font (anything smaller that 11pt and I’m pretty much hating you!), huge chunks
of dense text, endless lists of bullet points, my eye is offended.
August 2010 to PresentHeadhunted by Widgets Incorporated (IRL) as the Senior Management Accountant, reporting to the Financial Controller. Widgets competes in the blah-blah sector, the local affiliate has a turnover of €92 million and employs 175 staff. Along with the typical analysis, audit and reporting functions, my brief encompasses:
• Line management for 11 staff – 3 Accountants and 8 Clerks• Development, implementation and updating of all policies and procedures in my remit• Capital expenditure projects from inception to completion• Collaboration on key projects – insurance, systems development, stock control
Key Contributions• Migration from legacy system to SAP – project team member• Merger, acquisition and diligence activities from time to time• Conducting training in finance for non-financial management
May 2005 to August 2010 Joined Fidgets Ltd as Payroll Clerk, reporting to the Management Accountant. Fidgets is
Make it clean and easy to read. A few lines to introduce the role and the company. A few bullets detailing some of your special responsibilities. Contributions split out, so I can jump to them.
Because if you do end up on a large pile, content will not be enough - your document will need to seduce the reader.
Passive voiceIn-jokes / AbbreviationsSlang / InformalOverstatingMixing tensesUnNecesary CapitalisatioN
DRAFT
That’s before we even get to “there/their” and “were/where”
MAPPINGYou would be surprised how many job-
seekers have very obviously not read the advert or job description.
“Am I a good hire for this job?
Would I hire me to do this job?
Ask yourself these questions - as harshly and objectively as you can.
KEYWORD FROM THE ADVERT / JOB DESCRIPTION
RESPONSIBILITYWITH THIS ITEM
CONTRIBUTIONWITH THIS ITEM
SCORE ONBEST DAY
SCORE ON CRAP DAY
Then, before you start tweaking your CV for this application, break it down. What
do they need vs what have you got?
Because, for a hotly-contested position, the reader will be making his/her mind up as they get halfway down the first page.
“Is this person in my frame for this job - yes or no?”They won’t say yes quickly, but they will say no very quickly.
What’s wrong with my CV?
Nothing and everything. The good news being that lots of the reasons CVs-that-are-fine
get dumped, can be easily fixed.