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Actual for You - How to Write a Better CV (UK), or Resume (USA and elsewhere)
Sooner than later, the lines at your local fast food joints will be filled with more summer job seekers than hungry customers. Mallrats will be replaced by well-mannered students with r?sum?s in hand. And your parents will begin a steady, annoying cadence that will only end when you’ve got a place to finally stamp your timecard:“Have you’ve found a job yet… Have you’ve found a job yet? Have you’ve found a job yet?!?!”Well, have you?Sure, you can choose to diss the job search all together, and spend the summer bored, broke and having to do mom and dad’s laundry every morning just to pass the time. But that’s just awkward for everyone.In other words, you need a job. And in order to beat the flood of slackers that will spill onto the ‘Net and into stores once we work our way into June, you need to start looking now. According to a recent http://www.ja.org/files/polls/summer_jobs_2006.pdf Junior Achievement summer jobs survey give reasons for leaving a job. In almost all cases, the reader can find negative connotations to even the best reasons. You're better off explaining in person, if you feel it appropriate, or of course if you're asked.
2. If the subject comes up, never use negative language about your former employer, rather emphasise your ambition and desire to move on to a more challenging environment.
3. If you feel they need to be mentioned, say to "humanise" your Resume, then do not take more than two or three lines to list hobbies, sports and social activities. If in doubt "leave them out". As a professional resume writer, I would very rarely include them at all. Nor would I include any other personal information such as your spouse's occupation or your personal philosophies - they can too easily provide a reason not to see you,
You have worked your way up the career ladder and are now a responsible manager but you want more. Landing a good executive job is not dependent on luck. Experience, skills, achievements and your personality are all just as important. So what do you have to consider to get yourself ready for the executive search?Dress For Success: First impressions count. The impression that you give your staff, your customers and your bosses is very important. You should dress to meet the needs of your job and the business culture. At executive level that usually means a suit for males and females, good jewelry and presentation.Be An Achiever: At executive level, your potential employer is looking at how you will affect their business. They are seeking an increase in their turnover and their profit as well as looking after some key customers and developing their existing staff. Always mention 2 or 3 business based achievements on your resume or CV and be prepared
This short article by Stephen Thompson, Managing Director and CEO of Top Professional Resumes Limited in the UK (http://www.top-pro-cvs.com), is a brief introduction to writing such a document yourself.
It is a fairly obvious truism that a good CV alone won't get you a job. However a bad CV will prevent you from getting an interview. Since your Resume is primarily a tool to help find a better job or career change, time spent on its proper preparation is a good investment.
There is room for some creativity, but not for gimmicks. What works today is a professional, business-like style and a focus on key achievements.
We believe the best way to explain the 'rules' of CV writing is to explain what you should always do and what you should never do.
Do's:
1. Always print your CV on good quality white or cream/buff paper or vellum. The size should be A4 for the UK, and Letter Size for the USA, Australia and most other countries or territories. The point is that it should be the size that, unfolded, will fit a standard file folder or lever-arch file.
2. Have your Resume typed or word-processed, with plenty of space between paragraphs, and allow for adequate margins. There's no need to have it professionally printed.
3. Use short paragraphs - preferably no longer than five or six lines
4. Proof read your CV and Covering Letter (another essential document) thoroughly to check for any errors, then get another pair of eyes to give it the once-over. It is surprising how easy it is to miss obvious spelling and other mistakes when you are immersed in it for a few hours. Somebody else will see it straight away.
5. Include your contributions at each one of your jobs. Give the more significant ones greater emphasis.
6. Allocate the largest amount of space to your most recent job.
7. List your activity with professional associations - but only if they're appropriate.
8. Keep a permanent file of your achievements, no matter how inconsequential they may appear to be, and update it regularly. This will be the source document for a good CV or Resume, whether you do it yourself or have it written professionally.
9. Before applying for any positions, ensure you send each of your referees a copy of your CV.
10. Send a brief, customised Covering Letter with each CV. This is an absolute must, but writing the Covering Letter needs to be very carefully done and is another topic in itself. Email us (info@top-pro-cvs.com) for advice.
11. Send your Resume within a week of a position being advertised, and in any event well within any stated timescale.
12. Re-read your CV before the interview as part of your final preparation. The likelihood is high that the interviewer will have done this just before he or she sees you, so the fresher it is in your mind the better.
Don'ts:
1. Never give reasons for leaving a job. In almost all cases, the reader can find negative connotations to even the best reasons. You're better off explaining in person, if you feel it appropriate, or of course if you're asked.
2. If the subject comes up, never use negative language about your former employer, rather emphasise your ambition and desire to move on to a more challenging environment.
3. If you feel they need to be mentioned, say to "humanise" your Resume, then do not take more than two or three lines to list hobbies, sports and social activities. If in doubt "leave them out". As a professional resume writer, I would very rarely include them at all. Nor would I include any other personal information such as your spouse's occupation or your personal philosophies - they can too easily provide a reason not to see you,
Negligent hiring normally refers to a cause of action in tort law that arises from an employer's obligation not to hire an applicant that may undertake conduct against other individuals or otherwise subject employees or third parties to actions which can create legal liability Through negligent hiring lawsuits, many employers have been found liable for their failure to conduct appropriate due diligence and pre-employment background investigation. Negligent hiring lawsuits have cost many companies millions of dollars in damages. Conducting proper pre-employment screening goes beyond the criminal background check and taking the proper measures prior to hiring will protect and ensure your organization from potential lawsuits under negligent hiring tort law.The initial screening process should encompass a variety of measures to protect your company against potential legal action. It’s important to keep in mind some 36% of applicant resumes provide some form of falsified information.l to help find a better job or career change, time spent on its proper preparation is a good investment.
There is room for some creativity, but not for gimmicks. What works today is a professional, business-like style and a focus on key achievements.
We believe the best way to explain the 'rules' of CV writing is to explain what you should always do and what you should never do.
Do's:
1. Always print your CV on good quality white or cream/buff paper or vellum. The size should be A4 for the UK, and Letter Size for the USA, Australia and most other countries or territories. The point is that it should be the size that, unfolded, will fit a standard file folder or lever-arch file.
2. Have your Resume typed or word-processed, with plenty of space between paragraphs, and allow for adequate margins. There's no need to have it professionally printed.
3. Use short paragraphs - preferably no longer than five or six lines
4. Proof read your CV and Covering Letter (another essential document) thoroughly to check for any errors, then get another pair of eyes to give it the once-over. It is surprising how easy it is to miss obvious spelling and other mistakes when you are immersed in it for a few hours. Somebody else will see it straight away.
5. Include your contributions at each one of your jobs. Give the more significant ones greater emphasis.
6. Allocate the largest amount of space to your most recent job.
7. List your activity with professional associations - but only if they're appropriate.
8. Keep a permanent file of your achievements, no matter how inconsequential they may appear to be, and update it regularly. This will be the source document for a good CV or Resume, whether you do it yourself or have it written professionally.
9. Before applying for any positions, ensure you send each of your referees a copy of your CV.
10. Send a brief, customised Covering Letter with each CV. This is an absolute must, but writing the Covering Letter needs to be very carefully done and is another topic in itself. Email us (info@top-pro-cvs.com) for advice.
11. Send your Resume within a week of a position being advertised, and in any event well within any stated timescale.
12. Re-read your CV before the interview as part of your final preparation. The likelihood is high that the interviewer will have done this just before he or she sees you, so the fresher it is in your mind the better.
Don'ts:
1. Never give reasons for leaving a job. In almost all cases, the reader can find negative connotations to even the best reasons. You're better off explaining in person, if you feel it appropriate, or of course if you're asked.
2. If the subject comes up, never use negative language about your former employer, rather emphasise your ambition and desire to move on to a more challenging environment.
3. If you feel they need to be mentioned, say to "humanise" your Resume, then do not take more than two or three lines to list hobbies, sports and social activities. If in doubt "leave them out". As a professional resume writer, I would very rarely include them at all. Nor would I include any other personal information such as your spouse's occupation or your personal philosophies - they can too easily provide a reason not to see you,
Hello, students, and welcome to my classroom. Go ahead and have a seat anywhere. I assure you that they’re all comfortable and have ideal viewing. I assume you’re all business people with an interest in placing or designing cost-effective ads. Then sit back, relax and learn. I am your humble instructor in the mystical and confusing world of Yellow Page advertising. My name is Jeff Hauser and I have a BFA in marketing from Pratt Institute and a masters in teaching, so I’m more than qualified to be your professor. But do I hear a murmur in the back? Did someone say, “What are your credentials to teach Yellow Pages?” Fine, then.I’ve been designing Yellow Page ads for the past 25 years. During that time, I was a YP rep and consultant and, prior to that, had my own advertising agency. So I have expertise in YP creation and have advised almost 7000 companies on how to put together the most effective YP ads. If you have a display or in-column ad, regardless of size, color or position, I ca
3. Use short paragraphs - preferably no longer than five or six lines
4. Proof read your CV and Covering Letter (another essential document) thoroughly to check for any errors, then get another pair of eyes to give it the once-over. It is surprising how easy it is to miss obvious spelling and other mistakes when you are immersed in it for a few hours. Somebody else will see it straight away.
5. Include your contributions at each one of your jobs. Give the more significant ones greater emphasis.
6. Allocate the largest amount of space to your most recent job.
7. List your activity with professional associations - but only if they're appropriate.
8. Keep a permanent file of your achievements, no matter how inconsequential they may appear to be, and update it regularly. This will be the source document for a good CV or Resume, whether you do it yourself or have it written professionally.
9. Before applying for any positions, ensure you send each of your referees a copy of your CV.
10. Send a brief, customised Covering Letter with each CV. This is an absolute must, but writing the Covering Letter needs to be very carefully done and is another topic in itself. Email us (info@top-pro-cvs.com) for advice.
11. Send your Resume within a week of a position being advertised, and in any event well within any stated timescale.
12. Re-read your CV before the interview as part of your final preparation. The likelihood is high that the interviewer will have done this just before he or she sees you, so the fresher it is in your mind the better.
Don'ts:
1. Never give reasons for leaving a job. In almost all cases, the reader can find negative connotations to even the best reasons. You're better off explaining in person, if you feel it appropriate, or of course if you're asked.
2. If the subject comes up, never use negative language about your former employer, rather emphasise your ambition and desire to move on to a more challenging environment.
3. If you feel they need to be mentioned, say to "humanise" your Resume, then do not take more than two or three lines to list hobbies, sports and social activities. If in doubt "leave them out". As a professional resume writer, I would very rarely include them at all. Nor would I include any other personal information such as your spouse's occupation or your personal philosophies - they can too easily provide a reason not to see you,
Although it has been around for many centuries, “wild posting” is the current rage for product offerings and events that have a need for an “in-your-face” style of promotion. You have no doubt seen wild postings as you walked through an urban area where construction site barricades are plastered with the dozens or even hundreds of posters for a rock concert. Or, you might have seen hundreds of posters for the movie “Spiderman” displayed on the side of a building. Yes, that is wild posting.For hundreds of years posting signs along highways or on the side of buildings was a common way to advertise. Sometimes people opposed it; you might know the expression “post no bills” which was often seen on the side of buildings. I guess these posted signs were considered an early version of graffiti.Recently, this technique has been used for technology products such as cell phones and high speed internet services. AT&T posted banners for the “fastest internet in town for $14.99 a month” o
9. Before applying for any positions, ensure you send each of your referees a copy of your CV.
10. Send a brief, customised Covering Letter with each CV. This is an absolute must, but writing the Covering Letter needs to be very carefully done and is another topic in itself. Email us (info@top-pro-cvs.com) for advice.
11. Send your Resume within a week of a position being advertised, and in any event well within any stated timescale.
12. Re-read your CV before the interview as part of your final preparation. The likelihood is high that the interviewer will have done this just before he or she sees you, so the fresher it is in your mind the better.
Don'ts:
1. Never give reasons for leaving a job. In almost all cases, the reader can find negative connotations to even the best reasons. You're better off explaining in person, if you feel it appropriate, or of course if you're asked.
2. If the subject comes up, never use negative language about your former employer, rather emphasise your ambition and desire to move on to a more challenging environment.
3. If you feel they need to be mentioned, say to "humanise" your Resume, then do not take more than two or three lines to list hobbies, sports and social activities. If in doubt "leave them out". As a professional resume writer, I would very rarely include them at all. Nor would I include any other personal information such as your spouse's occupation or your personal philosophies - they can too easily provide a reason not to see you,
If you are not busy living, then you must be busy dying. Most of us do this subconsciously and are unaware of which side of this equation we reside on. It must follow then that if you have lots of money, you are probably busy living and living well. Everybody wants more money. But is it the money itself or is it the freedom it buys? Lots of money = lots of freedom.On the opposite side are the people busy dying. It must follow then that their income falls short of the mark. They cannot meet their obligations, their debts are growing, and there is more month at the end of their money. Yet fuel prices, housing costs, taxes, even groceries keep rising. How do you budget an inadequate income? So they add on a part-time job to make up the deficit. Lack of money = lack of freedom.In one month alone, nearly 400,000 people went to Search Engines for “self help”.* 1,324,817 for help with depression * 910,029 for help coping with divorce * 355,077 fo
2. If the subject comes up, never use negative language about your former employer, rather emphasise your ambition and desire to move on to a more challenging environment.
3. If you feel they need to be mentioned, say to "humanise" your Resume, then do not take more than two or three lines to list hobbies, sports and social activities. If in doubt "leave them out". As a professional resume writer, I would very rarely include them at all. Nor would I include any other personal information such as your spouse's occupation or your personal philosophies - they can too easily provide a reason not to see you, the exact opposite of your intention!
4. There is no need to state 'References Available on Request'. It is assumed, so just clutters up the CV and uses space that could be put to better use.
5. For the same reason, never list references on the CV.
6. Do not give exact dates. Months and years are sufficient (ie May 1998 to December 2002 - always use 4 digits for the year, give it in full).
7. Never include the date your Resume or CV was prepared. If your search takes longer than a few months, (and it can if you don't invest in a professionally-written CV from Top Professional Resumes
8. Never include your work phone number unless your immediate boss knows you are leaving
9. Never state your personal objectives unless they are relevant to the position applied for.
10. Do not use professional jargon, and NEVER slang or colloquial terms.
11. Do not provide salary information on the CV. Save it for the interview, and only give it then if directly asked. If this information is requested before interview, state it in your Covering Letter.
The Interview-Winning Resume or Power CV - what recruiters look for.
What do people receiving them want to see, and in what format? And what do they not want?
Most of this section is really elaboration of the points listed as Do's and Don'ts above.
The majority of recruiters want to see personal details appearing immediately below the name. Most selectors prefer the date of birth to age, but if you think your age might be an issue (ie too young or too old), then leave it out altogether. A high percentage like to see some personal information, but they are not generally interested in age of children, religion or a photograph. Neither are they interested in the candidate's view of their own characteristics. Indeed, as these views are entirely subjective, they are often viewed with scepticism, which can have a negative effect.
Practically all recruiters like to see details of further education, degrees and professional qualifications. A surprising number are also interested in numbers of 'O'levels, 'A' levels and GCSE's(UK), or Grades and Statistics in the USA. Most want details of work related training, particularly those courses which are of reasonable length and lead to a formal qualification. The inclusion of foreign languages is important at all levels, and this trend is increasing.
Names of employers, dates of employment, appointments and responsibilities are obviously essential, whilst many recruiters also want a brief description of the company and its business. Employment history should be in reverse chronological order beginning with the most recent job. Responsibilities and Achievements should be listed under each appointment rather than on a separate sheet.
There is a preference for the two page CV, although a significant number of recruiters find three pages acceptable, particularly for senior level appointments.
Top Professional Resumes also provide a completely FREE, no-obligation CV and Resume review service. If your present CV or Resume is not working for you, email it (mailto:review@top-pro-cvs.com) or fax it to us (+44 if outside UK, and drop the leading zero) to (0)7813 125606. We
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