Effective CV writing

Jan 4, 2012 by admin

There is a lot more to effective CV writing than most people realise.

Many people think that CV writing is just a matter of filling in a set of rigid sections such as profile, work experience, skills etc. Indeed, many people approach CV writing in the same manner that they approach filling in application forms.

And a lot of CV is effectively just say I did this, and I did that.

Indeed, many people write CVs in a very matter-of-fact way; listing jobs and summarising responsibilities.

Whilst this is by no means the worst approach to take, it isn’t the most effective either.

The most effective CVs go beyond just stating the obvious. The most effective CVs actually sell the candidate, and sell him/her to the maximum. Significantly, it isn’t just a matter of selling the candidate haphazardly any old how. It is important to sell the candidate in the right way. Amongst other things structure and focus is important, and you need to sell your skills in a pertinent and proactive manner. It also helps if you can do this concisely.

That said, selling yourself powerfully yet concisely is far easier said than done, and most people struggle with this. That is one reason why many people end up with CVs which are too long, too cluttered and not enticing to read.

As mentioned, there is a lot more to effective CV writing than meets the eye – too much to include in a small article such as this. However, if you want the most effective CV, you should not only consider the above, but amongst other things, you should also remember to write with the employer in mind. Another thing worth considering is that you may not be the best person to write your CV, not everyone is, and if you do need professional help then a professional CV consultants should be able to help boost jobs in the job market.

Your CV can be your greatest asset when you are job-hunting, but only if it is well-written and stands out over and above that of your competitors. Consequently, you should certainly not underestimate the value of your CV. On the contrary, you should do whatever it takes to get it up to the best possible standard.

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This article is copyrighted and has been taken from extracts of a CV book written by Paul Hichens, Senior Consultant at CVconsultants.co.uk

This article cannot be copied or distributed without the permission of the author.