Make Sure your CV gets seen for the right reasons

CV's!!! - All sorts - Long ones, like War & Peace, short ones that barely hint at the skills that lie beneath the headings, multi coloured paper or printing (yellow is a terrible colour - don't use it - or red!!) photocopies (yes - still!) those with coffee stains or the greasy remnants of breakfast, those that are emailed in obscure formats, or password protected or in a locked  .PDF.

The average recruiter (internal  or external) will spend a matter of seconds scanning your most precious of documents on which your next career move, dreams aspiration and ambitions  ( not to mention financial security, family life, mortgage payments, food on the table, job satisfaction et al) depends - do yourself a favour and make it easy for them.

• So - unless you are a graphic designer going for a graphic design job keep it clear - straightforward easy to read fonts in black on a light background.
• Make sure it is obvious as soon as possible in the document that you have the skills and experience needed in the job you have applied for - and if you are hoping to use transferable skills make that clear too. That can be done in a short punchy introduction - a profile which outlines your key skills and attributes,  and what you are hoping to achieve with your next move
• Use bullet points where possible - please avoid writing lengthy narrative - you will lose the interest of the recruiters who will most certainly initially be scanning rather than reading the document.
• Give examples of achievements that make you stand out from the crowd
• Keep it as short as you can - 2 sides of A4 is ideal, but if you really cannot do justice to your career in that just keep it as succinct as possible
• As proud as you are of your family and pets please resist the temptation to name them and their hobbies
• Most recruiters use databases which can "read" CV's and automatically upload them - so again make it easy for them by emailing your application rather than posting it, ideally in Word (without password protection) - and avoid PDF's - Your CV will need to be altered to add logo's and remove your personal details, before sending to a client so again make it easy for the recruiters - they are, or should be on your side.
• Please apply for something you can actually do.  However ambitious you are if you have been a school dinner lady (and they do a fantastic job I am not being critical) it might take more than a leap of faith and an evening class to make the next move a senior management role. or avionics technician. Be realistic - ask the recruitment consultant you are dealing with for advice.  If you are using a job board let reason be your guide.

This is  little tongue in cheek  I accept - however the points are salient - The CV is your sales document - it needs to open doors for you in your absence.  It needs to be accurate (you will have to explain it) and complete (a gap will arouse suspicion so best account for it upfront)

There are many CV experts in the UK who will for a fee critique and redesign your CV to help you get the job you want.  Jobmax partners with Fuller CV who will give you a free appraisal of your CV, after which services are charged for.  details are here : http://www.jobmax.co.uk/content/your-cv-41425.htm