CV Guide

Your CV is your ultimate job search tool.

The perfect CV process starts with knowing who you are and where you want to go in your life (your job targets). Without job targets, it is hard to focus your CV.

A perfect CV arranges your skills, capabilities, accomplishments, education and values ina document that presents you as the perfect person for the job. The quality of the opportunities you are considered for is a function of your CV and how you get it delivered.

CV Formats

Chronological CV

This type of CV tells, in a compact way, the history of your work experience to date.
It starts with the present, then goes back in reverse order to wha you have been doing since you left school or further education. It emphasizes your current or most recent work over what you have done before.
This is the most common type of CV and is easy to read and write.

Functional CV

This type of CV is organised by functional or skill areas. It headlines the functions you have performed that relate most to the job you are seeking, regardless of when you performed them. Chronology takes second place.
If you have been out of work for some time, or are entering the job market for the first time, this format will reduce the impact of that. This format is also useful for those who are changing fields.

Targeted CV

The targeted CV format emphasizes what you can accomplish in the future with a particular company or opportunity - whether you have done it already or not. It requires good research about the employer you are aiming it at.

Online CV

You should consider creating an online portfolio. This is a website with internal links to your CV and also seperate categories for accomplishments, education, work history, references, etc.
Online portfolios show you are computer literate and can help set you apart. However, not every employer will take the time to look at them but the use of these online CVs will grow over the coming years.

CV Do's and Don'ts

CV Do's

  • Keep your CV short. If written and edited well, a one- or two-page CV is enough to describe almost anyone's best capabilities.
  • Prepare your CV with one or more targeted jobs in mind (a different CV for each). This will help determine what to include or leave out.
  • When listing accomplisments or duties, use short, indented, easy-to-read (bulleted) phrases.
  • Choose the clearest,simplest language to say what you want to say.
  • Highlight outcomes not activities.
    To say "Was responsible for supervising the credit control department" is less effective than saying "My supervision of the credit control department decreased the churn rate by 20 percent".
    Use specific quantities, percentages or monetary values where they enhance your description of a result.
  • Put the strongest statements at the top of each section or paragraph.
  • Have someone with good language skills check for appropriate wording, spelling punctuation and grammar.
  • Make your objective statement meaningful and relevant to the job you are applying for. Avoid generalities.
  • If you have published professional articles and other material, mention them briefly.
    Mention professional affiliations if they are relevant.

CV Don'ts

  • Don't list references or say they are 'available upon request'. This is implied.
  • Don't include information about your gender, age, height and weight, race, religion or other personal or family data.
  • Don't include a photograph.
  • Don't include the postal address of previous employers.
  • Don't include salary information. This should be negotiated seperated. If requested by an employer, include it in the covering letter.
  • Limit the use of the personal pronoun I. It is employed throughout.
  • Don't include hobbies or social interests unless they contribute to your ability to perform the targeted job.
  • Don't discuss your reasons for leaving your previous position. Save it for the interview.