Promote and elevate yourself on a professional platform with a Resume – Curriculum Vitae (CV) by Blu Ripples

Writing a clear and concise CV-Résumé is easy if you take the time to do your research, remain objective and highlight what you can do for your potential employer based on their needs not yours.

To ensure you achieve the above stated outcome it is imperative that you know your subject “YOU” very well.  Spend a little time analysing your academic, professional and personal background.  What skills, acumen (knowledge) and personality traits do you currently possess that would be beneficial for your potential employer? Now look at the flip side of the coin to analyse which skills you need to develop or refine.

The purpose of the above stated research and analysis is to determine congruence between yourself and the current labour market.

It should go without saying that the labour market is a highly competitive environment and as such when compiling your CV-Résumé you need to keep in mind that Managers, HR Professionals and Recruitment Consultants are predominantly highly conservative individuals who are impressed with the content of the of the document not the “Bells and Whistles”.

NB:  “ Bells and Whistles” refers to clip art, photographs, multiple fonts, colours, borders etc.

Speaking from experience the more Bells and Whistles one finds on a  CV-Résumé the more one is likely to focus on what the applicant is hiding or not saying rather than what the applicant can do; as previously highlighted the whole point of a CV-Résumé is to highlight what you can do for your potential employer not draw their attention to what you are lacking in experience and/or education.

5 Tips for compiling a Clear and Concise CV-Résumé

• Optimal Page Length – 3 pages ideally, but no more than 5 pages

• Do not include discriminatory information for example your date of birth or marital status

• Do not include the Bells and Whistles; when formatting  your CV-Résumé remember the  4 C’s: – Clean, Clear, Concise and Consistent

• Highlight your academic qualifications, key skills and competencies, professional affiliations, operational responsibilities, key achievements and projects, academic publications and if appropriate relevant voluntary work; and finally

• Always clarify your statements in the responsibilities and achievement sections

Stay Tuned for Part 3 – Creativity in the recruitment phase; Is there a place for it?