Writing a successful CV

Many people these days have a Curriculum Vitae (CV, from the Latin) or a resume (from the French) which they tout when applying for various jobs/positions.  A CV or a resume is a document containing information about you, your skills and your experience in the world of work, and serves to introduce you to a prospective employer.

For the purposes of this Blog and to avoid confusion, “CV” only will be used.  Many of these so-called CVs are taken from electronic sources, with little adaptation or modification.  They end up often looking boring and doing little to promote the applicant for advertised jobs.

Ground rules for CV writing

First, let us agree on some basics about CV writing, as below. 

A CV should be a document that:

• sells your skills, knowledge, capabilities and talents to a prospective employer;
• provides some idea of the person applying for a position and their experience in relation to the particular field advertised;
• is interesting and easy to read;
• avoids jargon and acronyms – is clear to the reader;
• avoids repetition and highlights only points relevant to the job;
• is free of grammatical and other errors;
• avoids lists of so-called talents and skills (these end up looking like shopping lists);
• is fit for purpose (CVs will vary in their structure and content, according to the field in which you are applying and the particular job);
• where possible, provides evidence of claims being made;
• is modified/adapted for the position for which you are applying;
• is neither too boastful nor too humble (this is a difficult balance to get “just right” and may vary in different cultures).

The ideal CV?

There is no absolute model for a CV because preferences can and do change over time, in different countries and different cultural contexts, and according to different professional fields and contexts. 

The CV is really about presenting yourself to the prospective employer.  It does not necessarily get you the job, but it can get you an interview if well written and you sound convincing on paper. 

It goes without saying that a CV should be error free – nothing makes a worse impression than seeing grammar or spelling mistakes in a CV.  And if an employer has many applicants to choose from, the first cull comes from removing applications that have errors in them. So, you need to read and edit very carefully.

The CV needs to be a living document that you adapt to each new application.  You will need to emphasise different aspects for different jobs and you will also need to keep the country and cultural context in mind.  Those coming from overseas and applying for jobs in Australia would do well to talk to locals about what is and is not acceptable for CV inclusion – and indeed for hints about interviews in the local context.  The way non-Australians present themselves here may work against them if they are ignorant of local expectations.  Do chat to local workers. Visit your prospective workplace to get an impression of what sort of company you are dealing with, and by all means, ask the locals about what may or may not count in your favour.

A Suggested CV format

There are many online models for CV writing. The suggested structure below is one that is common in an Australian business context

1. Personal details
2. Orientation statement / summary of skills (?)
3. Education/training
4. Other skills
5. Work/ professional experience
6. Professional membership
7. Interests (?)
8. Personal details (?)
9. References

Each if these categories is explained below:

• Personal details

Include only name and address. Marital status and religion are not required in Australia.  Resident status may be required for some government positions.

• Orientation statement / summary of skills (?)

This is optional and is a statement that indicates to employers what career goals you have in mind and your general orientation.  It is usually included by people who are quite sure about future directions.  In the early stages of your career, it is probably better to omit this sort of statement.

• Education/training

This includes all relevant studies, certificates and/or degrees in reverse order, from highest to lowest qualification.  School qualifications are not needed unless you are applying immediately after finishing high school.    

• Summary of skills

Include any computer skills, fields of demonstrated expertise, special licenses, and languages spoken.

• Work/ professional experience

This is usually presented in reverse order, from the most recent position. You may include unpaid work experience if relevant and if you feel it makes your case stronger.

• Professional membership

If you are a member of any relevant bodies and associations, you can include them here.

• Interests and Personal details

Some people omit this section altogether and you should certainly not give away too much personal information.  You might mention, for example that you belong to sporting teams or you have a leadership role in some other areas, but you would steer away from personal tastes and preferences.

• Referees

You should include the names and contact information of 2 or more referees who can vouch for you.  Two referees is usually sufficient.  One should be a character reference and one a professional referee. Try to make one a male and one a female.  Be sure to obtain the permission of your referees to include them in your CV and give them a copy of your application. 

Conclusion

Your CV should be a living document that you adapt and adjust with every new application.  It’s not so much that you are changing information – but you need to select and highlight different parts of your CV for different jobs.  Be sure to target the skills mentioned in the job advertisement and have plenty of examples to back what you are saying.  You need to show the employer that you are the person s/he is looking for.  You need to sound positive and confident.