CV stands for Curriculum Vitae which, according to my Chambers Dictionary means ‘[a biographical sketch of] the course of one’s life’.
I wonder who invented the name ‘curriculum vitae’ for this particular document. I think they could have had no idea how the modern CV would evolve. No doubt the name was appropriate in the 1980s but CVs have come a very long way since then.
There is a popular misconception that when creating an effective CV, content is what it is all about. I would like to explode that myth and here’s why -
We all know, and goodness knows, I’ve said it many times, that a CV is a marketing tool for use in a very competitive marketplace. Every time a job vacancy is advertised there are likely to be around 200 applicants. Every one of these applicants will submit a CV for consideration. So pity the poor person who has to read them all!
Many people believe that it is a good thing to ‘big up’ their skills and achievements to impress a prospective employer, but this is simply not true. An honest CV which shows your career progression will have much more chance of success.
The important thing to remember is the purpose for which you are going to use your CV. In 90% of cases this is to support a job application. So what sort of job are you going to be applying for I think you will agree that there would be little point in trying to get a job for which you are not qualified. Neither you nor your employer would be very happy with. So when writing your CV make sure that you rely upon what you actually have to offer without making any exaggerated claims.
The internet has become a very popular tool in searching for jobs. It is quick, easy and very accessible. It is also interactive, so that you can register your CV with a site who will then forward it to employers on their books.
The main advantages of using the internet for your job search are
• access any time of the day or night
• no need to wait for the day the job ads appear in the press
• no trailing around agencies – you can easily access them via the internet
• more applications – everything is so much faster
• access to the International marketplace if required
• improved quality for your applications by efficient searching
• access to first hand information direct from websites of leading Companies
It is important to remember that a CV is essentially a marketing document for use in a very competitive field. It needs to be written in a format which will be pleasing to the eye and impart information in a very clear and concise way.
To be logical – how could it ever be possible to get a good job by using a bad CV Read the rest of this entry »
The most important point to remember when creating any document is the purpose for which it is intended. This is especially true when writing a CV. It is not enough that you should be happy with your CV, it is the prospective employer who counts.