Everyone knows how important the CV is when looking for a new job and one of the biggest concerns people have- is mine good enough?
It’s one of the most difficult things you’ll have to write – you’re writing (and blowing your own trumpet) about your skills, experiences, capabilities, personality, education, work history, achievements – and sharing your personal details with strangers!
During our project management careers clinics we’re often talking to people who need that extra help in planning their next steps career wise and the question “does my CV reflect what I’ve just told you about myself?” is often asked. Normally the answer is no! And it’s disappointing then to learn that they’ve just spend money on a CV Writing Service to help them produce a job-winning CV! Hmmmm, so what’s the advice?
CV Writing Services are generally good at producing a professional looking CV – if you’ve never had someone look at your CV professionally before you’ll probably get a lot of benefit from this – the questions they ask are designed to draw out from you what it is you do, how you do it and where you were successful – fair enough!
What you’ll also get is a CV that *looks* the same as everyone else’s who also went to a CV Writing Service – similar layout, fonts, style etc. In relation to specific project management CV’s there is often a level of detail missing – and this is the fundamental problem I have with a CV Writing Service – how can a CV Writer – who doesn’t have a background in project management – be sure that they’re asking you the right questions to ensure the right answers are drawn out and highlighted on the CV?
A specific example this week – a candidate looking to further their career in project office management – the CV did a great job of highlighting details about the project i.e., what the deliverables were etc etc. Unfortunately there was a lack of detail about HOW they performed their role – WHAT project management processes, tools, techniques they used, nothing to highlight their detailed experience in key areas such as risk management, resource management and planning. Nothing in there about HOW they were successful and WHAT contribution they made.
The basics of CV writing but surprising to see so many CV’s professional written by third parties that are missing these basics.
If you’re thinking about using a professional service to write your project management based CV think about the questions you need to put to them before hiring them:
- Find out about their professional experience – what job did they do before? Professional copy writer or a business based role – even better – were they a Project Manager or similar?
- Ask the question about the technique they’re going to use to help draw out your project management experience – tell them what you want – I need to be able to demonstrate my excellent planning skills or team management skills etc
- Be clear – or be in a position to be clear – about what you want your CV to do – “I’m looking for a project manager role in business consultancy” or “I’m looking for a project support role in the voluntary sector” – be realistic! Do you feel comfortable with the “promises” made – do you feel they understand what your role is all about – are intelligent questions being asked about your skills and experience in project management?
- Feel comfortable – with the initial call or visit – if you’re unsure walk away and find another service
- Talk to friends and colleagues – ideally also in the project management field – recommendations are the best way to do business.
Do It Yourself
> Arras People’s Guide to CV Writing
Although I mostly agree – there is the concept that the CV should be an effective, self-marketing tool to “get the interview”.
With this in mind, “HOW” people performed their role – in your example “WHAT” project management processes, tools, techniques are used, may be giving away too much information, i.e. best left for the interview.
Detailed experience in key areas such as risk management, resource management and planning are key skills or areas of expertise that should be communicated and demonstrated by bullet-pointed achievements that will illustrate “HOW” they were successful and WHAT contribution they made.
However, the reader should be motivated to call the job candidates in for interview to ask what the “Situation” was and “WHAT” they did “HANDS-ON”. More detailed information can be expanded upon in the covering letter. Applications to job agencies are usually a differing case and required more information.
I could go on and give specific advice for a range of occupations, each application should be determined appropriately on its merits.
Just like any other growing services on the internet, this debate is bound to happen.
There are a couple of factors before choosing your CV services. One is the scope of CV services a company has, their price range, and the amount of satisfaction their previous customers have.
There are many websites, and even services who will write a CV/resume for you. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to appreciate that
- CV style changes with the profession and even fashion/time to a certain extent.
- CV’s for agencies and websites, look only at the Key words, primarily in the opening paragraph of skills (this is only a tad cynical !, industry people have told me this is what happens from sheer volume of information)
So rules are:
You need two features/qualities of a CV
to catch the eye of a machine and a person.
- Get the right categories in the database of the CV search engine
so List your skills (what you are good at/want to do) in bullet form so the scanner (person or machine) can pick them out fast.
- You need to also have a coherent, summary paragraph of what you want, what you have to offer, your objective, similar work.. where you would like to work (city or uk, europe, anywhere ?).that will intro the detail in the rest of the CV. – this is for the human who will actually read the CV, once the database has preselected you based on key words.
IF and only IF, the paragraph catches the persons interest, are they going to read further and see the time line detail and the qualifications etc. otherwise its “next ! …”
Twitter: catchthatjob
One of the best way to do this is to use a free CV template and start-off with this as your bare bones. One problem that people have with a CV is simply starting to having a template is a good guide to styling, etc.