Wait! Did you ask yourself the right question?

This is the one question, you need to answer through out your CV?

I was once coached on creating a boastful, SMART CV/Resume; this was one tip that has remained from that session.

For each paragraph or sentence. They asked me? So what?

Did you ask yourself the right question?

This is a brutal way of clarifying by yourself. If what you’ve written conveys a lesson learnt? Does it show you added a skill or technique? Or materially did you improve the buisness due to your efforts?

Such a statement as this.

“I managed twenty staff, producing widgets for the aerospace industry.”

Would turn into

“As a new manager in XYZ Aerospace Ltd. I took an underperforming team of twenty staff, through Lean production training. In parrallel I helped the senior mangement team restructuring the incentive scheme. Through these changes I was able to increase the department’s widget production by 30% in six months.”

Or

“As a carpenter, I build Welsh Dressers, Using only hand tools.”

Would turn into

“I’ve passed my City and Guilds exams to level 5 in Carpentry. Under the guidance of a master crafts man, I’m now a expert cabinetmaker. I’ve spent the past five years building full Welsh Dressers, using traditional handtool techniques.

If you need more help in writing the perfect CV try reading this post Writing the Perfect CV

So. Did you ask yourself the right question?

Writing the Perfect CV

Customise your CV per job application with Rezi.io

The last time I mentioned Applicant Tracking Systems. ATS there was an acknowledgement that my network wasn’t fully aware of how they affected your job application process.

(see my last post here How to reach a recruiting manager )

Today’s tip is for a CV writing service, that isn’t based on personal opinion or concept of the “single best CV”.

Rezi.io is a bespoke CV writing service, that will help get your application in front of a human recruiter.

Rezi is a paid service that will speed up the process of crafting the CV to the desired job description.

Using this service will help you get to the next phase in the process, the Job interview.

There is a free preview available www.rezi.io

How many of you tried out my last tip Jobscan.co and found that the job description and company that you entered had a known ATS behind it?

How long should my showreel be?

No longer than 2 mins and your message to the potential employer needs to be made within the first 30 seconds.

So why is this?

I recently wrote on why a CV or Resume should be on one page, the core reason is the time it takes when part of a recruiting process is to review potentially hundreds of showreels, you need to make your statement simply and quickly where in many cases less is best.

7 Elements that make a great showreel

  1. It’s short, recommend 2 mins only
  2. The best bits are in the first 30 seconds
  3. The work is yours, show and identify your elements
  4. Make sure it is branded with your name, online presence and e-mail address
  5. Ensure you have the rights to republish the material you worked on Continue reading

Why must a CV be on one page?

When I’m coaching people especially around a career change the subject of the Resume or CV comes up often, and I always ask is your CV on one page?

The response is generally no. Sometimes I see a look that says, do you know who I am and all the things I’ve done? What most people are missing is the point that the CV is not trying to tell a detailed story of your business or vocational career, it is a targeted sales document that will enable you to get to an interview. It doesn’t get you the job itself, for that you need to sell yourself in person.


So why should I have a one page CV.
Continue reading