Writing a CV or Résumé sounds simple enough, but when you sit down to actually do it, it usually becomes something much more complex than you anticipated! A CV is not so much about how it looks, but more about what it says, although style and presentation are key factors; but just because your CV may look good, doesn't mean that it's a good CV.

It's not easy to write objectively about yourself because you cannot remain detached. The two most fundamental problems that most people have in this area are being either too reticent or too inflated with self importance. Whittling everything down to basic facts is the key.

It's a well known fact that many people lie on their CV’s. By bending the truth and adding falsehoods, does not make you a better candidate or person for the job. Depending on what your CV says and the impression that it creates, means that little fibs will eventually be found out. Depending on how you’ve glossed over the truth, or whether you’ve omitted vital information because you thought it would go against you, prospective employers won't take you seriously and you won't get interviews. Stick to the facts.

A good CV takes time to create. Take your time. Take breaks from looking at your CV so that your perception stays fresh. To give you some idea on how we remain creative, we only allow an average of 2 CV's per consultant per week. Go slow, take a walk if you feel stale and don’t force yourself to carry on building your CV if the “muse” is not with you.

When you start to write about your experience, use short sentences, keep it blunt and punchy. Don’t bore the reader! Minutiae are not essential and you can discuss these when you go for interviews – always keep something in the bag to talk about. Stay focussed and alert and try to inject energy into your writing by keeping the detail brief and to the point.

The style of your CV/Résumé is quite a personal thing. Most of us would like a CV with an appearance that is striking and forceful. Whilst the content of the document is the most important aspect, the cosmetic look is fundamental in creating a memorable impact. Use different fonts and layouts. Use colour. Don’t use templates, everybody else does, so be different! Learn to trust your own judgment.

Personality plays a big part in writing a CV or Résumé and is one of the main reasons for NOT using templates or formulae. Employers would like to be able to know something deeper about you, rather than just read job descriptions which can easily be copied from sample CV’s or information available on the internet. Try and give insightful knowledge about yourself, tell the reader how you actually managed to do whatever it was that you did in as few words as possible. Don’t repeat words, use the thesaurus tool in MS Word for alternatives and make your sentences brief but interesting and factual.

Read your CV back to yourself, it should make you feel good about yourself and your abilities; it should instil confidence and a great sense of pride and achievement. Your CV is meant to make you feel good. It's the document that markets you. If you don't feel good about your CV, then your interviews tend to be less than successful.

To conclude, we hope we've given you food for thought. Please remember that these are only suggestions to help you, they may not work for everyone and not everyone has the time, patience or forthrightness to be able to write their own CV.

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The Filmore CV
www.thefilmorecv.com.uk
(+44) 0783 315 1102
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