Your CV As A Sales Brochure

If your view of the CV is around the level of necessary evil, you are selling yourself massively short. It is the document for you to show the world (specifically people who might want to pay you money) exactly what you can do. Why then do people treat their CV like the yellow pages and produce boring, sterile documents that get binned as soon as they are looked at

I have no idea why, but people in the UK (and other English speaking countries as well) tend to hide their light under a bushel. The CV is not the place for shrinking violets, it is a place to sell, to brag and boast and most of all to show a potential employer just how valuable an asset that you will be to their business

Over the top boasts about how all businesses that you have worked for in the past would never have survived without you have no place on a CV. Live in the real world, be factual about the achievements that you genuinely succeeded in delivering and you will have people knocking down your door to interview you. Make sure that if those achievements were as a part of a wider team effort that you highlight your particular achievements

Being honest is what it is all about. There is a common myth flying around that it is alright to lie on your CV. Popularized by television programs like The Apprentice, lies on a CV seem to be worn like some badge of Honor. In the real world where most of us live, however, lying will get you fired, and certainly not hired which I assume is your goal

Spelling, grammar and punctuation are vital in a CV. Whilst the proper English police won’t be turning up on your doorstep if you spell a couple of things wrongly, you won’t be getting many interviews if you do. Spell checkers are excellent but the best answer is having someone else to proof read your CV. You would be amazed what they will pick up as you are too close to the subject to be objective

You worked hard for your qualifications so please make sure that they are included on your CV. Work back wards from the highest level of qualification through to the lowest, separating out the professional qualifications and the educational ones

Being able to drive a motorised vehicle is an advantage that you should not forget to exploit. Passing a driving test of any level shows that you are responsible, are able to take instructions and show a degree of independence. Show clearly on your CV the sort of vehicles that you can drive, you never know when that may be important to the employer

Age is a sensitive subject. Too old or too young can be a problem. Our advice, leave your age out of the document- it’s for you to know and for the recruiter to find out. In any case, never include your full date of birth as your identity needs to be kept safe- this is useful information for anyone trying to steal that identity

About the author: Glenn Hughes is the managing consultant of a cv writing service based in Wales. Part of a team of cv writing professionals that assist people get the jobs that they deserve Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.

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