“60 Minute CV”
Let’s face it.
No-one
likes compiling their CV.
It’s a drudge, it’s time-consuming
and it’s boring.
And that’s why most people end-up doing one of two things…
They pay a company to write it for them, or they just roll with the norm and write the usual chronological, backward-looking CV that bores the pants off most interviewers!
But it doesn’t need to be that way!
This book will teach you how to write a tailored, right-on-the money CV that will significantly raise your chances of making interview in under one hour!
All you need to draft a stand-out CV from scratch. Simply tailor the format, the words and the experience to your own needs and beat the competition out of the park! Achievements, key competencies, transferable skills, types of CV, positive statements, negative words, what employers want, self-assessment, cover letters.
All you have to do is adapt it to YOU!
Don’t pay big money to have someone else write your CV.
Just put in the effort for 60 minutes and do it yourself!
60 Minute CV
Nick Alexander
Copyright 2011 by Nick Alexander
Smashwords Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
INTRODUCTION
This book is in two parts.
The first part is “READ IT!”. It’s designed so that you read what you’re going to need to know…
Chapter ONE Selling YOU!
Chapter TWO What Employers Want
Chapter THREE Using Competencies to gauge your suitability
Chapter FOUR Self-assessment
Chapter FIVE Positive and Negative Words
Chapter SIX Measurable Achievements
Chapter SEVEN Types of CV
Chapter
EIGHT Scale & Scope Indicators, Experience and
Achievements – ideas for personal statements
Background research into the in’s and out’s, do’s and don’ts, positives and negatives associated with writing a CV. Contains lists of words and phrases that can cast you in a league of your own if used correctly and with a little thought.
The second part is “DO IT!”
Chapter NINE OK… Let’s do it!
Chapter TEN Covering Letters
This is where you give yourself 60 minutes and compose an attention-grabbing, eye-catching CV. Contains examples of the correct use of scale and scope indicators which enhance your experience plus how to turn responsibilities into achievements. No employer is going to be hooked on your past responsibilities…. but they will be attracted by achievements – especially if they are coupled with scale and scope indicators.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
1. The Competency Wheel and 2. The Hybrid CV
Due to the limitations of conversion enhanced diagrams of the competency wheel and hybrid CV may be found at https://sites.google.com/site/60minutecv
SELLING YOU!
This is about sales and marketing. And the product is you. Therefore it is appropriate and necessary that you analyse your main selling points and use them at every opportunity.
Employers want people who can make things happen
And making things happen means being effective
And
to be effective you need to have the confidence
of acquired knowledge
combined with the everyday
social skills
you use when you interact with others
Every waking moment you think, you speak, you listen (hopefully), you read, you write, you make decisions, you motivate - yourself and others. All intangible skills but which have the most profound effect on your prospects in life.
For instance, two people can possess an identical qualification but have a completely different manner - one might be shy and retiring, the other brash and outgoing. No matter how similar you may appear to someone else you are uniquely YOU. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Nothing wrong with strengths but also nothing wrong with weaknesses either - provided they don't hamper your job prospects! The key is to list your strengths and make sure that they are appropriately highlighted. Then list your weaknesses. And everyone, has weaknesses. Some people are just better are camouflaging them. This is an opportunity to learn from those weaknesses and to begin to negate them as a barrier to job opportunities.
If you're applying for a specific job you must tailor your selling points to the candidate requirements as stated. In my experience when asked what their selling points are most candidates have some degree of difficulty - simply because they haven't thought about them, never mind analysing them!
Sell yourself in your covering letter or fail!
Your unique selling points MUST be powerfully stated in your covering letter which then becomes a positive selling tool instead of just an accompanying document. This is your opportunity to grab the readers attention and state right up front why you should be interviewed for the position. Your CV will generally not get a look in if your cover letter is weak and ill-directed.
THIS IS YOUR MAIN CHANCE. DO NOT MESS IT UP THROUGH A LACK OF EFFORT!
And it is attention to detail, putting in the extra effort and time that will make you stand out from the rest of the pack. Remember… employers want people who are effective. They want people who make things happen.
WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT
In simple terms employers want to see in a CV …
The Key Competencies which are of the utmost importance to them
Transferable Skills which allow a new hire to make an immediate impact in the role and
Enough information to make an informed judgement as to whether your History, Experience & Qualifications encourages them to see You fitting the role.
Common Qualities Employers Look For
~ Communication Skills
~ Team Player
~ Attention to detail
~ Energy/Commitment/Drive
~ Initiative
~ Common Sense
~ Decision Making Ability
~ Ability Under Pressure
~ Enthusiasm
~ Leadership
~ Tenacity
~ Motivation, Self and Others
~ Organisational Ability
~ Numeracy
~ Planning and Co-ordinating
~ Goal/Achiever
~ Market Knowledge
~ Problem Solving
~ Responsibility
Communication Skills
In almost every job, at every level there will be an element of interacting with others – your managers, your peers, subordinates, clients, suppliers. Communication skills to an appropriate level are expected not remarkable. Research shows that communication skills top the list of competencies for roles which require liaison with others – with customers in particular. Clients demand excellent communication skills combined with commitment.
Team Player
Everybody I have interviewed is a “Team Player” – partly I think because they assume that it is the right answer. Of course most organisations don’t want to employ someone who will upset the people already working there or who will not gel with their peers – a loner perhaps. It is important to have examples of your being a team player rather than merely saying “yes” when asked the question. Virtual teams are becoming increasingly common – people of different and complementary disciplines brought together to deliver a project for instance and then disbanded. The advantage of this approach is that if you are not comfortable with some members of the team it will only be for a finite period since once the project is delivered you may not be teamed with them again.
Attention To Detail
Sadly lacking in many CVs and therefore a reflection of the confidence (or lack of) that a prospective employer may place in an individual. Poor attention to detail, particularly when representing yourself, cannot inspire confidence from an employer who is going to trust you to represent their organisation. If you can’t get it right when you are trying to make the best impression, what about every day?
Energy / Commitment / Drive
No employer is going to take on someone who lacks these major qualities. Why would they? Lethargic, disinterested and demotivated just don’t seem to have the same ring to them do they?
Nobody wants an employee who takes forever to do anything, who sighs whenever they are asked to do anything or who constantly carps about the company, management, staff, customers, suppliers etc etc. Employers want people who will make things happen.
Initiative
Unless specifically stated safely assume that this is a must.
Common Sense
Another attribute sadly lacking in many. A good helping of good old common sense is an increasingly rare ingredient in many employees personal cake mixture.
Decision Making Ability
Do not overstep the bounds of
your authority but the old maxim “If in doubt – decide” still
rings true. Most forward-thinking employers will have an attitude
that in any given situation it is better to make a decision – even
though it may be the wrong one – than making no decision at all and
sitting in a state of indecisiveness. The important thing is to learn
from a wrong decision and not to repeat it. Nobody is perfect (at
least most people aren’t) so look at it in terms of a batting
average and try to make sure that decisions you make are reasoned and
right.
Ability Under Pressure
Pressure varies from job to job of course. Employers specifically looking for this attribute want to see that you can handle difficult situations, that you can work faster or longer to meet deadlines or reduce backlogs. Many of us will have either seen TV fly on the wall documentaries or have been victim of delays at airports – generally with little or no information given with which to work, and the airline staff who have to deal with irate customers. Losing your temper and arguing with the customers are not generally the best methods of approach to resolving pressure situations. Calmness combined with a pleasant and reasoned approach are generally best. Going sick ranks alongside losing your temper as good indicators that you may not be the best under pressure.