CV Templates

There are so many CV templates available on the internet these days, but which one is right for you? 

• Which one is right for the market you are appealing to?
• Which one is up to date? 
• What is the right document length – 1 page, 4 pages, 6 pages????? 
• What is the right amount of information? 
• What information is right?
• Will my CV be rejected if it’s too long or too short? 

More recently, there seems to be quite a lot of confusion regarding the optimum size and style of an acceptable CV. 

How do you fill in the gaps when you don’t yet have the experience or skills to fill in these template boxes?  Or if you have been working for awhile, you will have quite a lot of work experience to share, so what should you keep and what should you discard?

It seems to be more difficult to prepare a succinct CV the longer you’ve been working.  The challenge really is knowing just how much information to leave in, and exactly what to leave out.  The internet is full of templates, but it’s quite difficult to understanding how your particular career fits into many of those templates….and they all seem to say something different!

For a start, not all square pegs can fit into square holes, and unfortunately many of use seem to have unconventional backgrounds that just don’t fit into nice little templates. 

The following examples are usually a nightmare to fit into a CV template:

• Career Change – If you have changed direction in your career, it could be quite difficult for the reader to understand the true breadth of your skills and knowledge.
• Business Owners – You might have been running your own business for some or most of your life and never had to do a CV before….you wont have the benefit of position descriptions to guide you, or have access to any employer references.   
• Gaps in your Career – Perhaps you have been in and out of work while pursuing other personal goals such as parenthood, travel or sporting achievements, etc.
• Multiple Jobs – You might have multiple part time jobs at any one time, or you might be running a small business aside from your day job.

…how does any of this fit into a template!!! 

Before you have a total breakdown, remember that templates are merely a ‘guide’.  They are a good starting point, but that is all they are.  As long as you try not to fit your experience too strictly into the template, then you’ll be fine.  Just remember, tell your story as clearly and logically as possible.  And, if you’re still not sure, have a go, and give it to a friend, partner or trusted colleague to read through so you can gain an unbiased opinion and get a different perspective.

And of course, if you’ve wasted hours getting nowhere, and you still don’t know what’s best, you can always go to a professional CV writer, who is quite used to working with individuals with a unique story to tell!  You’ll wish you called sooner!

Writing a Curriculum Vitae – Top Tips

Ok, you’ve decided to move on and get a new job, but now what?

You may have an old resume somewhere that seemed to work OK in the past, but the job market has become considerably more competitive than ever.  No matter what you do for a living, your CV is still likely to be the only contact you will have with a potential employer.

Your next role may hold the promise of a handsome pay rise, or an opportunity to develop your skills further, or a chance to travel, or a better title, or it could just be the best job you’ll ever have!    So, if you have the chance to gain all of this, you need to consider how much of an effort you are prepared to make to increase your chances of success.

Here are my top tips for a quality CV…

1. Prepare a CV, not a log.  People often underestimate the power of an effective CV.  That little document is the only contact you will have with a potential employer – if you get it wrong, there goes your one chance of securing that role.  In fact, preparing a compelling CV is critical to your success in the job market, no matter what you do for a living.  It is your marketing tool and only yours.  It needs to reflect you as a complete package, and not just a log of historic facts.  Preparing your CV incorrectly is so often a missed opportunity.  You will only get one chance, you owe it to yourself to make the most of it.
2. Watch your Contact Details. Be very careful when you decide to include an email address or phone number with your current employer on your CV.  A potential employer or recruiter could call you at any time, and regardless of their intention to be discrete, the word may accidentally get out that you’re looking for a role before you want it to.  There’s nothing worse than taking an awkward call in an open plan office environment.  Even if you don’t say anything wrong, your colleagues will notice your sudden awkwardness.  So, if you want to keep your job search discrete, only mention your personal mobile phone number and email address (and don’t forget to check it regularly once you send your CV out).
3. Beware of Personal Details. You need to ensure that personal details on your CV are relevant to you and your application.  Additional information such as your children’s names, ages or career choices are simply not relevant, nor are thirty year old hobbies, etc.  Whatever you write in your CV has to be about you, it needs to be current and relevant.
4. Focus. There’s no point blurting out every last thing you have ever done in some random order.  The information will make sense to no-one other than yourself.  Before you write anything, take some time to think about what kind of job you want, what you can offer a prospective employer, and why they should hire you.  Think about the highlights in your career and put a rough format together as a guide so you’re not just staring at a blank screen, as this would inevitably create writers block.  Only then can you write something coherent and useful.  If that fails, look for CV examples on the internet to get some ideas about format and structure.
5. Don’t Lie! You may think nobody will know, but even bending the truth has a nasty habit of coming out somehow.  Remember that most details can be verified with referees, ex colleagues, and friends of friends that you both may know.  Christchurch is a small place, and there is nowhere to hide if you decide to ruin the trust of a future employer.  Is it really worth it?
6. Confidentiality. Never write anything confidential about a previous employer or organisation.  We are often privy to information about sensitive material such as company financial details, future projects or agreement negotiations with suppliers/clients.  This must never ever be mentioned on a CV (or in an interview for that matter).  Not only could you be in breach of confidentiality with that employer, you will also lose trust with any potential employer.  If you are a sales person and want to talk about how much money you made, talk about percentages rather than actual figures.
7. Photos – use cautiously! Photos do seem to be making a comeback.  I have seen quite a few lately, but frankly most of the photos I’ve seen have been quite detrimental to their CVs.  Before you even go there, consider whether the role you’re applying for relies on your image in any way, such as modelling or selling beauty products, etc.  Sometimes photos can be great for high profile roles such as politics or directorships where it is beneficial that people may recognise you, and know that you are a good networker, etc.  But, if you just fancy bringing your CV to life with a party photo of yourself, please don’t!  There are a few principles to follow if you insist on adding one.   Ensure that the photo is no bigger than the size of a match box on the top front section of your CV.  Ensure you have dressed appropriately for the role you are applying for.  Ensure you have an engaging, approachable and positive expression.  And get at least one objective second opinion from someone who will be honest with you before using it.  Knowing how difficult it is to get a photo absolutely right, I would suggest that you avoid it if you can.
8. Be Objective.  You need to think about everything that you write on your CV.  Does this really have relevance the role you are applying for?  Does it really add anything?  People often struggle with this one, and this tends to be where an external CV professional like Tango Talent can help you.  Sometimes it takes a third party to see clearly what should and shouldn’t be included in your CV.  Remember, this document is marketing you as a whole package, and that package has to be professional and succinct.
9. Check for Spelling Errors. I know we have a spell checker on our computers, but you’ll be amazed at how many good CVs are thrown in the ‘no’ heap because of careless spelling errors – no matter how senior you are.  Regardless of what you do for a job, we are all expected to display excellent attention to detail these days.  So, spell-check AND proof read!
10. Invest. Although you do need to put some quality time into preparing a professional CV, you may also need to spend some money if you need a little assistance to get your CV right. Preparing a professional and succinct CV isn’t as easy as people think, and many of your competitors will have already prepared theirs using a professional CV writer!  You may be a real expert in your field, but why should that mean you have to be an expert in writing your CV as well.  Maybe you need CV experts such as Tango Talent to work with you to prepare your CV.  We’ll leave your expertise to you, so you can leave the CV expertise to us!  And if it means tailoring your CV for that particular job, then we can help with that too