CV Writing the inside story

Writing a CV can be a daunting process but it is one of the most important documents that you will ever need to write.  Find out some of the key areas to get right from our panel of experts.

Curriculum vitae (CV) derives directly from the Latin and means ‘the course of one’s life’, and put simply, that is what it is.  When you write a CV you need to detail your past in a short and logical manor, which is directly relevant to your desired future.  This point is key, and when writing, it is important to have your end point in mind.  Every section of one’s CV should appear as a prerequisite for the role for which you are applying.  This can be a tricky concept to manage if your past roles are not directly related to your next desired step.  In these circumstances it is best to consult and expert on CV writing and careers.

Here we will look at some of the fundamentals and give you some of the knowledge to write and amazing CV.  Research conducted for Adducology, a careers consultancy, has identified several essential areas to focus on when planning and writing.  The first we will look at is relevance.  A CV or resume must be relevant to the role for which you are applying, and as such it is advisable to adapt your writing style and content for each and every role for which you apply.  Peter Denis, a senior consultant at Adducology with a long career in Project Management says, ‘nine out of ten CVs which he reviews are completely out of date and written for a role for which the person is not applying’, he goes on to detail the fact that most people don’t like writing about themselves.  To write about oneself is hard enough and when you are affectively trying to sell yourself to an employer it can be even harder.  Most people prefer to list achievements without trying to sell their worth and this is the second major mistake when CV writing.

The third of our top three problems with resume writing is poor English skills. Poorly placed grammar, a spelling mistake or bad structure can have a serious affect on how the CV is perceived by the reader.  Studies have shown that even if your qualifications and experience is right for the job a couple of mistakes on a CV can cost you your opportunity for an interview.  This relationship is experiential when measured with the number of applications.  So what can be done?  Well it is always worth getting a second opinion, although it is often hard to find someone who is both non-biased and has experience in your line of work.  A good starting point would be the consultants at Adducology, they all have significant experience in industry and have hired for themselves. These consultants can help to create a targeted and well written CV that has all the attributes and includes all the necessary content to secure you a top interview.

http://www.adducology.com/

The Importance of a CV

Your CV is your chance to show an employer you've got the skills and experience they need, and that you're the right person for the job.  CV (curriculum vitae) derives directly from the Latin and means ‘the course of one’s life’.  It’s your story.  At its simplest, it’s a list of facts about you and your work, your skills and experience.  Good CV writing is essential when looking for employment and it’s worth spending time getting it right.

Adducology have a range of consultants in a number of industries who are able to give you specific and tailored advice, about what to include, and critically what to leave out of your CV. With their wide knowledge of industry they are able to give advice that normal recruiter’s lack and this is what sets them apart as a consultancy. Working closely with you and within your availability and time scale the can produce results which are sure to have the desired effect.

There are a number of products offered at Adducology from tailored CV help to help with covering letter writing and interview training. All of which are thorough and can give you the best chance at securing the job that you desire.  You may be writing your first CV or you may be improving your existing one.  You may be trying to tailor your CV to a particular job.  Or you may have specific questions on CV writing such as what to include, how to word your CV and how to structure it.  If you want to make a memorable first impression, it’s best to speak to one of our consultants about CV writing.  They’ll be able to help you write a dynamic and targeted CV.

Employers choose who they want to interview from the information contained in CVs. Therefore, it’s really important that your CV is easy to understand and that it highlights all your good points.  Spelling mistakes, poor grammar and missing information on a CV looks incredibly bad.  If it’s incomplete or doesn’t make sense, employers will simply throw it in the bin.  Often, hiring managers will receive hundreds of applications for each post, so it’s unlikely they’ll read each CV from start to finish.  In fact, most will make a judgment about a CV within a few seconds, so keep it as concise and coherent as possible.  One stumbling block which many people come across is how to write about their work experience and previous projects and highlight their strengths concurrently. This is a tricky balance and one that is essential to get right. Having reviewed hundreds of CVs the Adducology consultants are the perfect people to ask for advice and to give you that second opinion that is often so important when searching out that dream job. CV writing is very much their second nature.

Covering Letters – Where people go wrong and what’s new!

Covering letter writing has always been a minefield of personal tastes and industry caveats however, the answer has arrived.

The importance of covering letters has ebbed and flowed over the years, mirroring that of the unemployment figures.  In today’s economy, with millions unemployed, the race to gain interviews for any worth while company is in full flow.  As an increasingly large number of prospective employees jostle for positions companies in turn have brought in new measures to weed out the weakest candidates and short list the strongest.  The CV has, and always will be, the corner stone of the selection process however; now, more and more emphasis is being placed on the covering letter.  It no longer serves as merely an introduction but a demonstration of ones written work and of ones research.  It shows how the applicant has researched the company and can show that he or she is the right cultural fit for the team.  As for the written side it offers the only real example of your communication skills prior to an interview.  If the role has an element of writing or if the candidate is expected to interact with the public, the written word is paramount and hence covering letters are analysed for mistakes and content worth.

There a couple of companies which offer a covering letter writing service and they have had there uses.  They main disadvantage is that these companies are more like writing factories that churn out a huge number of general letters rather than anything specific.  Adducology, the careers consultancy, offers something a little different.  It has a number of consultants all with a huge depth of knowledge.  The main difference being that they have this knowledge firmly based in the industries for which they advise.  There are experts in everything from Law to Project Management, and Design to Retail. This is what sets them apart as a consultancy and this is why the candidates with an Adducology covering letter do so well.  Each person is set up with there own consultant, an expert in that field, and the help tailor a covering letter for the specific company for which that person wishes to apply. 

It is always far more productive to send out just a few well written, focus and personal covering letters than to send out 50 general ones.  There is a huge amount of advice on all parts of the job hunting process at Adducology and the consultants there are only to happy to answer your questions.  To set your career off to a flying start take a good look at their products.