As if it wasn't complicated enough: working through CV confusion

6 October 2014

As if it wasn’t complicated enough!

Not content with having to get good enough grades to get on to a bachelor course, you then have to be able to navigate through it with enough success to be able to apply for your Masters programme.

In addition to having to keep up with the significant demands of the Masters qualification, you are also expected to be able to accurately capture all of these qualifications, skills, achievements, experiences, hobbies, societies, pastimes and travel in a single written document.

It seems that people can’t even decide what to call it. Although most seem to agree that a Curriculum Vitae (life in Latin) is a longer document than a resumé.

Everywhere you turn, there are people telling you that your CV has to be written in a certain way, using a certain font, in a certain type face, on a certain type of paper. Some companies will insist on a certain length of CV’s for applications, some will even insist that you use a certain template.

Fortunately we are slowly in the process of dispelling some of these myths. In the first 4 weeks of term we have been delighted to be able to run a variety of job search workshops, skills sessions and 1 to 1’s dedicated to supporting this process.

In summary, we would recommend that your CV is a document that you feel best prepares you to have a conversation with a potential employer about why they would want to give you a job.

Length

Employers in the UK will be equally accepting of 1 or 2 page documents. Remember the expression ‘I would have sent you a shorter email but I didn’t have time’. Being able to write succinctly is a valuable characteristic.

Details

I appreciate the logic that if you state that you are single, then any investment bank might think that you are more likely to be prepared to work the requisite 120 hours per week for them. I’m not sure that it’s true though. It’s illegal to employ people based on sex, gender, age, marital status etc. As such, all you really need is an e-mail address, phone number and name.

Skills vs Responsibilities

The subject that we talk about most frequently. What does the fact that you have successfully completed your bachelor qualification in a second language suggest about your skill set? If you organised a group of people to do something then talk about leadership skills. Do not leave it up to the employer to interpret your skills. If you play sports include them, if you have military experience make sure it’s mentioned. The decision making skills you develop and the challenge of making a team more than the sum of its parts are very much on your potential employer’s agenda.

Format

Again, it’s a personal choice but don’t lead with your expertise on PowerPoint or where you went to Primary school. You all have very powerful information at your disposal, prioritise it effectively. Whether you want to emphasise your skills, your academic record, your internships or your achievements to date; this is easy enough to do.

Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to write other people’s CVs? For some reason it’s just less difficult to read through somebody else’s document than your own. Ask friends or class mates to review the finished document before you send it off. Come and speak to the Student Development Team if you have any questions at all.

Remember you are a potentially significant asset to any organisation. Think of your application as the valuable commodity that it is. Work hard to prepare it professionally, present it appropriately and you will be well on the way.

Good luck, enjoy the experience and make sure that you learn as you go along.