Sample of common CV mistakes (our notes and remedies in red).
*******
Jo Cuttenpaste
Address: 125 Breakersfield Avenue
Morseby Town
Surrey SU12 7JT
Telephone: 01112 7878 345
Personal Details
Date of birth: 05.08.90
Marital status: Single
Sex: Female
Issues: The candidate has included some things that can be omitted and left out others that are important. There is no need to include the words ‘Curriculum Vitae’ or ‘CV’, as this is already quite clear. Similarly, the candidate can leave out the words ‘Address’ and ‘Telephone’. Omit any reference to your age, marital status or sex, as the information is irrelevant and may make employers nervous about falling foul of equality legislation.
However, she should have included his email address and ideally a URL to his LinkedIn profile.
Overview
Typical example:
I am a dynamic and results-oriented person who can lead by example as well as be a team player. I am looking for a job as a PA because I believe I have the skills to make a success of it.
Issues: This is quite dull and tells little about the candidate. A thousand people could have written the same statement and it does little to get the reader excited about meeting the candidate. The effect arises from including buzzwords like ‘results-oriented’ that have been overworked to the extent that charges of cruelty to the English language are pending.
Be more of an individual – think about your experience and achievements and how this will help your next employer. For example:
A degree educated, career PA with proficiency in French as well as English, I adopt a practical approach to achieve objectives, concentrating on outcomes rather than processes.
Having supported board level executives with an approach that blends strong networking skills, military-like organisational skills and the charm of a firm but fair gatekeeper, I am seeking to support a senior individual(s) in a challenging role within the not-for profit sector that ideally incorporates an international element.
Education
Typical example:
BA (3rd class Honours), Redbrick University, 2000 – 2003
Subjects studied: Psychology and Sociology
Modules: Child development, educational theory, societal development and behavioural conditioning.
St. James’s High School, Redwood, 1994 – 2000
3 A Levels in English (C), History (C) and French (D).
Issues: The candidate has included grades that might be considered poor. However a CV is meant to highlight a candidate’s strengths – it should avoid including negative information wherever possible. An alternative to the above would be:
Alternative:
Education
BA (Hons) Redbrick University 2000 – 2003
Psychology and Sociology
St. James’s High School, Redwood, 2003 – 2009
3 A Levels: English, History and French.
The information is accurate but avoids drawing attention to weaker aspects of the candidate’s experience.
Also, specifics of course modules can be omitted unless they are particularly noteworthy or relevant to vacancy.
Job Experience
Typical example:
Job Title: PA to Senior Manager Sep 2010 – Aug 2011
ABC Ltd.
Duties
- Arranging day-to-day schedules
- Diary management
- Arranging travel
- Processing expenses and invoices
- Answering telephones
- Organising meetings
- Assisting with general administration support
Job Title: PA to Manager Mar 2004 – Feb 2010
Buzybee Inc.
Duties:
- Arranging day-to-day schedules
- Diary management
- Arranging travel
- Processing expenses and invoices
- Answering telephones
- Organising meetings
- Assisting with general administration support
- Arranging events.
Issues: ‘Job Experience’ sounds too much like ‘work experience’, which gives the impression the candidate is still in school and is looking for unpaid work. The candidate should replace it with ‘Career History’ or simply ‘Career’.
‘Job Title’ can be omitted as superfluous. It would be useful to include more information about his manager’s title, as it can help to strengthen his profile.
Also, it appears as if the candidate has a gap of several months. She can lessen the impact by omitting the months of his employment. Interviewers may still ask about it during an interview but at least the candidate has an opportunity to present this in a positive light.
Describing the activities of the role as ‘Duties’ makes them sound like a chore and is best avoided. Instead use ‘Responsibilities’ or ‘Key Activities’.
Additionally, setting out a list of responsibilities fails makes a CV very generic and fails to maximise the space available. In this example the candidate has also just copied and pasted their activities for both jobs, which dilutes the effect.
Think about the key 3 – 5 parts of each job and concentrate on these, expanding the description of what was involved and incorporating achievements into the section. For example:
Career
PA to Senior Finance Manager 2010 – 2011
ABC Ltd.
Key Activities
- Diary management for a key finance executive with a FTSE 100 company incorporating travel and hotel scheduling in the UK, France, Germany and Italy;
- Coordinating board level meetings for senior individuals across 8 European countries, taking into account multiple languages and time zones;
- Processing expenses and invoices for executives on a timely manner, up to the value of £5,000 via a cloud-based expenses management system;
- Arranged national corporate conference attended by 360 guests travelling from across the UK with keynote speakers from the Central Bank.
Personal Interests
Typical Example
I like running and keeping fit, as well as socialising with my friends at the weekends.
Issues: Very dull and much the same as a whole stack of other candidates. It also gives the impression that the candidate spends her weekends getting hammered. Even if this is true it is better to avoid telling employers that this is the case. Try to tailor your interests to make them work-appropriate and also make your CV stand out by including some additional detail. For example:
€œI enjoy running 10 km mini-marathons to maintain fitness, while also raising funds for the British Cardio Society – £3,200 to date.€
Good luck!