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Home> Resume Writing Tips> How to Prepare a Resume

How to prepare a Resume / CV


The critical first step – How to prepare a Resume / CV…

Writing a Resume / Curriculum Vitae (CV) can be a daunting prospect, especially if your confidence has been dented, 

or you haven’t written a Resume / CV before, or at least for a long time.

However if you take a little time to prepare and follow the instruction here everything should soon fall into place.

If you are already prepared skip ahead to Free Resume / CV Templates. Otherwise let’s quickly recap…

The CV / Resume is a document (paper or electronic) that conveys your skills and experience in a way that compels the reader to interview you.

Build a Resume / CV by presenting your information in an order that grabs the reader’s attention quickly.

Therefore you need to carefully interpret the job specification or advert, and list what you feel they are looking for in order of importance, and reflect that order in your Resume layout.

In the case of a speculate approach to a company, you still need to research about the company to understand their objectives, interpret this into the skills they may be looking for, and prepare your Resume / CV around these.

CV / Resume Headings / Content

Your CV / Resume is built of blocks of information all about you.

The way you order this information is purely for the benefit of the reader, and is VITAL!

Typically a CV or Resume will contain…

• Your Name

• Personal Information – Address, Gender, Nationality, Drivers Licence, Marriage status, Dependants, Age.

Note: It is your choice what personal information you wish to declare. Some regional employment law asks you to leave age and educational dates out of the CV / Resume.

• Contact Detail – Telephone numbers and email address – state your preference.

• Objective Summary – Your statement of what you are looking for.

Note: Be very CAREFUL about using an Objective Summary. It is very powerful if your objective and the readers are aligned. But if your statement is misinterpreted or not exactly what the reader is looking for they will use it to rule you out.

If in ANY doubt leave it out.

• Education / Qualifications

• Training / Certification / Licences

• Employment / Career History

• Voluntary work – Optional - Can be embedded in Career History or added at the end with or in place of Interests / Hobbies.

• Skills Summary

• Profile / Professional Summary

• Achievement Summary / Honors and Awards

• Thought leadership / Articles / public speaking

• Hobbies / Interests – Another be careful - If it / they can show some positive relevance to the role great – If not leave it out.

• References – Include References on request statement only – no detail.

Whatever you do on your resume / CV dont lie!

Not all of these Resume Headings / Categories need to be added, just the ones that promote you in the strongest terms for the role.

CV / Resume – The order of information is VITAL

If you know what you want to say and the order you want to say it skip ahead to CV Resume Template.

If not…

Studies show that your CV / Resume has 20 Seconds to make an impact, otherwise the reader discards it and is onto the next.

Therefore your CV / Resume has to get straight to the point.

We’re now at the point where we start to build your blocks of information in order or reader relevance, into a CV / Resume Template.

Simply build one CV / Resume block on-top of another. Reflecting the order of importance to your reader.

The only part of this process that is set in stone, is that the first information block on your CV / Resume contains Your Name.

Traditionally Your name is followed by Address, Personal Details and Contact Information.

However; though this is critical information, is it vital to your reader at this point (remember the 20 seconds!)?

If not put it at the bottom of the CV / Resume (when they will be looking to call, or email your for interview!)

The order of information in Your CV / Resume, and what you say reflects what your reader needs and disguises any weaknesses you may have.

This is NOT suggesting Lying – whatever you do never lie in your CV / Resume.

A CV / Resume is an unashamed, proclamation of how right you are for the role.

A CV / Resume is not understated, nor subtle. It uses powerful professional language (more on this later), to earn you the right to represent yourself in person at interview.

Therefore build the information on your CV / Resume around your strengths as they fit the role.

For example, if you have poor career continuity with gaps between jobs, use a functional / Skills (more on this here) based Resume Template.

This will present your excellent skills, and appropriate experience first, demoting your career history to a minimized summary towards the end of the CV / Resume, after they have read what you want them to.

It really does not matter what style of CV Resume template you choose only that you present the reader what they are looking for as quickly as you can.

Hopefully now you are confident that you can manipulate your information in a way that meets the reader’s needs, AND maximizes your strengths, AND minimizes your weaknesses.

Many people have a slightly negative view of themselves, and it can be very helpful to ask friends and family about how they perceive your strengths.

This fresh perspective can provide not only great material for your CV / Resume, but also a much needed boost of confidence.

A uplifting self assessment option is to take advantage of free personal motivation (MAPP) tests and personality tests.

The report you get give both insightful information in both a uplifting and beautifully worded style that can be used in your CV / Resume writing.

If you haven't done so already read the STAR Method page for ideas on how best to construct your experience.

Right lets move on to building a great CV / Resume…

Return from How to Prepare a Resume / CV to CV Resume Writing Tips

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