Writing a CV comes as a daunting task to most, especially if you have a lot of information to get across. Remembering that your CV is designed for one purpose – to get you that all important interview – will help immensely when you are breaking it down into sections. What’s relevant, what’s important and what showcases your skills and expertise all play their part.
You don’t have long to make a first impression. A quick glance is sometimes all you have! Highlighting specific areas of experience and achievements can be done through the use of straplines. Quantify and qualify everything.
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There are pros and cons to having a history of self-employment. On the one hand, you will be thinking it shows an entrepreneurial spirit, an aptitude for business, a 360 degree responsibility for all areas of commerce and it does; but in some cases, unless your CV is well written, employers maybe dubious about the lack of evidence to support your achievements.
They will find it hard to verify information you have given. There are no direct employer references to call on, they would rely solely on their “gut instincts”, if you can find reputable references, supplier, clients etc, it would help your cause. Finally, they may be wondering what has gone wrong for you to now be seeking employment, so it’s critical to relay accomplishments and why you are looking to change direction.
Written correctly and your CV could easily get to the top of the pile. There is a wealth of experience, skill and ability to be shown in freelance career histories.
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It’s not often anyone would find it necessary to trade down their experience, skills and qualifications to go for a role they are over qualified for, but it’s happening more and more. The most obvious reason is that in this economic climate the job market is saturated with thousands of applicants who NEED a job! They might have been made redundant, had benefits cut, are out of work and / or need extra income. If you fall in to this category, then dumbing down your CV might be an option you are considering.
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Within the UK, almost all roles you may apply for, with the exception of the medical industry, CVs follow the same format, the same length and the same content. If your career plans involve a potential move to foreign pastures, there are a few essential rules that may be worth noting.
The fundamental difference is that a potential recruiter is interested in your personality, something which is alien to a domestic CV. Getting this information across is vital to revealing how you may or may not fit in within their work environment. This plays host to plenty of research to ensure that not only are your words compelling but they are also a direct match to the company culture and job advertisement.
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The procurement sector thrives on multiple strands of expertise and it is important to get each and every one of these across in your CV. Above all, it must reflect the achievements you have successfully attained and without doubt, they must be quantifiable.
At first blush, your CV should be riddled with cost savings in monetary terms and percentages. It should accurately reflect your negotiation ability and back up claims of expenditure reduction. When constructing your sentence think, what, how much and how.
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