Jul 07 2008
Targeted Executive CV advice (part 2)
6 things executives have in their CV’s but shouldn’t:
1. A focal “goal” statement:
Essentially the decision makers do not care about what you want. Rather than leading your CV with a proclamation of what you expect & want from the job, focus on delivering a powerful brand statement of what it is you will be doing for them.
2. Crammed and hard-to-read info:
Again back to the point of making your CV easily digestible for the decision maker reading it. With more and more hiring decision makers reviewing resumes on BlackBerries, the need for concise on-brand, a value-driven statement surrounded by plenty of white space is the optimum.
3. Keep down the page count:
Optimum is no more than 2 pages. Remember that today’s CV is not meant to be a comprehensive career biography. As a marketing document, it needs to incorporate just enough compelling information to generate interviews.
4. Grammar, typos and bad formatting:
Errors are the kiss of death for a CV. Keep the formatting attractive, consistent, and easy to read. And make sure your contact information is correct.
5. Overused CV jargon and clichés:
Make sure your CV reflects what makes you unique and not like all the other candidates. Keep the content interesting and don’t fall back on clichés like “results-oriented”.
6. Avoid passive verbs and boring details:
Don’t waste precious space reiterating obvious responsibilities. Avoid the tired, boring phrase “responsible for”. Draw in the decision maker and hold their attention with robust action verbs that indicate your vitality and relevant key words that highlight your niche expertise.