Before we move onto the subject of CV writing and (which I promise will be the subject of next week's blog), there is first one important question to ask yourself.
You need to do this right at the start of the CV writing process, before you even write your name down.
Unfortunately, many applicants are very naïve and blindly write down every minutiae of information they consider relevant. This will often leave them with them a CV as burdensome as it is off-putting, becoming a hurdle on their recruitment journey.
What is needed is for you to stand back, to consider how you are going to sell yourself and to decide on how you are going to make your CV specific to that particular job.
Asking this question allows you to do just that.
And that question?
Before telling you, I want you to all to do something for me.
I want you all to consider what the question may be.
Don't worry, that isn't some trick to make you do some work whilst I think how I am going to struggle to write a 750-to-1,000-word blog on this subject. No, I want you all to start thinking about the document which will demonstrate your passion for drafting, a skill I am sure many of you will highlight in your CV.
As I said last week, your CV will for many of you, be the only time you can demonstrate your drafting skills.
You have one shot, so make it a good one.
Back to the question, any ideas what it is?
I can guess some of your answers; how am I going to get the job? How do I adequately highlight my strengths whilst hiding my weaknesses? Should my writing be formal or be more conversational?
I am afraid that you would all be wrong.
As important as these are, they are not the correct answer.
The question you must all ask yourself is this:
What is the purpose of my CV?
How many of you thought that? And be honest, I am sure it would not be many of you...
The purpose of a CV is absolutely key.
It sets the agenda, the tone, your phraseology. It helps you identify those career highlights you should include, whilst eradicating the less relevant.
I appreciate what many of you are now thinking; that I have very carefully concocted an overarching question which encompasses just about every purpose behind a CV.
And yes, I am sure that some of you could argue a somewhat successful argument on that point.
But you would be simplifying the question a bit too much.
Ostensibly, the purpose of any CV is to secure an interview, but let's dig deeper. We are not necessarily talking about your purpose, which is undoubtedly to secure that interview.
But do not see it just from your perspective as the applicant, see it from the employer's.
Considering purpose invariably leads to another question: why am I being asked to provide the CV?
I know, that is somewhat grating, answering one question with another, but it demonstrates the thought process you must follow. I appreciate that my repetition may be somewhat irritating, but I cannot keep stressing this point enough; you have one opportunity to show your drafting skills, so it is worthy of this level of consideration.
It is so important, when you are drafting your CV, to consider the reasons why your potential employer wants to hear from you, why they want to know more about, why they should consider meeting you.
The reason is, thankfully, simple.
They have a problem which needs resolving, and the fact they are asking professionals like you to apply means that you have the potential to solve it.
And the problem?
They have a role to fill, a vacancy in their firm invariably caused by one of three problems.
Firstly, they may a skills shortage, which is impacting upon their service delivery and therefore their income. Secondly, they may have a badly managed team, department or practice area which needs resolving. Thirdly, the problem maybe caused by a non-existent practice area and the employer is looking to expand.
Your engagement as an employee is the solution to these problems and the first challenge you must solve when drafting your CV is to work out what the employer's problem is and why you are the professional most suited to solving it for them.
This is where a consultancy becomes so valuable.
Rather than drafting a generic CV which will be sent indiscriminately to numerous organisations without any consideration of the purpose behind your application, a consultant will advise you as to how you can draft a target-specific application.
I have one final question to ask (and I promise that it is the last one!); why is the question of purpose important?
Except for the reasons already explained it should give you confidence; confidence to showcase your strengths and your suitability as the solution to the employer's problems.
Next week, we will be showing you how you can do this.