CVs: Lessons from Constant Revisions

I want to preface that I am by no means an expert, but I will share the main things I have learnt about writing a CV; from people in industry, recruiters, university career coaches, and discernment.

I'm not sure a CV is ever truly finished or perfect, but over the past few years—and after countless revisions of my own—I’ve learned a few key things:

1. Everyone will have an opinion on your CV

2. Not all of those opinions will be right for you

3. Clarity and proof are the most important factors

Proof Over Words

One of the biggest lessons I learned came from a conversation with Ewan MacLeod - a CV & LinkedIn advisor. His advice can be summed up with two words, “Says who?”

The point being: simply describing yourself with words like "hard-working" or "team player" is a gamble. It’s no good saying you’re ‘hard-working’ without it showing on your CV; and if it does - well then, why would you have to state it. Anyone can say anything about themselves, when you embody those attributes they will shine through, and therefor do not need stating on your CV. The recruiter doesn't know you, or if you're telling the truth; rather than trying to convince them - show them.

"Says who?" can also be applied to a skills section. I've had seasoned professionals tell me to avoid a traditional skills section. Instead, integrate your skills as bullet points throughout your CV. For example, rather than listing "Excel proficiency," show it:

• Used Excel to manage XYZ project

• Developed a financial data table using Excel for [specific university project].

Speaking of bullet points, apparently they are more eye catching and help direct the eye where it needs to go. Whilst I visually prefer a ‘—‘ to start a bullet point, our CV’s needs to stand out, and so it starts, with bullet point.

General Formatting Rules

Here are some general rules that I've picked up along the way:

• Stick to the classic layout - recruiters need to be able to scan your resume in a matter of seconds, and locate any necessary information = Overly designed resumes can sometimes work against you

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• Dates: Always put them on the right, separated from the text by tabs. Be specific—list both the month and year

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• If you’ve completed a course, specify the hours. For example, write “25-hour course” instead of just “September 2023.” Courses can be a great way to show dedication and oomph

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• If you’ve been at a job for more than a few months, aim for at least seven bullet points outlining your accomplishments

Don’t Undersell Yourself

When I had no experience to put on my CV I reached out to small businesses offering free work, did some online courses, and am applying for as many internships as I can - even if its a company that I’ve never heard of. Don’t underestimate the value of university or school projects, your degree is a valuable part of your CV and it is worth highlighting assignments you've done. Don’t undersell them with only a few words.

Use a summary in bold to highlight the key point, followed by a more detailed explanation. This way, the recruiter can get the summary at a glance and choose if they want to read more. E.g.:

• Digital marketing Scripted, filmed, and edited, in Adobe's Premier Pro, an investment pitch ...

These are some of the lessons I've learnt, I hope they help. When writing my first CV I had absolutely no clue as to what to do. Years later I have somewhat of an idea but still have much more to learn.