CV Fundamentals

28 February 2021

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Etiquette

► Stay on mute when listening

► Interactive session – ask questions, share stories and challenges, comment on the topics, share learnings

► Do your work whilst in the session

► Use the chat function, annotation and talking to digest the information as well as listening and reflecting

► Technical issues – refer to your joining instructions

► Confidentiality

Agenda

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Please participate actively throughout the workshop!

1. Writing your CV

2. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

3. Sections of a CV

a) Name and contact details

b) Profile/Summary + skills

c) Professional experience – types of CVs, SOAR

stories, content and format

d) Education and training

e) Additional sections

4. Dos and Don’ts

5. Other resources at LHH

6. Next steps in your job search

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➢ It is difficult to write your CV if you are not clear about what your professional

objective is

➢ Writing your CV will probably take longer than you think

➢ Writing your CV is not just a task, it can be an emotional exercise

➢ Remember that a CV is a living document

➢ Make sure you ask for help throughout

1. Writing your CV

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2. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Applicant tracking system software provides recruiting and hiring tools for companies.

Top tips to make your CV ATS proof:

► Carefully tailor your CV to the job description every single time you apply

► Optimize for ATS search and ranking algorithms by matching your keywords to the job description.

► Use both the long-form and acronym version of keywords (e.g. “Master of Business Administration (MBA)”

or “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)”) for maximum searchability

► Don’t use tables or columns as they often cause major parsing errors

► Use a traditional CV font like Helvetica, Garamond, Georgia, Calibri, Arial, Verdana

► Read this article to know more: https://www.jobscan.co/blog/8-things-you-need-to-know-about-applicant-

tracking-systems/

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3. Sections of a CV

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a

b

c

d

e

Name and contact details

Profile/Summary + Skills

Professional experience

Education and training

Additional sections

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a) Name and Contact Details

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➢ Telephone

➢ E-mail

➢ LinkedIn

➢ Location – what level of detail?

Anything else?

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b) Profile/Summary + Skills

28 February 2021

This is the first section of your CV that will be read in detail

Must be informative, clear and engaging, particularly the first sentence

Often one paragraph long, sometimes two

Focuses on key facts and includes key words

You can add a ‘Skills’ section

Can be the most difficult section to complete so consider doing it last

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Example – Profile/Summary with skills added

Senior marketing executive with proven track record in business management, operations, marketing,

sales, purchasing and commercial development. Extensive experience in consumer goods with focus in

delivering both bottom line and consumer franchise results. In-depth knowledge of international arena,

including significant exposure in North and South America and Europe. English, Spanish, Portuguese, and

French speaking.

Demonstrated expertise in:

• Brand revitalisation

• Strategic Planning

• Resource Prioritisation

• P&L Management

• International Management

• General Management

• Reengineering Processes

• Organisation Development

• Project Team Management

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Personal Characteristics

➢ Level-headed

➢ Loyal

➢ Original

➢ People-oriented

➢ Perfectionist

➢ Personable

➢ Persuasive

➢ Physically fit

➢ Practical

➢ Productive

➢ Rational

➢ Responsible

➢ Responsive

➢ Self-assured

➢ Emotional

➢ Energetic

➢ Entertaining

➢ Enthusiastic

➢ Expressive

➢ Good attitude

➢ Hard worker

➢ High standards

➢ Imaginative

➢ Independent

➢ Inquisitive

➢ Intelligent

➢ Intuitive

➢ Kind

➢ Leader

➢ Self-controlled

➢ Self-starter

➢ Sense of humour

➢ Sensitive

➢ Sociable

➢ Stable

➢ Tolerant

➢ Trustworthy

➢ Tolerant

➢ Accurate

➢ Adventurous

➢ Artistic

➢ Assertive

➢ Challenging

➢ Civic-minded

➢ Committed

➢ Communicate well

➢ Compassionate

➢ Confident

➢ Creative

➢ Curious

➢ Dedicated

➢ Dependable

➢ Efficient

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c) Professional Experience

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Types of CVs

Chronological

Emphasises employment history –

positions are listed in chronological

order with the most recent first. It’s

the most widely used and

traditional format

Functional

Emphasises your skills,

competencies or expertise,

rather than employers and

dates

Combination

Combines the functional

format with the reverse

chronological format

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Action and Result

Focus on SOAR stories (achievements) rather than

responsibilities (job description)

Accomplishments: SOAR Stories

SITUATION

OBSTACLES you faced

ACTIONS you took

RESULT

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Strong Action Verbs

► Achieved

► Advised

► Arranged

► Automated

► Budgeted

► Built

► Centralised

► Changed

► Coached

► Converted

► Created

► Delivered

► Designed

► Discovered

► Evaluated

► Experimented

► Facilitated

► Fostered

► Guaranteed

► Guided

► Handled

► Hired

► Identified

► Illustrated

► Implemented

► Integrated

► Introduced

► Investigated

► Launched

► Led

► Leveraged

► Measured

► Merged

► Minimised

► Modernised

► Negotiated

► Operated

► Persuaded

► Positioned

► Raised

► Reorganised

► Represented

► Researched

► Sold

► Strengthened

► Supervised

► Systematised

► Uncovered

► Updated

► Weighed

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Transferable Skills

MANAGING DATA

• Analysing data • Assessing quality

• Computing • Gathering data

• Managing information • Measuring

• Research • Setting standards

MANAGING/DIRECTING

• Approving • Delegating

• Developing procedures • Developing

systems

• Directing • Formulating

• Implementing • Instructing

• Interpreting policy • Making decisions

• Managing people • Managing projects

• Managing tasks • Revitalising

ORGANISING

• Administering • Assigning

• Categorising • Developing work plans

• Projecting • Restructuring

PLANNING

• Analysing • Conceptualising

• Designing • Developing policy

• Developing strategy • Reviewing

SELLING/MARKETING

• Advertising • Analysing markets

• Managing sales • Marketing

• Pricing • Promoting

• Relating to clients • Selling

SERVING

• Client relations

• Handling complaints

• Responding promptly

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Computer literate • Designing

• Designing systems • Developing

products

• Engineering • Inventing

• Scientific research • Manufacturing

COMMUNICATING

• Corresponding• Drawing

• Editing • Facilitating

• Managing conflict• Mediating

• Negotiating • Presenting idea

• Public speaking • Relating to customers

CO-ORDINATING

• Cataloguing • Correcting

• Following up• Reporting

DEVELOPING PEOPLE

• Assessing performance • Coaching

• Counselling • Developing

• Helping others • Motivating

• Teaching• Team building

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Auditing• Budgeting

• Controlling• Cost accounting

• Financial analysis • Financial planning

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How to come up with SOAR Stories?

Now write it down in SOAR

formatConsider:

• Reaching or beating

targets

• A group you led

• Someone you helped

• Introducing a new

system

• Something you

made

• Learning a new skills

• Meeting a challenge

• Forming a new idea

What are you most proud of?

What would you like to be known for?

Which stories reflect your values?

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Content and Format

► Make sure your CV doesn’t read like a job description (role and responsibilities). It must be achievement

focused.

• Role first and then company

• Dates on right hand side

• Job titles in bold and company names in bold.

• Typically no more than 6 achievement bullets per role

• Consistent format throughout: verb tenses, full stops or no full stops

► SOAR Stories:

✓ 2 to 3 lines – be clear and concise

✓ Start with an action verb

✓ Focus on Action and Result. Emphasise scope and scale where possible

✓ Quantify some examples

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d) Education

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• NO GCSEs and A levels

• Group the information in a logical way e.g. differentiate University and Masters from any

relevant additional training

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e) Other

► What other sections and information could we add?

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4. CV – Do’s and Don’ts

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• Write several drafts and have more than one version if needed

• Make it engaging and visually appealing

• Open with a strong summary statement

• Make sure it contains key words

• Use bullet points, action verbs; keep them succinct

• Proof-read several times

• Generally, keep it to two pages or less

• Align it with LinkedIn and other social media

• Customise each application

• Don’t use pronouns like me, my, I or we

• Don’t leave out employment dates

• Don’t leave any gaps between employment dates

• Don’t write long paragraphs

• Don’t include information that doesn’t sell you

• Don’t include references

• Don’t include salary information

• Don’t include “reason for leaving”

• Don’t over-emphasise education

• Don’t include a photograph

• Don’t use company specific vocabulary

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5. Other resources at LHH

✓ CRN – Explore – Premium tools - Abintegro CV Builder

✓ CRN – Home page, popular links – resource library

✓ CV review - 1:1 coaching sessions

✓ CV review - Drop-in sessions

✓ CV review - Branding Team

► CRN Go to your Roadmap, choose Brand (no 3) - Get Your CV Reviewed by

LHH's Branding Specialists

✓ LHH workshops – onsite and virtual

✓ LinkedIn Learning

► CV Success Master Class

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6. Next Steps in your Job Search

➢ Branding – CV review

➢ LinkedIn profile

➢ DTE - Be found by

LHH’s network of Hiring

Managers and

Recruiters

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Your feedback is important!

THANK YOU!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YTQVY3T

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Thank You!