| The first point to make is that the terms "CV" | | | | list references on the CV.6. Do not give exact |
| and "Resume" (with or more often without the | | | | dates. Months and years are sufficient (ie May |
| French acute accents over the e's) are virtually | | | | 1998 to December 2002 - always use 4 digits for |
| interchangeable in the UK; they mean the same | | | | the year, give it in full).7. Never include the date |
| thing, but if anything the norm is CV. In the USA | | | | your Resume or CV was prepared. If your |
| and elsewhere, the CV (Curriculum Vitae to give it | | | | search takes longer than a few months, (and it |
| its full title - literally "Life Study") is a different | | | | can if you don't invest in a professionally-written |
| animal - a dry listing of qualifications and | | | | CV from Top Professional Resumes )the |
| experience more suited for a university faculty | | | | document will appear outdated and give entirely |
| listing for example.This short article by Stephen | | | | the wrong impression.8. Never include your work |
| Thompson, Managing Director and CEO of Top | | | | phone number unless your immediate boss knows |
| Professional Resumes Limited in the UK ( is a brief | | | | you are leaving .9. Never state your personal |
| introduction to writing such a document yourself.It | | | | objectives unless they are relevant to the position |
| is a fairly obvious truism that a good CV alone | | | | applied for.10. Do not use professional jargon, and |
| won't get you a job. However a bad CV will | | | | NEVER slang or colloquial terms.11. Do not provide |
| prevent you from getting an interview. Since your | | | | salary information on the CV. Save it for the |
| Resume is primarily a tool to help find a better | | | | interview, and only give it then if directly asked. If |
| job or career change, time spent on its proper | | | | this information is requested before interview, |
| preparation is a good investment.There is room | | | | state it in your Covering Letter.The |
| for some creativity, but not for gimmicks. What | | | | Interview-Winning Resume or Power CV |
| works today is a professional, business-like style | | | | - what recruiters look for.What do people |
| and a focus on key achievements.We believe the | | | | receiving them want to see, and in what format? |
| best way to explain the 'rules' of CV writing is to | | | | And what do they not want?Most of this section |
| explain what you should always do and what you | | | | is really elaboration of the points listed as Do's and |
| should never do.Do's:1. Always print your CV on | | | | Don'ts above.The majority of recruiters want to |
| good quality white or cream/buff paper or vellum. | | | | see personal details appearing immediately below |
| The size should be A4 for the UK, and Letter | | | | the name. Most selectors prefer the date of birth |
| Size for the USA, Australia and most other | | | | to age, but if you think your age might be an |
| countries or territories. The point is that it should | | | | issue (ie too young or too old), then leave it out |
| be the size that, unfolded, will fit a standard file | | | | altogether. A high percentage like to see some |
| folder or lever-arch file.2. Have your Resume | | | | personal information, but they are not generally |
| typed or word-processed, with plenty of space | | | | interested in age of children, religion or a |
| between paragraphs, and allow for adequate | | | | photograph. Neither are they interested in the |
| margins. There's no need to have it professionally | | | | candidate's view of their own characteristics. |
| printed.3. Use short paragraphs - preferably no | | | | Indeed, as these views are entirely subjective, |
| longer than five or six lines4. Proof read your CV | | | | they are often viewed with scepticism, which can |
| and Covering Letter (another essential document) | | | | have a negative effect.Practically all recruiters like |
| thoroughly to check for any errors, then get | | | | to see details of further education, degrees and |
| another pair of eyes to give it the once-over. It is | | | | professional qualifications. A surprising number are |
| surprising how easy it is to miss obvious spelling | | | | also interested in numbers of 'O'levels, 'A' levels |
| and other mistakes when you are immersed in it | | | | and GCSE's(UK), or Grades and Statistics in the |
| for a few hours. Somebody else will see it | | | | USA. Most want details of work related training, |
| straight away.5. Include your contributions at each | | | | particularly those courses which are of reasonable |
| one of your jobs. Give the more significant ones | | | | length and lead to a formal qualification. The |
| greater emphasis.6. Allocate the largest amount of | | | | inclusion of foreign languages is important at all |
| space to your most recent job.7. List your | | | | levels, and this trend is increasing.Names of |
| activity with professional associations - but only if | | | | employers, dates of employment, appointments |
| they're appropriate.8. Keep a permanent file of | | | | and responsibilities are obviously essential, whilst |
| your achievements, no matter how | | | | many recruiters also want a brief description of |
| inconsequential they may appear to be, and | | | | the company and its business. Employment |
| update it regularly. This will be the source | | | | history should be in reverse chronological order |
| document for a good CV or Resume, whether | | | | beginning with the most recent job. Responsibilities |
| you do it yourself or have it written | | | | and Achievements should be listed under each |
| professionally.9. Before applying for any positions, | | | | appointment rather than on a separate |
| ensure you send each of your referees a copy | | | | sheet.There is a preference for the two page CV, |
| of your CV.10. Send a brief, customised Covering | | | | although a significant number of recruiters find |
| Letter with each CV. This is an absolute must, but | | | | three pages acceptable, particularly for senior level |
| writing the Covering Letter needs to be very | | | | appointments.Top Professional Resumes also |
| carefully done and is another topic in itself. Email | | | | provide a completely FREE, no-obligation CV and |
| us () for advice.11. Send your Resume within a | | | | Resume review service. If your present CV or |
| week of a position being advertised, and in any | | | | Resume is not working for you, email it (mailto:) |
| event well within any stated timescale.12. Re-read | | | | or fax it to us (+44 if outside UK, and drop the |
| your CV before the interview as part of your | | | | leading zero) to (0)7813 125606. We will respond |
| final preparation. The likelihood is high that the | | | | as soon as possible.Shameless marketing plug.Top |
| interviewer will have done this just before he or | | | | Professional Resumes ( prepare resumes and |
| she sees you, so the fresher it is in your mind | | | | other job-search materials specially designed to |
| the better.Don'ts:1. Never give reasons for leaving | | | | grab an employer's attention and COMPEL him to |
| a job. In almost all cases, the reader can find | | | | give you an interview. Visit the website to see |
| negative connotations to even the best reasons. | | | | our Time Limited Special Offer, and take |
| You're better off explaining in person, if you feel it | | | | advantage of our Unique Risk Reversal |
| appropriate, or of course if you're asked.2. If the | | | | Scheme.Copyright Stephen Thompson and Top |
| subject comes up, never use negative language | | | | Professional Resumes Limited 2005.Stephen |
| about your former employer, rather emphasise | | | | Thompson is an HR professional and Managing |
| your ambition and desire to move on to a more | | | | Director and Chief Executive Officer of Top |
| challenging environment.3. If you feel they need to | | | | Professional Resumes Limited (TPR), a company |
| be mentioned, say to "humanise" your Resume, | | | | registered in the UK. TPR ( are members of the |
| then do not take more than two or three lines to | | | | Professional Resume Writing and Research |
| list hobbies, sports and social activities. If in doubt | | | | Association (PRWRA). Stephen Thompson is an |
| "leave them out". As a professional resume | | | | Authorised Administrator of Profiling Pro, an |
| writer, I would very rarely include them at all. Nor | | | | organisation that provides online individual |
| would I include any other personal information | | | | Behaviour Profiling Analysis using the D.I.S.C. |
| such as your spouse's occupation or your personal | | | | system. DISC is a widely acknowledged and |
| philosophies - they can too easily provide a reason | | | | utilised method of assessing character traits as |
| not to see you, the exact opposite of your | | | | they apply to relationships, and is a useful indicator |
| intention!4. There is no need to state 'References | | | | of suitability for specific career paths. It is also a |
| Available on Request'. It is assumed, so just | | | | very perceptive tool for increasing |
| clutters up the CV and uses space that could be | | | | self-awareness, particularly in relationship handling. |
| put to better use.5. For the same reason, never | | | | |