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| experience more suited for a university | | | | appear outdated and give entirely the wrong |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