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Your CV should be no more than two pages long.
Think quality, not quantity. On average, readers absorb 60% of the
first page, 40% of the second, and the third is generally a waste -
this has been proven time and time again.
Use an effective summary on the first page and include a list of
your key skills and key applications in bold. You want to make an
impact on the reader.
Employers often make up their mind from reading the initial summary
and key skills. So, it is always worthwhile noting the quantity of
experience you have for each key skill, e.g. Business Analysis (5
Years), Database Design (4 Years), etc.
Tailor the CV to the company/department and position whenever
possible - although this may be time-consuming, it could help you
clinch that job! So, in the 'position sought' section, always tailor
the role to the one on offer.
Put the greatest emphasis on your last few roles, and summarise
older roles.
Always begin with your most recent position - include dates and
months of employment for each. Do not indicate "to present" if you
are no longer contracting in the position as some employers are
actively looking for only those candidates who can commence
immediately.
With many IT contractors currently out of work, some employers
suspect that such candidates seeking permanent roles will return to
future contract employment as soon as the opportunity arises. Your
CV probably shows each contract as a 'separate employment'. Re-write
your CV showing your limited company as your employer and your
contracts as external consultancy assignments (as if you were a 'Big
5' Consultant). This is legally correct and will present you in a
more 'suitable' light. [Thanks to BestCVs.com for this tip]
Foreign Languages - as more and more contractors are considering
working overseas, you should include your competence in other
languages (basic, good, fluent), but you should be honest. Several
of our agency contacts have sent contractors to interview on the
basis of their claimed fluency in 'Dutch' for example, only to be
rejected. So, if you only have 'O-Level French', then you have
'basic French'.
Do not provide personal data such as age, marital status, graduation
dates, weight, height, place of birth and items of this nature. You
can include information about your interests, but keep it short.
Don't enclose a picture. Remember - you are not a permie any more!
There is no need to include your 'hobbies' - if you enjoy 'walking
in the Pennines', it will have no bearing on your suitability as an
AP! If you have some outstanding acheivements, such as 'Olympic
rower' or suchlike, there is clearly no harm in mentioning this, and
it may enhance the interview.
Don't include your required rate. You cannot win - the figure will
often be too high, or sometimes even too low. You can negotiate the
rate after you've got the job!
Take advantage of technology - email your CV to agencies or submit
it on agency sites. Many Job Search Sites provide a CV submission
service at no cost - your details will be sent to hundreds of
agencies. An excellent way to get noticed!
Make sure your CV has a clear structure - include career overview,
skills overview, qualifications (education/professional) and
employment history
Be positive - don't be too modest and don't lie about your
experience. Positive thinking is vital in securing that next
contract.
Send us your CV by clicking here
(you will have to attach it to the email). We will market it
to our affiliated job boards on your behalf. |
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If you are a recruitment
agency and
would like more
information on
how to get your details on this
page please
email us.
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