Remember that your CV is your advert, and so you should adapt it to fit whatever job you are applying for. It is very important to know how to read and understand the job advert, so you can find out what the company is really looking for. Armed with this information, you can go about creating a CV that is tailor-made for the job.
Looking at the Advert
When you're looking at any job advertisement, there are usually two levels to be aware of:
- The surface level: The basic requirements that you need to make sure you satisfy; for instance, particular qualifications.
- Below the surface: The language of the advert, and the way they describe themselves and the job may tell you a great deal about the company and the type of person that they are looking for.
For example, take a look at the following example advertisement:
The Effervescent Company
Come and join one of Manchester's fastest growing companies. We are dynamic and innovative, and based in brand-new, high-tech offices in the heart of Manchester. We are currently looking to recruit a part-time receptionist (hours 1.00 - 5.00pm). We want a well-presented, enthusiastic and experienced person to help in the busy atmosphere of our front-of-house reception. You need excellent communication skills and to be super confident in liaising with clients. You will need to show a flexible approach and be able to work without supervision.
Please write in confidence, enclosing your current CV with a daytime telephone number to: Ms Jane Smith, The Effervescent Company, Vivid House, Main Road, Manchester. |
This advert tells us a lot about the company and the type of person they are looking for:
- They use the words dynamic and innovative, and so it's probably a lively and rapidly changing company, unlikely to be particularly bureaucratic.
- The advert also asks for a well-presented person, so you need to be smart, clean and tidy. It may also mean that the company is very concerned with image.
- The whole advert stresses the importance of confidence and enthusiasm. It's a front-line post dealing with lots of enquiries and people, and may well involve dealing with irate clients and problems.
- You will need to work without supervision, so you might have to solve most problems yourself.
So your C.V. would need to stress your:
- dynamic and independent nature
- self-reliance
- ability to manage yourself
- ability to get things done and to deal with people
Looking at the Specifications
Most jobs these days will send out a person and job specification. Use this to tailor your work experience and achievements in your CV so that they match all the necessary requirements.
Go through the job and person specification and pull out all the:
- Special skills: the things you need to show that you can do.
- Experience: the areas that you need demonstrate that you have worked in over the years.
Note these down, and then for each one, write down your skills and experience to match. If you find you do not have a perfect match with your work experience you may be able to match using experiences and achievements outside work. Working through the specs in this way will help you put only the relevant details into your CV. Try to avoid including information that seems interesting just for the sake of it.
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