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Wouldn't you like to have a winning CV that does what it is supposed to do - that is, get you shortlisted and invited to interview? When we all lead such busy lives, are there any shortcuts you can take to make the mountain of rewriting your CV into a molehill?
What does your CV look like? How does it compare to your colleagues' CVs? Does it look better prepared, with a well thought out layout, printed in a clear font on good quality paper (90 or 100gsm)? Or is it just a list of stuff that you’ve added to over the course of your career, starting with your cycling proficiency test at school?
How to make the most impact
Where can you make the most immediate impact? It's the executive summary, or profile or career intentions, or whatever you call the statement that tells the selection team that you are the perfect person for the job, and should be invited to an interview. If time is short, and rewriting your 26 page CV or outlining a winning career on 2 pages is overwhelming you to the point of inaction, focus on the executive summary.
To understand why this is the case, you need to put yourself in the place of the selection team. They have many, many CVs to look through in a short space of time and it is a big responsibility to select the right candidates for interview. What makes it easier for them is if they don't have to read through pages and pages of detail to try to find out why you are the best person for the job - so write a brilliant executive summary, put it on the first page and help them out (and yourself).
When a post requires the submission of an application form, there will be a section that says something along the lines of 'Tell us in 150 words why you are suitable for this job' or could be cunningly disguised as 'Any other information you would like to tell us?' This is where you write your executive summary information.
What should a good executive summary look like?
Remember that they will be looking for someone who can build and develop business for the organisation, compete successfully for new business and resources and is a jolly good person to work with (your personality and ability to fit in with the existing team is actually the top reason why panels appoint). A good executive summary will 'cherry pick' the strong points from your CV and experiences and match those to what the Trust needs. It will look like a great summary of 'why you should appoint me', rather than 'this is what I've done; now you do the guess work and see if this is what you want'.
Your executive summary should avoid 'I' trouble (me, me, me, what I've done) and should be written with a focus on what you can do for them. In a perfect world, the executive summary should direct the interview panel to questions you would like to be asked about things you have excelled at. Help them out - they have a tough enough job as it is!
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