Been job searching for a while now with no success? Or maybe you are not happy in your current position and are just thinking it’s time you dusted off your CV or Resume and started applying for new jobs.

Here’s a quick resume or CV checklist ;-

Are you absolutely certain there are no spelling or grammatical errors?

Are your contact details up to date?

Is the document visually appealing?

Have you used a good 12 point font?

Is there plenty of white space?

Are your sections easy to follow?

Have you used the most appropriate style of CV for your career stage –Chronological or skill based?

Can the reader quickly see what you have achieved so far?

Let’s have a closer look at that last one- Not where you have worked, or what your duties were –what you have achieved.

A common cry is that people say they do not work in the kind of job where you can quantify achievements. Admittedly this is easier if you are in a target driven role like buying or selling “I doubled turnover in the first year “or I achieved best sales in the company every quarter this year “ or “15% increase on profit margin achieved”.

But think of it from the potential employer’s point of view-you need to use this document to showcase what you can offer, what makes you different from all the other candidates, why you are the perfect candidate. Why you will add value and solve their problems

Anybody can claim to be a good communicator or a team leader, but can you produce evidence to back up what you say?

So you need to show some results that you have achieved. Look at these two statements;-

“Responsible for evaluating processes and personnel in customer returns centre to ensure smooth running of centre “

And

“Identified, purchased and installed new handling system for returns centre that saved £100, 000 in staff and packaging costs in its first year “.

 

The second statement demonstrates the achievement rather than recording the job role.

You need to create an image in the mind of the employer of what life will be like once they have you on board taking care of things for them.

Now review your CV and ask yourself if every sentence or paragraph clearly demonstrates an achievement.

There are other ways of highlighting achievements than putting a numerical value to them. Achievements are many and varied, and so are the ways of demonstrating them.

Did you deputise for your manager when they were on leave?

Were you seconded to another department to help out with a special project or resolve a problem?

Have you beaten company goals or averages? –that is an accomplishment.

Do you work for a very large, well respected company, so you are used to managing large budgets?

Have you won an in-house award or recognition for your achievements such as employee of the month?

Have you been part of a high performing team, and contributed to the team’s success?

Have you been promote rapidly several times?

Are you the person asked to tackle tough deadlines?

So first list your achievements, then find a way to demonstrate them on your CV or resume.

Don’t forget to pay attention to your cover letter!