Change the game with your CV

I'm going to show you how to make a huge impact with your CV with a tip that you may not have heard of before. But first, have you ever wondered where the CV came from?

Leonardo Da Vinci is credited for starting the concept many centuries ago.  He handwrote a document which outlined all his valuable skills and personally addressed it to the Regent of Milan in an attempt to get a job in the military.  He listed out his accomplishments, personal details and skills …literally painting a picture of his life (see what I did there?). 

Many people don’t know that Leonardo Da Vinci was an Engineer, Architect, Scientist, Philosopher and wrote books on the subjects of Anatomy, Astrology, Paleontology and a lot more.  If you’ve never heard the word “Polymath” before, it’s someone who loves learning and has a wide knowledge base and he's regarded as one of the most influential Polymaths in history.

When Da Vinci wrote out his CV to the military, he knew they would need help in a wider range of areas than they would naturally think about and it was his job to consult them…open their eyes if you will.  They’d look at his CV and think “this guy’s not a soldier nor does he have any background in war, bin it.”  So he did something that you need to start doing from the moment you finish reading this.

He listed out what he could do for them during times of war…building armoured chariots, designing bridges, engineering weapons etc.  But then he listed what he could do during times when there is no war.  Painting, sculptures, designing, teaching soldiers art and so on. Do you see how clever that is?  He’s told you his story and “qualifications” and then listed exactly what he can do for you and when. Other soldiers would be saying how they have weapons training and elite fighting skills but what will they be doing when there’s no fighting?

Everyone becomes the “ideal person for the role” but I want you to become the “ideal person when there is no role.”  Take some time to bathe in that thought.

You’re a Teacher. Great, your behaviour management is strong. Great, you have 7 years’ experience. You can contribute to student progression, bridging the gap in learning, progress 8 etc. Tell me what you can do during times when school is not open.  What can you contribute during holidays, after school and if there’s another lockdown. Show me a deeper understanding of the struggles specific to me and what you can do to help. Tell me you understand 50% of NQT’s won’t last more than 3 years in the profession and that I’m losing newly qualified staff at such a fast rate it’s impacting my student numbers and grades. Show me you understand this and tell me what you will be doing to help.

In conclusion, in order to set yourself apart you’ll need to research where you are applying, address your application personally and then tell them what you can do for them during the time when they need you, but more importantly what you’ll be doing when they don’t.