Don’t let your CV go into a 3rd Page…!
How long should your CV be; one page, two pages, three pages, more..?
I guess it depends on the job that you are applying for.
It is not uncommon to have a CV that goes into double digits i.e., academic, healthcare, senior roles. These CV’s would however have a covering page called an Executive Summary, which would cover the main the CV and be an overall high level summary of what’s to come in the intervening pages. It gives the reader, hiring organisation, agency an overview of the prospective candidate and whether to read on or not.
Generally though; no matter what your profession, a CV should be no longer than two pagesin length I.e., two full pages.
This may be a struggle for you; however, you need to strive to cover everything that is relevant to the role that you are applying for in the two pages, so as to secure an Interview i.e., the ultimate aim of a CV!
So let’s get your CV onto two pages:
o What parts of the job description are relevant to you?
o Do you have relevant experience?
o Do you have relevant qualifications?
o Do you have relevant training courses completed?
o Do you have any specific skills / talent that the hiring organisation require?
o Profile;
Tailor this section against the contents and main criteria of the job description
o Career Summary;
Tailor this section against the contents and main criteria of the job description
o Career History;
- Tailor this section against the contents and main criteria of the job description.
- Start with the most recent role moving down to the first most relevant role that you worked in
- What have you done / are currently doing that the role needs experience in?
o Employment History;
- Detail here employments that you may have worked in that are not relevant to the role that you are applying for
o Education;
- Detail all your education starting with the most recent down to secondary school education
o CPD;
- What courses have you completed, are completing or intend completing that would impress the hiring organisation?
- List them down in order of most recent with month and year included
o Interests;
- It is good that people see the ‘holistic’ you i.e., what you are into outside of your working day i.e., interests, voluntary work, charity work, hobbies
- Do not include high-danger, extreme sports where injury or accident are high possibilities
- Sharp-eyed ‘Person CV Screeners’ would see this and may have concerns i.e., they hire you, train you and then you call in with an, “I’m not able to go to work today!’
A two page CV for most jobs is possible and needs to include enough information to get an Interview, where you can expand upon the information on your CV…!