Lebenslauf schreiben

A CV is a means of introducing yourself to a prospective employer and documenting the qualities you have to offer.  For many, the basic principles of writing a CV may seem obvious, yet they are often overlooked.

Your CV is a mini self-marketing document, so should be aimed at persuading an employer to invite you for interview.  The interviewer will probably only scan your CV once (usually for no longer than 30 seconds), so if it does not market your capabilities successfully it will end up in the reject pile.

There are some golden rules to keep in mind when creating your CV:

1. Keep it simple!

• Keep it short - try to limit your CV to no more than 2 pages of succinct, relevant information. The aim is to grab the attention of the person reading it and to make them instantly feel you are the right person for the job.
• Don't over-elaborate - use one simple font such as Arial or Verdana and don't bother with fancy borders or pictures - it's just not necessary.
• Less is more - You may think that you have to cram as much information as possible onto a page, but this will only turn the reader off.  An uncluttered layout with plenty of white space on the page will actually draw the reader's eye to the information that is there.

2. Proof, proof and proof again!

• Never send out your CV without scouring it for typos, grammar mistakes and generally ensuring it reads correctly.
• If you use an electronic spellchecker, make sure it is set to UK English and not American English but don't rely exclusively on it.  Remember, it can only change the spelling, it can't tell you if you've used an incorrect word in a sentence!
• Get someone else to read your CV before you send it.  It's very easy to miss mistakes when you have read a document a number of times - sometimes a fresh pair of eyes is what's needed.

3. Structure is everything

• There are two main types of structure to choose from, depending on your situation - either a functional CV or a chronological CV.
• A functional CV makes more of your skills than your job history and allows you to emphasise the transferable skills that you have developed and used in other settings.  This type of CV can be useful if you've spent a long time in one organisation or, conversely, if you've moved around many employers.
• A chronological CV lists jobs by date, starting with the most recent and focuses on job titles and dates.  This type of CV is useful in fields where you want to demonstrate steady career progression.
• You should start your CV with an objective: what you would like to do next.  Just a sentence or so outlining what it is you want to do, and the reader can see at a glance what you are looking for.  Follow this with a personal profile outlining how you work.  Provide a few sentences that paint a picture of you at work. It helps the reader understand how you would fit into their organisation.
• Next up is select achievements.  Consider three or four key things that you rank as an achievement.  Explain not only what you did and how you did it, but also the benefits to the company.  Where possible, quantify the achievement.
• Now add your career history.  The point of this section is to tell the reader your key responsibilities in each role, and so establish your credibility.  Use bullet points rather than long-winded sentences so the main points can be gleaned immediately.
• Follow this with education and professional qualifications to establish your credentials.  Also list any useful (and relevant!) training so that the reader is made aware of your capabilities.
• Finally, finish off with a lttle information about yourself.  You don't need to say too much - save something for the interview!

4. Things to avoid

• Photos - unless you are a model or an actor!
• Any sort of failure
• Salary information - save this kind of disclosure for your interview.  If an advertisement specifically requests salary information, you can include it in your covering letter.
• Your weight, height, political persuasion, state of health, state of your marriage, or any other personal information that is irrelevant to your application.
• Reasons for leaving previous positions - if an interviewer wants to know, they will ask.
• Negative comments when writing about a previous employer or role - keep it positive.
• Letters after your name (unless specifically relevant to your application, e.g. ACCA for an accountancy role) - subsequent sections offer ample opportunity to show off your achievements.
• Unexplained gaps in your career history - this only raises questions about what you were doing.
• References - do not include them unless you are specifically asked to do so; they'll be taken up later.
• Long lists - do not make the mistake of turning your CV into a long job description of your duties or job titles, with no mention of the outcome or benefit to the company.

Remember to:

• Always quantify: show what you've done and to what effect
• Not play the comedian: be funny in person, not on paper
• Get to the point: keep it simple, grab the reader's attention and maintain it
• Sell your skills, not just your job title - clearly illustrate what you did and how
• Be selective with your interests - your hobbies say a lot about you, so pick ones that will impress potential employers
• Call Devonshire!

Good luck!