Careers Advice, CV Tips, Project Management

What sets you apart from others – food for thought on your CV

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Time and time again applications are made for project management roles and are either rejected or a lucky few make it through to interview shortlist but candidates are “pipped at the post” by the competition. Competition is exactly what recruitment is all about so in this blog post I want to delve into a common reason why some candidates appear to walk seamlessly into that next role while other good candidates are left on the bench.

I have addressed a number of key areas to be considered when creating your CV in my previous blog posts – this piece of information is taking that well written CV to the next level.

So, what actually does set you apart from others? Only you know this, have a think about what you do beyond what you are actually paid to do. Going the extra mile is a sure way of adding to your skill set and getting noticed for the right reasons, it also adds value to your marketability. In a time where employers’ resources are limited it is crucial to demonstrate how you can really enhance the team and the business with that extra set of skills and your willingness to do so. In smaller organisations it is common place for employees to not only perform their own role but to also get involved in other aspects of the business, such as implementing structure, business development and training personnel. In larger organisations employees tend to be kept within the structure of the business to manage their own workload however you can look at various aspects of your departments – identifying bottlenecks and working with departments such as IT to create more efficient tools for delivery.

Embrace the opportunities and think about the bigger picture – what skills will you gain or develop from being more actively involved in the business and how can you add this experience to your CV. Remember that other candidate that pipped you to the post may have a very similar delivery skill set but have also been involved in marketing campaigns which is something the potential employer is looking to embrace moving forward- therefore that other candidate got the job (possibly with an even more attractive package offering).

Do not deflect too far away from your core experience and skills in your CV but adding elements of additional aptitude will certainly add to your attractiveness with potential employers.

For a free CV review and discussion about how to best market yourself in your CV – get in touch: www.thecvrighter.co.uk

 

Careers Advice, CV Tips

Basic CV tips

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Getting your CV right from the start is important – in this article I will address the basic format of an effective CV. There are hundreds of CV templates available for free on the internet, all slightly differing from each other – some more effective than others. If all CVs were the same it would be a rather boring process for recruiters and hiring managers to sift through the piles of applications they receive on a daily basis, therefore it is OK to take on your own creative style as long as the CV remains professionally written and readable.

Some areas for consideration in your CV:

1. Contact details – make sure you add your mobile number, email address and basic location as a minimum. You would be surprised how many CVs I have seen with no contact details at all, how does the hiring manager reach you?

2. Profile – a good way to introduce yourself on your CV; stick to a clear and concise paragraph which details your key skills and abilities.

3. Objective – this is an interesting section to add into a CV, personally I don’t think it adds a great deal to the application however some employers appreciate the effort gone into clearly stating your career goals and matching up this statement to the role you are applying for (this section should be fluid so it changes per application).

4. Achievements – project management is all about accomplishment so why not highlight some towards the top of the document. Don’t go beyond 4 or 5 bullet points and make sure you demonstrate how you add value, utilising a structure such as STAR (Situation or Task, Action, Results) will help you keep on track.

5. Employment history – this should ideally start about half way down the first page of the CV.

6. Education and training – placed after the work experience if you are a seasoned professional or on the first page of the CV if you are a recent graduate.

7. Additional skills – such as IT skills can be added here if they have not been integrated in the remit of the roles. Any sought-after IT skills such as Primavera or MS Project etc. should be included.

8. Hobbies – not essential on the CV but it does add some personality to the CV and gives the reader an insight into you, outside of work. This has been key additional criteria in some employers I have recruited for previously.

9. References – at the end, state “available on request”

Utilising the above as the structure of the CV you can then flesh out with experience and skills to ensure you have covered the required elements of the CV.

At The CV Righter we recognise how difficult it can be to put together your own CV – there’s no shame in it, some just find it difficult to sell themselves on paper. That is why we work with you to understand exactly what you do and how you do it, we then take that detail and put together a clear and concise CV and ensure you are comfortable with all the content so you are not overselling or misleading the potential employer and will be comfortable at interview. Visit www.thecvrighter.co.uk for advice on how we can help you.

Careers Advice, Project Management

Best of British

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As the long weekend approaches and we pin our union jack tea towels to our doors in celebration of the Jubilee, I feel a time for reflection is upon us. Often after a few days away from the office we start to ponder our lives and what we can do to make every day a little sunnier. As we cannot rely on the British weather for this we look at our professional lives and ask the question; “Am I valued”. This comes in many forms – a big one is remuneration but an even bigger one, appreciation from the business and particularly from your boss.

If the answer is yes, brilliant! Keep on enjoying what you are doing and I hope the challenges of the role are as virtuous. smiley

If the answer is no, then it could be time to plan a move into a new role – exciting times! In order to make sure you actually make head way with moving forward you do need to plan. Take a look at the roles out there which match your skill set and start to think about what will improve your work life. Location and type of role are huge considerations but also consider what challenges you would like in your next role. Once you have done this it is time to think about dusting down your CV and bringing it up to date, make sure you don’t rush it. I have seen dozens of CVs where previous roles are well written and the most recent role is a few disjointed sentences which ruins the entire CV.

This blog has lots of dedicated posts to all aspects of CV writing which should assist you in creating your professional CV – however as a business we are dedicated to creating CVs for professionals across the PPM domain and believe a CV should say all the right things about you. Our dedicated consultant is seasoned in the project management field and has a wealth of experience in recruiting project professionals across all industries and sectors in permanent, contract and temporary roles. Get in touch to discuss how we can assist you in securing that next role. www.thecvrighter.co.uk

Careers Advice, CV Tips, Project Management, Sector Advice

Changing lanes – CV tips for changing industries

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There comes a time in our careers when we look for a change in direction – however with a tightening market and risk averse hiring managers blinkered to anything different form their industry, it has become a difficult task for job seekers to make that move.

Project management is a skill set which should transfer fairly seamlessly depending on the projects you are managing or supporting – particularly for the support roles, as promoting governance should take a pragmatic approach in best practice. Project managers should look to demonstrate their transferable skills and experience with projects which are common place across any sector or industry.

Here are some suggestions when preparing your CV for a change in industry:

1. Keep the focus on your skills – don’t get bogged down with terminology from your industry field.

2. Look to emphasise the projects which may be transferable into other industries such as IT, business change, office moves, equipment roll out etc.

3. Make sure you talk about the role more generically – not only are you being clearer for the hiring manager (who probably has not worked in your current business so doesn’t understand acronyms and typical terminology for that field); you are presenting a professional document to a variety of readers from recruiters, HR staff through to senior management.

4. Write a good cover letter – make sure you go the extra mile, recognising that you are effectively making a big career change – what can you give back? Match up your skills and experience specific to the task in hand.

When applying for a new role, do take into consideration what the job advert asks for – if it states youmust have experience in a particular field then it is highly unlikely you will pass through the filtering process. However if it states ideally then you are in with a chance if you can match up your experience to the projects and competence requirements. When you make an application, take time to tailor your CV to the role requirements ensuring you are ticking the boxes for the recruiter / HR staff – yes they will, generally speaking, have a must have list which needs to be complete for your CV to be placed in a shortlist for serious consideration. Do not assume the reader knows what all aspects of your role are, spell it out.

The CV Righter has a tailored service which specifically addresses your needs as a project professional making that next move – get in touch to discuss how we can assist you in creating that all important CV aiding you in a career transition into a new field. www.thecvrighter.co.uk

Making Your CV Project You