High flying jobseekers get CV’s wrong

Posted on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 by

It’s one of the most basic requirements when it comes to filling vacancies but, according to research, four out of five senior executives are unlikely to secure an interview because of it. When it comes to CV’s, it seems that high flyers are stumbling at the first hurdle when it comes to presenting their best asset. Common candidate mistakes include: initially underselling achievements by listing what they have done rather than the impact they had on a business and the challenges they overcame; being too long and rambling and; assuming a successful track record speaks for itself. “A CV is principally a marketing tool and should pave the way to securing an interview,” says Suzannah. “As such, it should be concise, analytical and relevant to the position being applied for. By investing a tiny fraction of time and money into getting it right, candidates are more likely to secure the position – and salary – being offered.”