As your career progresses, it's important that your CV changes too. Whether you're just starting out in the workplace, looking for a new challenge or want to go after something completely new, you'll need to design a CV that fits every stage of your career.
The first-jobber
If you have just come out of education, a qualification-based CV is for you. Placing qualifications first will take the spotlight off your lack of work experience.
Emphasise your transferable skills, such as written communication, proving you have the qualities it takes to be successful in the workplace and focus on how you get tasks done, illustrating how you would do the job.
The ladder climber
Perhaps you're looking for a more challenging role and are hungry for a promotion. If this is the case, you are best to showcase your experience first, placing your most recent role at the top.
Don't just describe what the role involved; sell your achievements and demonstrate how you made significant contributions to the company particularly if you have any numbers to back this up. All employers admire experience and commitment so make sure you use these to your advantage.
The career changer
If you're looking to take your career in a new direction, you'll need to demonstrate you have a diverse set of transferrable skills.
Even if you don't have experience in another sector, you can still show you are the perfect candidate for the job. Aim to sell your skills and attitude to illustrate the value you could add to any organisation. It's important to show you're looking for a career change for the right reasons, such as you want to apply your skills and knowledge to something new.
Don't tell employers any personal reasons as to why you might be looking for a change, for example child care commitments. As long as you prove the benefit of your experience and skills, you should demonstrate you're a worthy candidate.
Want more advice on how to tailor your CV to suit where you're at in your career? Speak to your local Brook Street branch today to find out how we can help.
