CV Myths Busted - CV Length

First of all, apologies for the radio silence. I've taken some much needed time out with family and also went to Ibiza for my brother's incredible wedding! 🥳👰🏼‍♀️🤵🏻🥂🍾

It's now back to work, so lucky you, you'll get to hear from me more now I've had a chance to recharge my batteries haha.

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This week I wanted to discuss one of the most debated topics, CV length!

When joining the race to landing an interview for your ideal job a CV or resume and its content is crucial!

Did you know that there's a difference between a CV and a resume?

You have two options:

1. A resume
2. A curriculum vitae/CV

What's the difference?

The word "resume" comes from the French and means a "summary" so this would be a shorter version of your work history, 1-2 pages long. They are tailored to the specific job you are apply to so that you don't need a 5-6 page document.

Curriculum Vitae/CV is a Latin term meaning the course of life and I guess it's a more generic document.

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I actually prefer a mix of the 2.

As a recruiter I see 1,000s of CVs a week, I'm also in a position where I hear hiring managers' opinions about CVs/resumes firsthand.

Both a resume and a CV have the same objective, which are to:

1. Create a need and desire that the reader can't wait to pick up that phone to arrange an interview.
2. Present all relevant desirable skills the hiring manager urgently requires in an easy to read layout
3. Put forth a convincing sales pitch that factually proves your value to the hiring manager's team and organisation, as well as the pain points you have experience in solving.
4. Demonstrate visual or creative talent within your materials to reduce any question marks about your capabilities.
5. Articulate your soft skills within your content in order to demonstrate your suitability so they can visualise what it would be like if they hired you. They're looking for qualities that would complement their existing workforce.

The reason why I like a mix of the two is that unless you have done a sufficient amount of research into the company and individual you're sending your CV to, a resume will not hit the mark.

Therefore, for most job seekers a CV is more appropriate however it is still important to tailor a CV to the job you are applying to in order to inspire the hiring manager to take action.

So, let's go over some points that will hopefully help...

Think of your application (email, CV, portfolio, LinkedIn and overall personal brand) as a "Credibility Score Card".

We're discussing CVs/resumes today however the "Credibility Score Card" is the difference between gaining an interview and not.

When a hiring manager reviews a CV their minds work on a points system.

If you state early on in your CV or Resume that you are an "excellent designer" or you have "creative flair" you better prove this throughout your documentation otherwise they'll be a black mark on your "Credibility Score Card" and your chances of securing an interview are reduced.

So, how are you supposed to write a convincing CV that entices someone to take action and avoids black marks on your "Credibility Score Card"?

1. Before you even THINK about writing your CV, explore all your personal attributes that a hiring manager would want. If you can't answer the question "tell me your unique strength that no one else has?" then you are not prepared for an interview, let alone positioning yourself for selection. Find out all your strengths and weaknesses so you can write an awesome CV and prepare yourself for an interview at the same time. WIN, WIN! ✅✅✅
2. Visual appeal. Demonstrate your creativity and design skills with a well laid out and presented CV that reflects your personal brand. (if you would like some CV templates please register and login to our website https://aerecruitment.ae/) ✅✅✅
3. Content that is written in a human voice. You're not a robot so don't sound like one, sound like you! ✅🙏🏼✅
4. Talk more about what you have specifically worked on rather than promoting your employer. It's a trap most job seekers fall into because they clearly don't know what to talk about. If you feel this way then go back to point 1 ASAP, it will speed up your job search no end! ✅🙏🏼✅
5. Don't assume that the reader can read your mind. If your points or expertise are not written down, as far ✅🙏🏼✅
6. Give me your best pitch as to why you should be employed over anyone else. Write it as if you a doing a presentation on stage (no monotone voices please, it's boring to read). ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅

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Back to my original point of whether you should write a 1-2 page CV?

My view = No ❌

Job seekers have more competition than ever due to how easy it is to apply to companies, so you need to up your CV/resume game!

Hiring managers want to be entertained, they want to hear your pitch and they want evidence of your worth.

In my opinion, most people do not know enough about themselves to effectively convince a hiring manager within a 1-2 page CV/resume

So don't try.

Take a little longer to explain your attributes, allow your text to breathe with the use of whitespace around text which is visually more appealing and don't feel pressured to cram as much information into such a small space.

The only circumstance where an individual should produce a 1-2 page document is if you’re straight out of college however if you’re an experienced professional 1-2 pages is not enough to list your qualifications, awards, achievements and general skills, let alone your career history so ignore what you've been told before.... unless you're an incredible salesman/saleswomen, in which case, please send me a copy because it's a true talent!

As a lasting note...

I thought I’d do a bit of research to see what other companies say about and interestingly Bollinger (I know, not our industry but still an interesting fact) “Page count is not as important as the number of words on the page”, they go on to say “The number of words actually affected recruiters in a bell curve manner. So what’s the magic word count that keeps recruiters reading (aside from your work experience)? About 390 words per page”…

So there you have it, less it not more in this case

Happy CV writing

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