Chartered Accountants Ireland, Career Development & Recruitment Service. Tips on Writing the Winning CV & Writing the Winning Executive CV

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1 Chartered Accountants Ireland, Career Development & Recruitment Service Tips on Writing the Winning CV & Writing the Winning Executive CV This document is intended only as an introduction to the process of writing your cv. It should not be used as an exclusive source of research. When writing and designing your CV it is important firstly to recognise the purpose of this document: Inform the prospective employer about your education, work experience and relevant skills and competencies. It is your sales pitch and opportunity to sell your skills and experience. Persuade them that you are a strong contender for the role and that you should be afforded the opportunity to attend interview. It should be written for the purpose of securing you an interview. Once you have decided on your goal you can then set about writing a strong professional and relevant CV that accurately reflects the pertinent highlights of your professional life to date. Presentation Keep the font plain, simple and easy to read. Arial or New Time Roman in size 9-12 is recommended. Too many fonts can make the CV appear confusing. Stick with black and white font colour. Format Simple bullet point format is more effective and is easier on the eye. Ensure that each section has a clear and concise heading. Differentiate your headings by bolding them. Content The content is crucial. It has to be well structured and targeted. It must be informative and persuasive and must come across in a strong manner. Using action verbs can assist with this i.e. managed, assisted with, trained and supervised. Concentrate on the significant facts and steer away from using jargon and company specific terms that will not be understood. All details must be honest as the truth will come out at a later stage in the process.

2 Include metrics, statistics and numeric i.e. reduced costs by 25%, increased revenue by 15%. This is especially relevant where you are applying for finance based roles. Make your CV more interesting by listing your achievements and accomplishments in the role rather than just listing off your duties and the functionalities of the role. This will give you a competitive advantage over other applicants and demonstrate your track record of achievement and adding value in a tangible manner. Avoid the use of clichés as it will make you appear unimaginative. Your CV is designed to be a summary of your career to date and should typically not be longer than 3 pages. Overused Words Be very wary of using very generic language on your CV when it comes to writing your profile. If you do so it is more difficult to stand out. You also have to ensure that you don t over-use particular words. Research conducted by LinkedIn has found that the following words are overused on CVs Extensive experience Innovative Motivated Results-oriented Dynamic Proven track record Team player Fast-paced Problem solver Entrepreneurial The above words should not be deemed as wrong as such but we would caution against including them too often in your CV. Rather you should try to use more unique and creative ways in which to articulate your skills and experience. Thesaurus can often provide inspiration. General Headings Personal Details Name Address Contact Number Address

3 Overview/Summary This should be no longer than 5lines and should capture the readers attention instantly. You should use short, snappy and descriptive sentences encouraging the reader to read further. Educational Details (Commence with the qualification most recently achieved) Professional Qualifications Dates Attended Institution/College/Professional Body Qualification attained and accreditation Third Level Dates Attended Colleges/Universities attended Qualification Achieved including specific grade Second Level Dates Attended Name of School Details of Leaving Certificate Results Work Experience Start with your most recent work experience as this is likely to be the most relevant to the role for which you are applying. Employer Dates Job Title Reporting to Duties and Responsibilities Key Achievements in the role Interests and Hobbies Detail interests and hobbies that demonstrate skills that are relevant for the job. Avoid listing anything controversial or dangerous. Membership of clubs Achievements in sport or other areas Charitable work

4 Additional Information Work related courses or training you may have received. Awards or recognition you may have received. IT Systems Skills and experience References Contact details for 2 referees should you wish to include their details. Check with the referees before you place their details on the CV. Tailor your references to the role for which you have applied. Otherwise placing a note to say that references are available on request is perfectly acceptable. Final Check Ensure that the same font and format are used consistently throughout the CV. As basic as it may sound always run a spell check. A simple spelling error could eliminate you from the selection process immediately. Tailor your CV to each job application. You should have 1 generic CV format. You should then amend and adjust this to make it as relevant as possible for each application specifically highlighting your skills and experience for that particular role. General Tips Ensure that your cover letter is brief and summarises why you are a suitable candidate for the role in question. Keep a record of all applications you make so that you can chase and follow up on these. Do not duplicate on applications as this will make you appear unprofessional and disorganized. Ensure that you submit your application well in advance of any quoted deadline. Conduct all communications with your prospective employer in a professional manner.

5 Writing the Winning Executive CV Write the CV for the role you want as opposed to the one you have at present- Raise the bar! The CV should be persuasive, interesting, comprehensible and concise. The format should be clear and easy on the eye. Use bullet points for clarity. The document should be maximum 3 in length. Don t think that you are going to capture all of your experience in your CV as this is simply not possible. Focus on the highlights. Tailor the CV to the specific role for which you are applying. Do not send a generic CV to all positions you apply for. Tailoring your CV for the role in question will increase your chances of securing an interview. Showcasing your main achievements in your career to date should be your main aim. E.g. what savings and initiatives you have introduced what processes you proposed and implemented and the benefits to the organisation as a result. Quantify your achievements using metrics. Demonstrate your ability to drive a business and your track record in leading an organisation and a team. What have been the tangible results of the competencies and skills that you have demonstrated. Highlight your soft skills in the area of influencing, negotiating and building relationships. Try to portray your emotional competencies such as professionalism, integrity, your motivational influences and management style. Beware of Overused Words

6 Be very wary of using very generic language on your CV when it comes to writing your profile. If you do so it is more difficult to stand out. You also have to ensure that you don t over-use particular words. Research conducted by LinkedIn has found that the following words are overused on CVs Extensive experience Innovative Motivated Results-oriented Dynamic Proven track record Team player Fast-paced Problem solver Entrepreneurial The above words should not be deemed as wrong as such but we would caution against including them too often in your CV. Rather you should try to use more unique and creative ways in which to articulate your skills and experience. Thesaurus can often provide inspiration. Be very selective about where you send your CV. Do not flood the market with your CV. Target the recruiters that have a strong reputation and track record in your discipline. For further advice and support in the area of interview preparation please contact the Career Development and Recruitment Team on or careers@charteredaccountants.ie