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What does a modern CV look like

Hi all 

Please could anybody give me some tips or link to useful pages for a modern CV, when you have been around for a while it can be easy to just keep adding to the existing content, I think I need to do something more radical but I am not sure what is current thinking on CV's.  

I also had a number of years in commercial junior management before I specialised in HR, my current version feels like a lot of content when I think it needs to be punchier.

I now work in ER and Wellbeing in the NHS so limited contact with recruitment, and I cannot see any pages on here to advise on construction and guidelines. 

Thank you.

Rachel 

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  • I think the templates on word are as good a place to start as any. Pick one that simple, clean and unfussy would be my advice

    I think nothing much really has changed and a few simple pointers are enough

    - Keep it short 2-3 pages any more wont be read (and yes even the most high flying career can be summarised on 2-3 pages)

    - Spend more time and effort on last 10 years - no one is much interested in what a HRD did straight out of school

    - Make sure you constantly answer teh "So what?" question - so many HR CVs are full of I did this or I did that - so what? What was the point? How did it help the organisation move forward? What problem did it solve? Just because HR folk like something it doesn't mean anyone else will

    - Focus on measurable things and numbers. Most HR CVs I see have so little evidence backing them up. How much did you improve engagement by? How many days / £ did you save by that absence management project etc etc

    - Keep education relevant - if you are a Fellow of teh CIPD with a Masters degree then O level French isn't going to add anything no matter how proud you are of it.

    - Its much debated but I do like a line or two on hobbies and interest - largely because it gives me something to talk about with teh candidate to put them at ease. But make it something more interesting than reading and travelling, or socialising or whatever.

    Remember the CV is the bait you are using to hook the employer and get them to want more. Its a sales pitch so think of it like that not as a reference manual for everything you have ever done
  • In reply to Keith:

    Thank you so much for your reply Keith, very much appreciated.
  • In reply to Rachel:

    I would add that if you are applying for a specific role then mirror the language in the advert/spec rather than using your inhouse terminology. Never assume the person (machine) doing 1sr sift on the cv can read between the lines, make it totally clear where your relevance to the role lies.