Your CV Must Show Them The Money

Your CV is not the story of your life.

It is not a list of every job you have ever done since your paper round.

A CV is not a list of your duties at work.

And it is not your wish list for the perfect job.

The purpose of your CV is to get you an interview. Although it’s about  you, it’s all about them. In other words, in two pages it has to clearly show the employer what’s in it for them by hiring you.

What do I mean by that? Ask yourself the question, “Why is a company or organisation in business?”

The answer is to make money. Show them the money. Even charities need money coming in to enable them to carry out their charitable aims. Show the employer how you made money for your last company. Did you organise a successful fundraising dinner? Did you open up a new market and win new business? By how much?

Or did you save your last employer money?  Were you able to negotiate better deals with suppliers? Save the company money on the tax bill? Perhaps you reorganised the transport department or production line and made time and efficiency savings? That is all still money on the bottom line and in today’s cost cutting world, very important to any employer.

Put yourself in their shoes. Does your CV clearly point to the benefits of hiring you over anyone else? What can you do for the employer?  Get a friend to look over your CV and ask them what they think are the benefits of hiring you. If they’re not sure, you need to go back to the drawing board.