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Ground Rules

 

In terms of form, these are the basic guidelines to follow:

  • use clean paper
  • check for spelling and grammar mistakes
  • use bullets instead of paragraphs wherever possible
  • use font size 11 or 12 (except for the name and headings)
  • write the name and subsection headings in bold
  • do not write less than a page and a half or more than two pages

There are three basic formats used to write CVs: the chronological, the functional and a combination of the two.

The chronological format, with work experience listed in reverse order, is still the most popular format among employers since it makes it hard for applicants to conceal any periods of unemployment or tendencies to change jobs too quickly.

Only use the functional CV, with experience and achievements broken down into specific areas (e.g. sales and marketing, communications, web development) if you do not have any work experience in the field you are applying for. If, for instance, you are applying for the job of IT consultant for the first time, it is never a good idea to try to fill up the resume with a list of previous jobs that had little or nothing to do with IT consulting. The functional format gives you a better alternative, as it allows you to focus on experiences that may be related to the sector, on projects that entailed skills and knowledge relevant to the job, interests that led to your decision to apply for the position or personal attributes that may convince the recruiter that you are suitable for the job.

The specific characteristics recruiters look for in consultants are an analytical ability and interpersonal skills. When you provide the list of projects you have worked on, make sure you outline the aspects of the work that point to those attributes: key objectives and issues of the projects you worked on, the size of the teams, the technologies used (including how and why they were used), your responsibilities. It is advisable to also include a list of technologies you are familiar with or specialize in as well as the industrial sectors you have worked in.


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