Write Your CV… Like a Bestselling Novel!

People sometimes ask me if there’s a “right” way to write a CV.

What font is best to use, should they include reference details, and do they really have to keep it to two pages of A4?

Questions like these remind me of what happens after you write a book.  As soon as other people get their hands on it, you realise how different their opinions are.  How impossible it is to write something that everybody likes.

So it goes with your CV.  You’ll never please everyone who reads it, so don’t worry too much about fonts and length.

Worry about the story you’re telling, instead.

Because your CV should tell a clear and compelling story.

If it doesn’t; if it’s just a bland rundown of tasks you’ve been “responsible for”, then you might as well write a shopping list.

Don’t worry if that feels like a struggle, though. The principles of storytelling – in particular, those that create bestselling novels! – can help you on your way.

Write your professional summary like the back cover of a book

If you start your CV with a good professional summary, i.e. a few killer lines that sum up your expertise, you’ll spark interest.

Just like when you pick up a promising book in Waterstone’s (other good bookshops are available), then read the back to judge whether it’ll be worth your time.

“What” doesn’t tell the whole story

A novel that describes a character who just does things, with no explanation of how or why she does them, probably isn’t going to grab you.

When you write a story, you have to set a believable scene.  You have to explain why your character does this, that, or the other.  Then you have to tell the reader what happened next.

Use these principles when you’re writing about what you do.  If you think of yourself as the main character in a story, you won’t just list your skills and responsibilities.

Instead, you’ll describe your skills with examples that show how they’re used, and what you might be like to work with.  You’ll describe how you approach different tasks, then explain the results you’ve achieved.

Don’t be afraid to be yourself

A good book turns its characters into believable human beings.  And believable human beings don’t say things like: “I work well on my own and in a team.”

So write who you are, not the bland drone you think every recruiter wants to hire.  If  nothing else, think of the poor sap who has to read the finished product, often as part of a huge pile of CVs that all say exactly the same things.

When I worked in HR, I was often faced with over 100 CVs to get through in a single day.  I cherished the precious few that had a sense of individual personality; so much that I’d usually prioritise those ones for interview.

OK, not everyone will like you, and you won’t be the right fit for every role.  But by being yourself, you’ll have a greater chance of working for someone who does like you, in a role that’s the perfect size.

Can I help you write your career story?

Although it’s aimed at students, my eBook You on a Page sets out the bare essentials of CV-writing.  It’s free to download, and you won’t be asked for any personal details – including your email address – in exchange.

If you’d like more support, my CV-writing service includes a conversation of up to an hour.  That way, we can get fully into everything that makes you, you… and where you’d most like your story to go next.

Contact me to find out more.