A Novel CV

There is one important thing to remember about CVs – it won’t get you a job – it just opens doors.

Many people spend a vast amount of time writing up their CVs. They fill out each section with detail after detail – from their first job through to their last. But, in my view, a CV is not necessarily about explaining your experience. The CV has a single objective – and that is getting you an interview.

One way of doing this is to clearly differentiate your CV from everyone else’s. (Look at it from the employer’s point of view: if you are on the receiving end of 100 CVs for a single job, then they all start to become a blur after a while.) How can you do this? Start by reading Blogs are the new CVs. Then consider how you can DEMONSTRATE your skills in the production of your CV.

A great example of this approach was sent to me by Mounir Bekkouche. As he says:

As a graduate in advertising looking for a job all around the world (but preferably in London where I am living), this is my own story-telling campaign aiming at showing my ability to manage an advertising project (including viral videos, blogging, social networking, public relation, etc.) from beginning to end…
Because of the Recession, I wanted to show what I am capable of and to differentiate myself from the other applicants through my passion for Japanese comics…

Now, I certainly don’t have the graphic skills of Mounir, but there are plenty of creative ways to present our capabilities, skills and experience. It just means thinking outside of the box. Give it a go. What have you got to lose?