How to write a great CV

by Sarah Daniels

When looking for a new role your CV is the first impression that people have of you so what it looks like and what it says are hugely important.  A well written and well presented CV could make all the difference between potentially securing an interview or ending up in the rejection pile.

You would be amazed at the number of poorly written, inaccurate and grammatically incorrect CVs that I have seen over the years. If I open a badly presented CV which the author couldn’t be bothered to check properly, I will hit the delete button.  If you can’t take the time to put something presentable together, then you shouldn’t be surprised if an employer won’t take the time to invite you to an interview.  

So what should it look like?

·         Your CV should ideally be 2 pages or for more detailed CVs no longer than 3.

·         It should be typed using the same font and same colour, i.e.black.  Don’t bother with tables, graphics or pictures.  It will just annoy the recruiter or employer.   

·         It should be positive and emphasise your achievements, strengths, successes and how you have contributed to your employers’ bottom line in any way (add figures to support facts whenever you can and use positive action words, for example: ‘implementing’, ‘negotiating’, ‘managing’ etc).

How to speak to a multi-lingual audience through interpretation

David Hallam 

 If you are in the business of making customers, raising funds or influencing policy at a European or international level you invariably have to attend meetings where the participants speak many languages and you are communicating through interpretors.

Even the most seasoned executive can find it very daunting to move from operating exclusively in English. Few senior people, in any case, have ever had any formal training in public speaking. 

Mistakes in constructing, delivering and illustrating,  a speech or presentation, in a mother tongue are magnified when delivered through simultaneous interpretation.

All the basic rules of good public speaking apply – only more so.

Speeches should be carefully planned and timed to meet both the needs of the audience, and the allotted time slot. Audiences should be researched as far as is possible. The venue should be carefully reconnoitered.  Industry or professional jargon should be avoided and sets of initials always spelt out in full.

The classic “three part sermon” is always a good starting point. You say what you are going to say, say it, then recap what you have said.