The perils of describing previous jobs on your CV

Too many CVs look like they’ve just been copied from a job description. And they all have something else in common – they end up in the bin.


As a starting point, there's little point just creating a list of duties or responsibilities. It is highly unlikely you will be hired because of what you HAD to do. Employers are looking for evidence of good performance, through achievements and other facts that demonstrate how you are likely to perform in your next role.


Forget about the traditional CV format for a moment. Concentrate on naming your biggest achievements. Close your eyes and think of the five or six biggest achievements that have really meant something to you. Did you change the way the company did something? Win over a group of people through influencing? Did you save time, improve results or reduce costs? When did you do something outside of your comfort zone? These are the things that make the difference, so make sure they are clear and near the top of your CV.


Many candidates put their "biggest" duty under a job title. Invariably it will be something to do with managing people, or standing in for a senior colleague, or having taken a lead on a project. That’s fine, but you only if it's relevant for the type of role that you want. There is little point listing management as your major achievement if you aren't looking to apply for a role involving management.


Finally, and most importantly, remember that an employer has a vacancy to fill and your CV has come to them, alongside others. If they have to hunt for the clues and piece it together then chances are they'll move on to the next one.
Your story must be crystal clear and closely matched to their requirements – so please don’t just regurgitate your previous job descriptions.