NEXUS ISSUE 22 2014

nexus magazine
C.V. Tips
LOUISE HUTT
Too scared to look at the clusterfuck of your old CV, or don't have one
yet? Louise has all the info you need to create an amazing resumé!
I’ve been applying for lots of scholarships recently
and almost every single scholarship I am applying
for requires me to submit a CV or résumé with
the application. I’m fortunate enough to be currently
working for the university, who hired me because of
my grades, as well as a freelance photographer, where
I’m usually hired via word of mouth or my portfolio.
Résumés are not something I have to deal with regularly
and mine hasn’t really been updated since first
year (I shudder to look back on it). It’s basically the
template they give you at careers.govt.nz with some
fancy fonts thrown in there for good measure.
Because I know that there could be hundreds of
other applicants, the need to be brief but memorable
is important. I’m definitely a believer in a one-page
CV, (because if you have more information than that,
you’re probably waffling) and also because it produces
an excellent design and writing challenge.
I checked out some design templates over at The
Design Blog [thedsgnblog.com/post/92874184096/
freebies] and they really made me re-evaluate how I
was presenting my information. No more word documents
for me!
However, I’m using them as inspiration; taking
elements and creating a SUPER-CV! For example, I
like Ayoob Ullah’s best, but it doesn’t have a spot for
awards and achievements, which I definitely want to
include. I’m also not super keen on including a photograph
of myself (ironically, as I’m a photographer) even
though several of them have a spot for that.
But that’s what good design is when it comes to
personal branding; making something which fits your
needs and communicates your “you-ness” best.
CV Do's
1. Use positive language. Presumably you should be
wanting to show you’re passionate and keeping a positive
tone is a key way of conveying that.
2. Regularly update your CV.
3. Tailor the CV to the job: have one for your shitty
part-time jobs, talking about your retail or hospo skills,
then have one with your actual industry experiences for
the field you are studying in.
4. SPELLCHECK! And get at least two other people
to read over it.
5. If you’re also hosting your CV online, somewhere
like LinkedIn, make sure both the one you send to
scholarships or employers and the one they can see
online are the same. It shows consistency and that you
are definitely the person you say you are.
CV Don'ts
1. Unless they ask for a photograph, don’t include one.
They can probably find that online if they want to and
it’s just taking up space where you could be otherwise
talking about how great you are!
2. Don’t waffle. You should be able to summarise
everything you need to say on one page, because
you’re less likely to be memorable if it’s longer and
they’ll probably skim it anyway.
3. Include what sells you the best. If it’s not relevant
to what you’re applying for, get rid of it. It’s not about
filling the whole page, but communicating what skills
you have that make you the best candidate.
Sven Kaiser 7/10
Pros: Experience focused, which is great if
you’ve done lots of stuff. Not so much if you’re just
starting out.
18 nexusmag.co.nz