First impressions count, especially when you're applying for a job. But are there major differences in what employers look for in different countries?
Freelance journalist Camilla Berens asked CIMA employers and recruitment experts from around the world, and found that the main points of a good CV are the same no matter where you are.
Make a statement
The presentation and content of a CV or resume speak volumes to an employer ' no matter where in the world they are. You'll need to put in preparation time if you want to stand out from the crowd.
'Your CV is your shop window. It has to impress,' says Richard Cowlishaw, human resources director at global lingerie and hosiery manufacturers Courtaulds. 'The employer should be able to read your CV quickly and get a clear impression of your suitability for the job being offered.'
Be relevant
Cowlishaw has recruited in Morocco, Sri Lanka, China and the US. He says the crucial point is to make your CV relevant. At every stage in the process - from your covering letter, to the summary line at the top of the CV to your employment history - you should be telling the employer why you're the right person for the job. 'A straight list of employment roles isn't sufficient. You need to analyse your core attributes and detail their relevance to the role you're applying for.'
Customise for each position
Olga Molina, HR director for Ernst & Young in Moscow, agrees that tailoring is essential: 'Employers are looking for clear information regarding the candidate, so no overwhelming details or repetition. They first of all pay attention to the data relevant to their need: either for the right qualification or work on a particular type of project. Also, check if everything important in your CV is easily spotted when you look through it.'
Heather Steele, head of recruitment firm Adecco's financial and banking division in Switzerland, adds: 'Customisation is the only way to clearly demonstrate the experience you have in relation to the individual role. Even if you can't do this with all entries, you can still show how you've made a difference. Quantify your skills in terms of their scale and impact and how they have affected the bottom line.'
Presentation
Clear presentation is vital. 'Employers see so many CVs online these days, it's become the junk mail of the 21st century,' says US author and recruitment expert Matthew DeLuca. 'The CV has to be clear and crisp: bullet points not sentences, some clean, white space to make it easy on the eye and no more than two pages.'
Molina adds a style tip: 'Be very attentive that you do not spoil the first impression of your CV with different fonts and point sizes in one sentence.'
If you do include a list of hobbies and interests, keep it brief. Don't list every badge or award received since the age of five. Cowlishaw says: 'Obviously, an employer will want to know what interests you, but too much detail indicates that you don't know how to prioritise.'
Check, check and check again
Show your CV to a few friends or colleagues to make sure you haven't overlooked anything. 'There's no excuse for spelling mistakes, but they still happen,' DeLuca continues. 'You can never have too many eyeballs on a resume.'
Finally, if you're applying for a job abroad, check how familiar the employer is with the CIMA qualification. 'Although all the major employers know about CIMA, smaller companies may not be fully aware of the broad range of skills and knowledge the syllabus offers,' says Steele. 'If you are in any doubt, outline the key benefits of the qualification. If you do that, they're bound to want to find out more about you.'
A useful list of CV 'dos and don'ts' can be found under Job search guidance on the MY JOBS section of the CIMA website.
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