Improving your CV profile: creating an effective personal profile

Reviewing your CV profile after a long period in work can be a daunting process. Employment details, skills and achievements all need updating, as does your personal profile. This will be the first thing prospective employers are likely to read, you've got a limited amount of time to grab their attention, so the personal profile needs to make you stand out from the crowd. For many of us, we also have to struggle with that very British trait of modesty. It doesn’t come naturally to us to brag about our achievements, but on our CV, that is exactly what we must do. Renovo’s career coaches can help you overcome this barrier, and assist you in identifying any weaknesses in your CV. Our career coaches often find that many individuals’ CVs do not feature a personal profile – a brief two-to-six line summary of who you are, the skills you have to offer and how you can add value to an employer. If you need to add a personal profile to your CV, or aren’t sure if yours is as effective as it could be, Renovo’s career coaches are here to help. We’ve put together a few tips that’ll be sure to improve your CV and catch employers’ attention.

Be concise

The ability to write concisely is vital in every aspect of the job seeking process. Cover letters, application forms, and the entire CV must be as concise as possible. Recruiters and employers aren’t likely to have any inclination to read through walls of texts when they’re receiving dozens of applications every day. Your personal profile should be no more than four to six lines long. It must get straight to the point, mentioning the job title in the first line where possible.

Tailored

Again, an employer is more likely to take an interest in your application and CV if it’s immediately clear that you’ve tailored it to their vacant role. Mention specific skills included in the job description or advert, and if you’ve a specific type of experience that they’ve asked for, squeeze it into your profile. Of course, don’t list all of your relevant skills – that’s for later in the CV – just showcase a few key skills that are of particular importance to your potential employer. Tailoring your profile to the role may take 10-15 minutes for each application, but it’s likely to be the difference between your CV being discarded instantly or making it through to the next round of the process.

Writing style

Write the profile in third person. Also avoid using ‘I’ or ‘me.’ Keep the tone neutral. Employers appreciate a formal, less personal tone. Above all, be specific. Include relevant achievements, as long as they can be explained in only a few words. Keep a narrow focus – listing too many skills and covering all bases can remove much of the strength from a personal profile.

The personal profile should be a brief summary of you and what you are looking for, as well as the value you can provide employers. The remainder of your CV should go into more detail about your achievements, skills and qualifications. Renovo’s career coaches can assist you in all aspects of the job seeking process. Get in touch now to make your career transition straightforward – and successful.

Renovo is one of the UK’s leading providers of outplacement and career transition support. We work with both organisations and individuals to support all their career transition requirements. If you would like to understand how Renovo can help you please call 0800 612 2011 or email info@renovo.co.uk