Tips and Advice for Interims

Writing an Effective Interim CV

As you begin the process of planning for your interim career, it is vital that you have a positive, action-oriented frame of mind. You will need the same reserves of energy, creativity and courage that made you successful in your substantive roles. And you will need to draw on them. It is that past success that provides the foundation on which your future career will be built. It is the recognition of that success and your determination that will help you to succeed in your new venture.

Your CV – a background for the Interim Market

The most critical thing to remember is that the CV is the first (and too often the only) introduction you will have with a prospective employer and, in the light of this its importance cannot be over stressed. We appreciate that most people have little experience of CV writing with most applications centering on application forms. Although a CV is only "two-dimensional", it is the strongest and most effective primary marketing tool at your disposal - it is, however, only as "good" as the person whose background it describes and will not be the determining factor in securing an assignment. Only you can do this!

There is no single perfect CV. Everyone you ask about a CV will give you a different opinion. It is important that you believe in your CV and that it is your own. Therefore we can give you hints, ideas and items we believe should (and should not) be included. But in the final analysis, you should follow your own commercial judgement on whether your CV is effective.

What does the CV do?

It emphasises what you think is important about you/what sets you apart from other candidates and tells the client why you believe that you are suitable for the interim market.
It presents your career background briefly and succinctly.
It details your major accomplishments (backed up by data and tangible facts) and so identifies what you do best.
It is in a format of your making.
It can serve the purpose of your 'calling card'.

The purpose of the CV

Before you can realistically embark on preparing your CV, you should stand back from it to determine what the CV is trying to achieve and whom you are trying to target. As a marketing tool it can reveal more about you than you realise and can provoke preconceptions and even misconceptions. It is important, therefore, to recognise that it should show you to your full advantage in as readable a format as possible. It should be objective - any subjective aspects can be incorporated in a covering letter. The content should be sufficient to evoke interest in the reader (the main objective) and to prompt the reader to take further action by asking you in for interview. This will be your opportunity to add the "third dimension" to your application.

Important principles to remember in CV preparation

It should be clear, well laid out, and give an air of quality. Remember, you are being judged initially by this document.
It should be concise. This does not mean only one page (although we would not generally recommend more than two pages).
It should be a stand-alone document. It may be detached from your covering letter for circulation. It should therefore repeat information such as your contact details.
Keep it factual. Do not describe your personality by saying things such as "A candidate with dynamism and vision, who is a good leader".
Keep it neutral or in the first person. Do not write it as "he" or "she" or as "the writer", etc (i.e. as though you were interviewing yourself).
Leave ‘white space’ around each item (no large blocks of text). This makes it easier to read and is more attractive.
Use headings to aid the reader to find relevant information. At first glance, they may not read the whole document, but only parts of it.
Use bullet points where appropriate. This focuses the reader's attention on the subject in hand and disciplines you not to "waffle"!
Keep the style simple - chose a font and stick to it and avoid using too many different sizes of text – try and stick to one size for headings and one for the body text.
Remember the 'buyer'. Put yourself in their place and remember to include what they might want to know. This may not always be the same as what you would wish to tell them.
Do not include salary on your CV. If you are asked to provide salary details, include these in your covering letter.

Things to avoid

Photos (unless specifically asked for)
Excessive personal details, such as full name of partner, names of each child etc.
Details of every single training course you have attended – stick to those that are most relevant to your ideal interim role.
Copies of full references – just simply add your referee details (including contact details) we will take these up as part of our registration process.
Copies of qualifications – we will hold these on file, but will not submit them to the client unless specifically requested.
Unclear qualifications. "Finals of Degree in 1979" invariably means failed! "Exams for ACMA in 1985" also often means exams taken, failed and no qualification obtained. Similarly, "Articles with J Bloggs and Son" does not necessarily mean you subsequently took professional exams or passed them.

Layout

Start with a short statement on why you want to be an interim, why have you made this choice and what you think you can offer based on past experience.
Start your career summary on the front page (most recent experience first) include dates, job titles and names of employers and your key achievements in this role. Back your achievements up with tangible facts. Follow this pattern for your most recent leadership experience.
As you work your way back through your career reduce the amount of detail regarding the roles – it is OK to tabulate your early career i.e NQT, maths teacher – but again please do include dates and employers.
After your career history include your qualifications and training and your other personal details.

Conclusion

As a marketing tool, your CV is the first "foot in the door" and, in order to progress further, it needs to attract and retain the reader's attention. CVs are rarely read in isolation - the reader, a prospective employer, will usually be faced with a surfeit of CVs and yours should be sufficiently informative and, more importantly, relevant to merit further action. In today’s interim market, it is not uncommon for a client to go to multiple agencies with a particular role and receive 20 CVs in response. Your CV must contain the relevant information if you are to be invited to interview. The interviewer is not likely to waste their time in interviewing you on the off chance that you have the right experience. Neither are they likely to telephone us if information is missing. You will merely end up on the reject pile and missing what could be a great Interim assignment for you.

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