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"The Perfect CV"
We are often asked to give our definition of the perfect CV by both candidates seeking their next role and also clients searching for the next member of the treasury team.
 A Curriculum Vitae means simply a “biographical sketch of the course of ones life”, essentially this means it should focus upon real events and actual achievements rather than quoting generalised attributes such as “flexible and motivated”. Clients want proof through practical situations where candidates have demonstrated their ability to overcome obstacles through a positive attitude and strong treasury knowledge.
A CV is also your passport to getting the first interview for the role you want - it convinces an employer that you are a potential fit for the role they have on offer, you deserve the opportunity for a face to face discussion where you can both discuss your background in greater detail.
Once in the interview situation it is used as a tool to guide the interviewer through your background and explore the areas where you match their current requirements. They want to see how you solve their current issues, improve the department, what extra skills you will bring to the group and how will you add value to both the Treasury and Finance functions. It is therefore desirable to emphasise the relevant aspects of your experience that address their current problems that are generally listed in the relevant job description. For example, if they want someone with good all-round cash / treasury management experience then an explanation of your current responsibilities for pan-European cash management and how you have addressed problem areas with your current employer are extremely useful. It is essential to be both truthful and realistic in the explanation of your experience - if you exaggerate or claim to possess skills you don’t then you will rapidly be found out and will have wasted the time of clients, consultants and your own.
They also want to know that you will you be a 'safe pair of hands' and a cool head in an emergency? The Finance Director and Head of Treasury must be confident in your ability to manage the company's cash, leaving them to deal with other finance issues. An employer wants to know you have the right qualifications and the ability to grow with the organisation and satisfy not only their current but also their likely future needs.
It is recommended that the CV be tailored to suit the position you’re applying for. An up-to-date basic CV is a good starting point and this enables you to produce a comprehensive targeted CV quickly and efficiently. It should be a neatly presented document that accurately reflects you and your experience and be accompanied by a covering letter which persuades the reader that your skills are right for the particular position applied for and company concerned. The best CV's are succinct and direct - generalised attributes such as motivation, commitment and flexibility are all 'givens' and so phrases such as 'ambitious, flexible, motivated team-player' should be avoided.
Tips and Pitfalls
Key elements to include on the most successful CV’s include:
- Name and address - both home and current work address
- Contact Details - be sure to include email addresses and mobile numbers
- Educational background and qualifications achieved
- Employment history - in reverse chronological order with the current/most recent role first and be sure to include dates worked, for whom, in what position, location, main accountabilities and achievements
- Computer, IT and Treasury Systems used
- Additional skills/courses attended
- Activities and interests - some consultancies do not approve of including this however we feel it often gives an interesting area to discuss outside of the work arena and can be a useful ice breaker
- References are useful but are generally requested at the later stage of a job offer as a condition of any offer of employment and so don’t necessarily need to be included
Common pitfalls include:
- Basic spelling errors especially from those who list one of their key attributes as being “attention to detail”
- The wrong choice of typeface i.e. Verdana or Arial Black are sometimes harder to read than the clearer business like fonts - Arial, Courier or Times New Roman
- An assortment of columns and rows that is difficult on the eye. A plainly laid out easy to read business document is a real advantage
- A CV that is too brief or overly lengthy - CV lengths do vary but as a general rule of thumb, one page is usually too short to give adequate detail and anything above four pages usually needs reduction. Opinions on this subject differ between consultancies however we recommend CV’s from two to four pages in length as being the most readable
We wish you the best of luck with any future job search and should you require any further advice then do not hesitate to contact MR Recruitment.MR |
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