So what should you be looking for when presented with CVs of potential people for a key role within your company?

JMF Director Tricia Morton explains: “A good CV should be concise but have the right balance of information and clarity to ‘sell’ the candidate.

CVs should essentially:

• Be to the point, informative – and honest!
• Set out clear qualifications with grades, and, if still studying, must include time frames for next exam date or final exam date.
• Contain names of their schools and universities.
• Outline tangible skills with evidence.
• Summarise the candidate’s employment history, including the size and nature of each employer and a list of key duties and achievements for each role.
• Offer an explanation of any employment gaps of more than three months.

A good CV isn’t merely a list of duties and dates, it is an indication of how a candidate organises themselves and how much attention to detail they pay. We should also be looking for

• Whether the CV has a consistent layout and formatting.
• If there are any typing or grammatical errors.

Even when you have this checklist, the prospect of deciding which candidates should be shortlisted can be daunting. However, by presenting all CVs in a uniform manor JMF can help you to make valid candidate comparisons.

The CV above is an excellent example. The qualifications are prominently displayed, and the employment history is comprehensive, with duties and responsibilities clearly outlined. However, it’s not just what’s on paper that matters. Our skilled consultants are able to investigate further by asking the candidates for more detail, in order to ensure we provide a first rate service to candidates and clients. This ensures that you engage not only the best-qualified candidate but also one who will hopefully match your company’s direction and ethos.

We do this through meeting with candidates and going through the whole CV. We build up a good relationship with them to find out their strengths and key skills. A good CV will give us a strong foundation to work with, in order to streamline the recruitment process and optimise your time by presenting a relevant shortlist.