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Having a well-written CV will do wonders for anyone seeking a new contract, therefore, spending time creating that great CV is important if you want to be successful in your next contract application.
Deciding to move on and to change contracts can be an upheaval and often daunting, especially if you’ve been in a contract for a long period of time. The thought of re-writing your CV and applying for new contracts takes up valuable time and effort, so the better your CV can be, the more chances you have of being successful at the first hurdle.
Firstly, are you looking for short-term or long-term contracts? Being able to answer that question will help you filter through jobs adverts and allow you to customise your CV appropriately.
Skills
Being a contractor usually means that clients will hire you for your specific skill set, something which they cannot get with their current personnel. This means that your CV needs to showcase your skills. What can you do, what experience do you have, what qualifications will back up your skills? The client will want to hire to you do something ‘now’. It’s not going to be a role that you will learn over time or become adapted to once you’ve been in the role a few months. Contractors are hired to get a job done. Therefore, within your CV you need to highlight those required skills and demonstrate how you can apply them.Personal professional statement
Along with your skills, your personality and mission statement must align with what the client is looking for. Utilise your personal statement to highlight what you stand for and what you value. This can include your top strengths and personality traits that make you an ideal fit for the position. This section of your CV is your first impression to connect with the client and for them to take notice of who you are.Target your CV
It’s a good idea to have a few variations of your CV depending on what type of contract you are applying for. Then for each job, tailor your CV down even further to show specifically how you can fulfil that role. Fine-tuning your CV can make you stand out from others who have the same experience as you but perhaps haven’t pinpointed the specifics that could catch the recruiter’s eye.Layout of a CV
A CV should be short and concise. It’s not an essay and should be a document that is clear and easy to skim-read by the client. Ensure that each section has a header and is in a font that is easily readable - we suggest Arial or Times New Roman. Ensure that you perform a spelling and grammar check too before the final draft - there’s nothing worse than reading back through a CV to find spelling mistakes that could have been avoided. Split the different aspects up rather than making it read like a story and include these sections:Take care over your CV and be sure to put as much of yourself into it as possible. This is your chance to show who you are and what you have to offer to someone who has never met you. If you want a chance to win the next contract, take pride in it and make it as professional and presentable as possible.
If you’d like advice on writing your CV, we’d be happy to help. If you’re looking to work with an umbrella company, giving you peace of mind and the support of an established company behind you, ensuring that you get paid on time and accurately, we’d love to hear from you. If you’re new to contracting or not sure how an umbrella company works, we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have to ensure you find the right path for your career.
