| p>There has been some conjecture amongst | | | | seekers have a Professional Summary which outlines |
| professionals regarding the merits of a personal profile | | | | the profession in which one works, followed by 4 or 5 |
| on a CV. This conjecture stems from the fact that | | | | key areas of expertise which are aligned with the |
| many job seekers fill there personal profiles with | | | | roles being applied for. See below for an example: |
| irrelevant and mostly clichéd information. Here at the | | | | An experienced Project Manager (PRINCE2) with a |
| CV & Interview Advisors, we offer free CV | | | | track record of delivering £multi-million IT |
| Appraisals, therefore see hundreds of CVs per week. I | | | | infrastructure projects. Areas of expertise include: |
| recently reviewed 5 CVs back-to-back and was | | | | understanding complex business requirements to |
| interested to find that all 5 people considered | | | | define and execute effective project plans; the ability |
| themselves to be dynamic and innovative with | | | | to manage disparate stakeholder agendas across |
| excellent communication skills. Having spoken to all 5 | | | | large organisations; assembling and leading teams of |
| individuals, it confused me as to why 5 people, who | | | | up to 100 people across international jurisdictions; and |
| didn't know each other, could include almost word for | | | | extensive experience within software development |
| word, the exact same phrase in their CV. I would | | | | and infrastructure architecture. Seeking contract-based |
| guess that all 5 had found these skills on job specs | | | | IT Project Manager roles. |
| and felt the need to include these words in their CV. | | | | The idea is to provide a statement which "does what |
| The problem with this theory is two fold: firstly, | | | | is says on the tin". |
| everyone does it and Recruiters are not stupid, they | | | | Conversely, we would not recommend behavioural |
| realise job seekers copy info from job specs | | | | skills. The most commonly used phrases have become |
| regardless of whether they really have these skills or | | | | rather clichéd and include the following: |
| not; and secondly, the CV is not the vehicle for pushing | | | | The ability to communicate at all levels of an |
| behavioural competencies - that is what the interview | | | | organisation; excellent communication skills; honest, |
| is for! | | | | reliable and trustworthy; hardworking; dynamic |
| Perhaps the confusion stems from the phrase | | | | self-starter; can work in a team as well as an individual; |
| "Personal Profile" which alludes to information about | | | | good attention to detail; can work under pressure and |
| one's personality. We would recommend that job | | | | to tight deadlines. |