Resumes and CVs: The Magic Question

Most people would agree that your resume or CV is a key tool in career development and management.

But what would most people say is the primary purpose of a resume or CV? Yes, it will help you get a job. But is that what a good resume or CV is really designed to do?

Someone reviewing a resume or CV will not be deciding immediately afterwards whether or not they will be sending a job offer letter. They are looking to see if what this person is offering will meet their needs. They are looking to see if this person is worthy of the additional time they’ll be investing in the interviewing, negotiation and hiring processes.

 
Employers are looking for the answer to the question: What do you have that I need? 

 
Generally the person reviewing the resume or CV is not going to sit down and read the whole document from start to finish. They will take about 30 seconds to skim it before deciding whether or not they want to take the time to read more. They will give most of their attention to the top third of the document, which is where you need to focus on making your case.

 
Give your resume a 30 second skim. What question does your resume or CV answer? If the question is something like, “What are the job responsibilities I have had in my last five jobs?”, then it is not answering the right question.

 
Common mistakes people make when writing their resumes or CVs include spelling errors and including information irrelevant to the position to which they are applying. However, the most deadly error is lack of clarity and ability to answer that all important question – what can you do to meet their needs?


What question does your resume or CV answer?