Robert Parkinson, Founder and CEO of RMG Selection on China Radio International talking about the first step towards career building– how to make an attractive CV. What kind of information are HR people actually interested in? Have you chosen a good format for your CV? Do you focus on the right content when making CV? Listen to RMG’s advice! To listen to the original radio show  

Broadcast text:

Today we’ll have our first installment of Career Adviser/ Tips / Career Builder. Here in our studio is Robert Parkinson, Founder and CEO of RMG Selection – a leading Asia focused executive search business. His company has over 10 years experience in China. As this is our first installment of the show, we’ll start with the most basic, the first step towards career building– how to make an attractive CV.

Also, at the end of the show, we’ll spare some time to answer questions that our listeners have. So if you have any questions, don’t hestiate, send us your questions about your career or job seeking to us now. You can pose your questions through our weibo: 英语环球广播,or through wechat: 英语环球newsplus.

Or you can send your questions through email: [email protected].

Start with an Attractive CV

HR and recruitment departments are used to reading hundreds of CV a day. The reality is that often only 30 seconds or so is spent reading CVs because of the high number of applicants, particularly for jobs for people in the 0-6 years post-graduate bracket. We know that your CV is your entry card to the job interview room, so it’s a good idea to give yourself a head start!

1. What are the top 5 specific tips you have for writing a great resume?

1.) Make it easy to read as possible. Reference books have contents sections to guide the reader through the book – you should do the same with your CV: and you need to need 3 sections: Personal Information (name, age, nationality, languages); Education; and work experience.

2.) Make good use of the paper. A neat and tidy CV speaks to a neat and tidy personality? Therefore think about margins, think about fonts (use the same font, as simple as possible); make sure tabs are lined up well. Don’t use the standard (AWFUL!) CV format produced by many of the popular job sites

3.) Work experience should start from the most recent to the last, and you should focus your attention on the most recent work.

4.) Less is more – remove as many words as possible from your writing, be brutal

5.) Use specifics when describing achievements: “I increased sales in the north China department” Great – by how much? How much money did you make?

6.) Make sure the CV is an attached file, NOT pasted in to an email, and no longer than 3 pages long!

2. You say a resume should be no longer than 3 pages so what is the most important information to include?

1.) 80% of the space you take in your CV should focus on what you have done in your working life. If you are in your mid 20s, your CV should be no more than 2 pages, if you’re more experienced 3 pages is acceptable.

2.) Work experience should be in reverse order. Start with the most recent work first. This is the most relevant. If you’re a 44 year old GM, no-one cares what you did when you were 21.

3.) Work experience should cover the top 3-5 responsibilities. You don’t have to include everything, and certain things can be assumed (for example CEO’s tend to also look after Finance and HR departments because they report to them)

4.) List specific achievements. You grew sales? – By how much? You launched a new product – how successful was it. Use numbers to qualify.

5.) Education does not take up a lot of space, however take care to include specific professional skills and experience. If you are Cisco Certified Internet Engineer; or a Chartered Accountant, say so clearly – at the top of the CV.

6.) My advice is to avoid personal statements or long introductions. They waste space. Likewise Hobbies also waste space unless it’s relevant to your job.

7.) Make it clear who you reported to, and you reported to you.

3. What are the common mistakes you see in resumes in China and overseas? What should you avoid?

1.) Cutting and pasting to multiple applications – make sure the font is the same!!

2.) Avoid at all costs using the 3dr person. ‘Robert is the Managing Director of…” it sounds pretentious and aloof.

3.) For youngsters just graduating, take the time, pride and effort to make your CV look good and original. Most just follow the Zhao pin format, which is awful.

4.) For resumes overseas take care to make your CV relevant to the job you are applying for. The Chinese are good at this, westerners are not. Emphasise the points that are relevant to your work. For example…

5.) We’ve covered it before, but avoid silly fonts, and also avoid the Microsoft standard CV format, it looks like the Microsoft standard CV format!

6.) In China be very specific about what your role entails in terms of responsibilities. ‘Big’ job titles are popular here, but employers want to know what you actually do.

4. Is there any difference between writing a CV for a Chinese company and a foreign company?

1.) It’s fair to say that in China the HR professional is less developed than in the west, and often CVs will be screened by young and inexperienced people. It is even more important to guide and show the reader why you are suitable for the job.

2.) For foreign companies, they can often show greater attention to detail. For example they may use a 3rd party screening company to check that the details in your CV are correct. Do not under any circumstances lie or exaggerate either experience or qualifications.