There is every chance that elements of this article may not be appropriate for everyone in every situation ? and that's precisely the point! Every situation is different. No two projects are the same. No two Curriculum Development Specialist roles are necessarily identical, but for name. Context, duration, region, sub-sector and many other factors are likely to create requirements that are unique, even when very similar. So a standard CV, or your most recent one with a date change is not necessarily the best one to submit ? and I would contend, never the way to approach submitting a CV within a project.
Take for example how many large project management companies deal with CV's and their database of consultants. Advertisements on their websites, in development magazines and in newspapers and other media often call for 'experienced' persons to register interest for involvement across various sectors. Some such firms have an online completion process, which facilitates the database search functionality, and others accept traditional CV style submission. It is very unlikely that this CV will be used without modification in a tender submission.
Why?
As introduced, CV's seldom serve multiple purposes to the same degree of success. Your CV to an organisation to gain registration on their database should be tailored to the requirements of that firm's request, and for the express purpose of making sure that when they are searching for your expertise they find you. [Remember that last month I wrote about promoting yourself, and made the point that if you only submit a CV, you are probably not doing enough ? visibility, communication etc needs also to be incorporated into your strategy].
So what needs to be done?
Each time your CV is put in for a project, it should be tailored to the exact requirements of that project, including tailored to the selection criteria and with consideration for the other team members to demonstrate breadth and balance within the team.
But, this takes a fair amount of time.
Yes it does! And, it is time that requires input from you, the individual, as well as the firm pulling together the tender submission. Other than the obvious business development imperatives in preparing the best possible CV, we are not being honest to the cause, not taking seriously enough the importance of the project we are tendering for if we do not invest the time to really consider why we have the right team, and how to demonstrate that. The CV is a key tool to demonstrate higher- level understanding of the project's unique requirements.
So, how do we approach this?
Once you know the format, or requirements, then some basic principles can be followed, including:
? Identify the key selection criteria and ensure the CV specifically addresses and/ or demonstrates achievement against each
? Identify specific role requirements within the project and emphasise relevant examples in the CV
? Consider specific project risks and identify ways to demonstrate through the CV that by choosing this person [team] these risks are nullified
? Identify project key success factors and key outcomes targeted, and emphasise similar achievements
? Follow the concept where possible of "what it was like; what I did; what it looks like now and why it is better" to demonstrate impact and value in past roles and experiences
? Consider a summary section, at the beginning, to emphasise suitability for role [maintain formatting compliance obviously]
? Use 'achievement' language ? led, developed, implemented, managed etc
? Maintain readability ? short sentences; only information that is necessary to demonstrate appropriateness; white space on paper; colour etc
? Make sure someone other than the individual and the 'author' reviews the CV for quality.
Many agencies calling for tenders where a CV is required often ask for information in a set format ? actually, many times they ask for specific information, not always in a set format. This is an important distinction, as it gives some freedom to where information is placed in the document, such that you place your most important information where it will be read early. Never lose sight of the fact that the CV is a selling document.
The beauty of approaching the CV this way is that the CV often provides an opportunity to extend the technical submission, which is usually bound to a page limit, by incorporating, emphasising or reiterating key points.
Finally, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of the pre-submission quality review, and this is equally important for the CV. Have we got the best team? Have we really demonstrated competence against each criterion? Does the CV read as though it is part of the broader tender submission? Is there anything we have missed?
The right team can be a bid winner ? certainly worth the time and investment to ensure their CV leads to this result.
Preparing winning CV's meldunn.com.au
Mel Dunn is Managing Director of Global Business and Development Solutions, which works with individuals and organisations that are committed to business success and the success of others. We work globally and locally and focus on providing sustainable solutions for our clients.
We offer a range of services including:
? Proposal and tender development
? Technical assistance
? Research and strategy development
? Quality review of submissions
? Market entry support
? Partner identification
? On-ground representation
We have all attended meetings that were boring, mindless and... Read More
I believe the media and our culture sends the wrong... Read More
Nothing has changed. Your ancestors lived by faith. Some planted... Read More
In 1987 I sold my business, South Mountain Company, to... Read More
Employers have become so concerned about seeming "unfair" or worse... Read More
Every day, everyone can make the world a better place.... Read More
One of the more ambiguous elements of a Six Sigma... Read More
Wouldn't it be great if we got get the cheapest... Read More
It seems incongruous that good idea generation can be a... Read More
I hear many complaints daily about the "unfairness" of politics... Read More
Excess capacity in an automobile plant at Ford, Chrysler, Toyota,... Read More
Modern business faces complex problems; management often calls upon highly-specialized... Read More
The use of temporary services to stock a farm of... Read More
This technological revolution has organization, efficiency and productivity requirements well... Read More
Shaky FoundationsWhilst over 60% of businesses will be looking to... Read More
As a result of consolidation of operations and significantly increased... Read More
And is isn't hard - it's more about focusing on... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
The litany of headaches related to the implementation and on-going... Read More
One of the most difficult tasks you will face as... Read More
A framework is a way of thinking, a point-of-view, a... Read More
Lynn was tapped to head up the project team for... Read More
In the bestseller, Good to Great, Jim Collins discovered that,... Read More
Even in today's still uncertain economic times, there are companies... Read More
You can possibly teach a turkey to climb a tree... Read More
Globalisation, the expansion of intercontinental trade, technological advances and the... Read More
What really amazes me, with all the personal and professional... Read More
A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
As your website grows in terms of attracting more footfalls,... Read More
DISCUSSION METHODS: There are two basic types of discussion methods;... Read More
The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never... Read More
Are you NICE or do you CARE? ... Read More
In any organisation, progress is frequently impaired by the time... Read More
In today's article, we'll be looking at the income statement,... Read More
In my organisational career, I had budgets from the age... Read More
In a previous life I was a Navy Pilot. Great... Read More
Sooner or later, most business owners need to look for... Read More
Hiring employees is a huge responsibility. Before hiring anyone, be... Read More
Color is a big factor effecting all indoor... Read More
In today's hectic business environment, it is vital that we... Read More
Communication is the key to your success at work, at... Read More
Using all of your senses, to help you test how... Read More
Companies are welcoming a diverse range of employees (The Sunday... Read More
When executives see themselves as solely responsible for the overall... Read More
1. No vision. Successful businesses have a clear vision or... Read More
Bad news.Your senior vice-president, your marketing director or your accounting... Read More
In my work with business executives, I have come to... Read More
What's the use?Nothing you do will hold down the cost... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
How can I make my community of practice truly effective?How... Read More
Check Out Your E-HabitsAnother week has ended. And, despite moving... Read More
There are wild variances in how much involvement organisations are... Read More
FINDING DIRECTION: An organization can't succeed without direction. Direction means... Read More
For good reason, practically every endeavor in life is rated.... Read More
Unfortunately, at least two thirds of much of the training... Read More
It has been well documented that employees' productivity and job... Read More
Times of cost cutting and downsizing has dramatically impacted the... Read More
My client had faced the same challenge, which was frustrating... Read More
Do you ever wonder why people do not simply do... Read More
Firstly you should decide your own reasoning behind considering ISO... Read More
Over the past few weeks I've been developing plans for... Read More
Marriages and corporate mergers in America have at least one... Read More
In the call center environment we are often only as... Read More
Perfectionism can get in the way of building or marketing... Read More
Motivation is a term that is so widely used, yet... Read More
Business Management |