FAQs
Can Chat GPT write me a CV?
Yes, Chat GPT can write CVs along with other content. The resulting content for say, social media posts can be reasonably good although plagiarism scans can identify elements that have been taken from other sources - the only way that Chat GPT can actually 'write' anything. For a CV, the content will lack the authenticity of a bespoke CV written by an expert simply because it is an AI tool and not a human being with whom you will have built a relationship.
How do you write a CV for me?
To enable us to write your bespoke, professional resume, we first agree your objectives and deadline. From there, our process is as follows:
What is the difference between a chronological and a skills-based (functional) CV?
As chronological CV is the traditional format written with your career history in reverse chronological order. As skills-based CV is written using headings for each of your main skills and examples of your career successes within each section. This type of CV is helpful for people looking to highlight transferable skills as they move industry or who have had a career break and want to focus on what they can do rather than the timeline. New CV writes both types of CV and we are happy to explore the options with you during a no obligation discovery call.
Should I include my address in my CV?
It is not necessary to include your address as all communication between recruiter and applicant will be electronic or by phone. Additionally, if you include a cover letter it will feature your address at the top of the page. New CV writes application or cover letters to ensure you demonstrate your appropriateness for the role for which you are applying.
Do I need a separate CV for each application?
It is really important to tailor your CV for each application so it reflects the job and person description given by the advertisement. Because so many recruiters and agencies use ATS – applicant tracking systems – it is also important to think about the language you use in the CV as the ATS is programmed to look for specific words and phrases. New CV provides advice about how to do this to all clients.
Can recruiters find out that I am lying or embellishing the truth in my CV?
Enhancing your achievements to gain an interview can be a short-sighted way of getting the attention of a recruiter, mainly because if they ask you about your embellished claim at interview or you talk about it in a video interview, the interviewer (human or AI) can usually tell you are lying…. And that is the end of your stellar career with that organisation before you even start!
How do I make my CV stand out?
It is essential to have a professional looking CV which means you must resist the temptation to make it look pretty or wacky. As a CV is a business document it must appeal to a business audience. Unusually formatted CVs are often rejected as unreadable by ATS so there is no point in reducing your chances of success for the sake of a creative layout. The one exception to this is if you are in a creative industry where a demonstration of your artistic flair is going to gain you a place at the interview table. Creative CVs still need to be readable and uncomplicated, but can include links to portfolios and examples of recent work. New CV provides professional, fit for purpose CVs in a clear and easy to read format.
How do I make sure my CV is going to pass through AI driven candidate selection systems?
Software candidate screening systems, known as ATS, are programmed to look for specific words and phrases in your application, so it is really important to tailor your CV for each application to reflect the job and person description given in the advertisement. However, it is equally important that you don’t try to beat the ATS by filling your CV with too many keywords as this will make it unreadable. At New CV we are experienced in finding the right balance: we include keywords and phrases without over-stuffing your CV with them.
Should I include information about my reasons for leaving past employment?
A CV is a concise narrative of your career or work experience to date, but it should not be an essay on your life story. Reasons for leaving are not needed in any CV so don’t be tempted to include them; this is the kind of discussion that can be had at an interview if necessary.
When writing my CV can I save space by abbreviating words and using acronyms?
Some people use acronyms and abbreviations to such an extent they appear to speak a foreign language – you probably know someone who does this! Equally, some people use ‘text speak’ to communicate which is wholly inappropriate for a CV. Unless an abbreviation or acronym is universally known e.g. ‘etc’, ‘re:’, ‘YTD’, 'YOY' ‘M&S’ or ‘&’ it is a good rule of thumb to write out the words in long form for the first time you use them, followed by the abbreviated form, so that you can safely use the abbreviation/acronym in the rest of the document. New CV guarantees accurate grammar and an excellent eye for detail in all the work we do.
How do I deal with a gap in my work history in my CV?
Honesty is always the best policy. A gap is not a problem; the issue is how you handle it. Small gaps of a month or two are neither here nor there, but for gaps of longer than this, simply provide the dates and write a line about what you were doing (e.g. travelling, maternity leave, sabbatical to study, caring etc). You also need to reflect these dates in your LinkedIn profile as inconsistent dates are a sure way of ending up on a recruiter's ‘no’ pile. New CV offers LinkedIn profile writing services to ensure all your key dates tie up.
Should I put a photo on my CV?
Whilst a professional head shot is essential on your LinkedIn profile, a photo on your CV is a definite no-no. Increasingly, recruiters are working on ways to avoid unconscious bias entering into the process so a photo will not do you any favours, however lovely it may be; plus, it takes up valuable space!
Why is it important to use a certified CV writer?
The British Association of CV Writers carries out a rigorous testing process to ensure that all members write CVs that meet exacting standards. Many CV writers who advertise online are not able to meet these standards or provide fit for purpose CVs, so it is always good to check the credentials of your chosen CV writer. As with any trade, CV writing is a skill. At New CV, we have the expertise gained from over ten years of CV writing, coupled with excellent attention to detail and a strong understanding of what makes a winning CV.
Why do I need a LinkedIn profile?
LinkedIn is the go to platform for recruiters, professional networkers, thought leaders and job seekers, so if you are not on it, your skills and experience are invisible to the 34.9 million UK users and 900 million users worldwide (March 2023 data). As well as building a professional network, LinkedIn is full of content from thought leaders that will benefit you in your job, as a job seeker or with your business. For more information about LinkedIn please contact [email protected]
Yes, Chat GPT can write CVs along with other content. The resulting content for say, social media posts can be reasonably good although plagiarism scans can identify elements that have been taken from other sources - the only way that Chat GPT can actually 'write' anything. For a CV, the content will lack the authenticity of a bespoke CV written by an expert simply because it is an AI tool and not a human being with whom you will have built a relationship.
How do you write a CV for me?
To enable us to write your bespoke, professional resume, we first agree your objectives and deadline. From there, our process is as follows:
- You send us your current/old CV, plus any additional information to establish your career history.
- We ask questions and carry out any necessary background research in order to prepare a first draft CV.
- Together we work through this and subsequent drafts exploring the detail, your achievements and personal brand until we achieve your desired final version.
What is the difference between a chronological and a skills-based (functional) CV?
As chronological CV is the traditional format written with your career history in reverse chronological order. As skills-based CV is written using headings for each of your main skills and examples of your career successes within each section. This type of CV is helpful for people looking to highlight transferable skills as they move industry or who have had a career break and want to focus on what they can do rather than the timeline. New CV writes both types of CV and we are happy to explore the options with you during a no obligation discovery call.
Should I include my address in my CV?
It is not necessary to include your address as all communication between recruiter and applicant will be electronic or by phone. Additionally, if you include a cover letter it will feature your address at the top of the page. New CV writes application or cover letters to ensure you demonstrate your appropriateness for the role for which you are applying.
Do I need a separate CV for each application?
It is really important to tailor your CV for each application so it reflects the job and person description given by the advertisement. Because so many recruiters and agencies use ATS – applicant tracking systems – it is also important to think about the language you use in the CV as the ATS is programmed to look for specific words and phrases. New CV provides advice about how to do this to all clients.
Can recruiters find out that I am lying or embellishing the truth in my CV?
Enhancing your achievements to gain an interview can be a short-sighted way of getting the attention of a recruiter, mainly because if they ask you about your embellished claim at interview or you talk about it in a video interview, the interviewer (human or AI) can usually tell you are lying…. And that is the end of your stellar career with that organisation before you even start!
How do I make my CV stand out?
It is essential to have a professional looking CV which means you must resist the temptation to make it look pretty or wacky. As a CV is a business document it must appeal to a business audience. Unusually formatted CVs are often rejected as unreadable by ATS so there is no point in reducing your chances of success for the sake of a creative layout. The one exception to this is if you are in a creative industry where a demonstration of your artistic flair is going to gain you a place at the interview table. Creative CVs still need to be readable and uncomplicated, but can include links to portfolios and examples of recent work. New CV provides professional, fit for purpose CVs in a clear and easy to read format.
How do I make sure my CV is going to pass through AI driven candidate selection systems?
Software candidate screening systems, known as ATS, are programmed to look for specific words and phrases in your application, so it is really important to tailor your CV for each application to reflect the job and person description given in the advertisement. However, it is equally important that you don’t try to beat the ATS by filling your CV with too many keywords as this will make it unreadable. At New CV we are experienced in finding the right balance: we include keywords and phrases without over-stuffing your CV with them.
Should I include information about my reasons for leaving past employment?
A CV is a concise narrative of your career or work experience to date, but it should not be an essay on your life story. Reasons for leaving are not needed in any CV so don’t be tempted to include them; this is the kind of discussion that can be had at an interview if necessary.
When writing my CV can I save space by abbreviating words and using acronyms?
Some people use acronyms and abbreviations to such an extent they appear to speak a foreign language – you probably know someone who does this! Equally, some people use ‘text speak’ to communicate which is wholly inappropriate for a CV. Unless an abbreviation or acronym is universally known e.g. ‘etc’, ‘re:’, ‘YTD’, 'YOY' ‘M&S’ or ‘&’ it is a good rule of thumb to write out the words in long form for the first time you use them, followed by the abbreviated form, so that you can safely use the abbreviation/acronym in the rest of the document. New CV guarantees accurate grammar and an excellent eye for detail in all the work we do.
How do I deal with a gap in my work history in my CV?
Honesty is always the best policy. A gap is not a problem; the issue is how you handle it. Small gaps of a month or two are neither here nor there, but for gaps of longer than this, simply provide the dates and write a line about what you were doing (e.g. travelling, maternity leave, sabbatical to study, caring etc). You also need to reflect these dates in your LinkedIn profile as inconsistent dates are a sure way of ending up on a recruiter's ‘no’ pile. New CV offers LinkedIn profile writing services to ensure all your key dates tie up.
Should I put a photo on my CV?
Whilst a professional head shot is essential on your LinkedIn profile, a photo on your CV is a definite no-no. Increasingly, recruiters are working on ways to avoid unconscious bias entering into the process so a photo will not do you any favours, however lovely it may be; plus, it takes up valuable space!
Why is it important to use a certified CV writer?
The British Association of CV Writers carries out a rigorous testing process to ensure that all members write CVs that meet exacting standards. Many CV writers who advertise online are not able to meet these standards or provide fit for purpose CVs, so it is always good to check the credentials of your chosen CV writer. As with any trade, CV writing is a skill. At New CV, we have the expertise gained from over ten years of CV writing, coupled with excellent attention to detail and a strong understanding of what makes a winning CV.
Why do I need a LinkedIn profile?
LinkedIn is the go to platform for recruiters, professional networkers, thought leaders and job seekers, so if you are not on it, your skills and experience are invisible to the 34.9 million UK users and 900 million users worldwide (March 2023 data). As well as building a professional network, LinkedIn is full of content from thought leaders that will benefit you in your job, as a job seeker or with your business. For more information about LinkedIn please contact [email protected]