This phone chat provides a valuable opportunity to ensure you select the most appropriate CV package that caters to your unique needs.

During our conversation, we can discuss my process, and the type of support and communication you can expect during the project. My goal is for you to feel confident in my ability to present your qualifications, accomplishments, and experience in the best light to help you secure interviews.

Ready to proceed? Kindly select a package and complete your payment via debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. Following this, we'll arrange an in-depth call to explore your requirements.

If your needs are urgent, the best approach is to complete my form with as much detail as possible. This provides me with important context.

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We meticulously tailor your CV to meet the employer's selection criteria, ensuring a precise match with their requirements.

CV Writer Certification and Memberships

I am a graduate librarian and a founding member of the UK-based CVRA, which provides professional certification and education for CV and resume writers worldwide.

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Can we chat before I make a purchase?

Yes, before placing an order for any CV package, we can schedule a brief consultation to discuss your CV needs and the best approach. For packages costing £205 and above, we can schedule Zoom or phone meetings at mutually convenient times to further discuss your needs and to fine-tune the documents. It would be helpful for me to review your current CV and the job ad or job specification before our first meeting.

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It's a common misconception among senior professionals that they can overlook parts of a job application due to their seniority. However, failing to align your CV with the job's selection criteria almost guarantees it will be filtered out by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) before it reaches a human reviewer.

Essential Components for Executive Job Applications

The cornerstone of any executive application includes the CV, the Cover Letter (or e-note), and the linkedIn Profile.

• CV Adaptation - Your CV should be a tailored summary of your qualifications, skills, experiences, and achievements, specifically adapted to the job's selection criteria.
• Cover Letter Crafting - the cover letter, or e-note, condenses the crucial aspects of your CV into a brief and compelling argument for your candidacy.
• Selection Criteria Response - It's often formally required to directly address the job's selection criteria, detailing both your mandatory and desirable attributes. However, It's always essential to address the selection criteria, whether you're asked to or not.
• Your Peer Network- linkedIn is becoming increasingly important for positions where a peer network is desirable or essential, and it's also where you may get interview offers or be headhunted.

Every element of your application must subtly convey how well you fit the employer's specific requirements, even if they're not clearly stated. If deducing the employer's hidden expectations from the job advert proves challenging, don't hesitate to call the recruiter, contact the employer directly, or consult your professional network for insights. Engaging in this detective work to uncover their unspoken criteria ensures your application is tailored, and has a competitive edge.

For immediate assistance or advice on tailoring your executive application, emailing me with detailed information is the most effective strategy.

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Selection criteria outline the specific skills, experiences, and personal qualities ('attributes') that an organisation considers valuable in potential candidates, a factor that is particularly vital for executives aiming to match an organisation's strategic goals and culture.

These criteria often encompass a mix of core and desirable skills, underscoring:

• Leadership excellence and effective team management capabilities.
• High-level educational achievements and relevant career experience.
• Strategic thinking and knowledge specific to the industry.
• Global exposure, reflecting a broad worldview and adaptability to diverse cultures.
• Significant achievements that have positively influenced past organisations.

Commonly referred to as Job Specifications, Position Requirements, and Competency Frameworks, these criteria act as a comprehensive guide for applicants, covering both the technical skills required and the personal attributes favoured.

Executive CVs & Selection Criteria

To address selection criteria in an executive job application, it is important to understand the employer's explicit (stated) and implicit (what you can deduce) requirements and align them with your own attributes, and performance record. This includes:

• Providing detailed and specific examples of how you meet the criteria.
• Having a good understanding of the organisation's strategic aims and how your attributes and experience align with them.
• Having a good insight into who you are as a professional and being able to communicate that effectively in your application.

Each employer sets their own scope and nature of the questions or tests that may be posed, which are becoming increasingly qualitative in nature. Therefore, it is essential for anyone writing on your behalf to have a deep understanding of your professional background.

The sequence for addressing selection criteria in an executive job application typically includes the following steps:

• Explicit selection criteria - Carefully read the job advertisement and the selection criteria to understand the specific skills, knowledge, and experience that the employer is looking for in a candidate.
• Unspoken selection criteria - Engaging directly with recruiters, employers, and your professional network can reveal crucial but unadvertised selection criteria. Ask about company culture, market shifts, regulatory impacts, and economic considerations. Additionally, discussions within your peer network can provide insider insights into the organisation's unspoken needs and expectations, enabling you to tailor your application to align with both the visible and hidden demands of the role.
• Gather evidence - Bring together details of your qualifications, skills, knowledge, and experience that best demonstrate how you meet the selection criteria. This may include certificates, awards, and testimonials from previous employers or colleagues.
• CV Alignment - Use the information you have gathered to tailor your CV to the job, highlighting your key achievements, skills, and experience that match the requirements of the employer.
• Accomplishment focus - Use specific examples and evidence to demonstrate how you meet the selection criteria. Make sure to address all the key points and use a clear, concise, and logical structure.

I, myself, will help address a prospective employer's job selection criteria and craft your CV. I do not use junior writers or outsource the work to third parties, I provide the service myself. You can speak to me by phone, text or video.

Here are some advantages of my personalised approach for executive CV projects:

• We'll talk about your career goals, work history, skills, and experiences to for me to learn more about you as a professional.
• Then, I'll use the information I've gathered to write a CV that shows off your most important accomplishments, skills, and experiences in a way that matches the job requirements and what the employer wants, which makes it more likely to be shortlisted.
• This personalised CV service will help me highlight your unique strengths and qualifications that make you the best fit for the job.
• A well-written, personalised CV increases your chances of success in the job application process.
• I will give you fearless and personalised feedback on your CV, which will help you improve it.
• I will pay attention to the details of your CV and make sure that it is error-free, well-formatted, and visually appealing.
• CVs that are tailored to a specific job and employer have a higher chance of passing ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), which are used by many employers to screen applications.

A CV built around achievements

My tailored approach enhances your leverage in job applications by meticulously developing a CV that accentuates the tangible impacts of your professional achievements, rather than a mere chronology of past roles.

The value you add

In emphasising value addition, I illuminate your capacity to offer deep and insightful contributions to boardroom discussions, driving strategic decisions with a blend of intellect and emotional intelligence—an attribute increasingly valued in high-level executives.

Your ability to solve problems

I weave the narrative of your ability to navigate and resolve significant business challenges, demonstrating not only strategic problem-solving skills but also the emotional acuity to manage and lead through change. This perspective is particularly compelling to potential employers who value leaders that can balance logic with empathy.

Your financial acumen

The CV foregrounds your financial acumen, detailing how your initiatives have led to increased revenue, cost efficiencies, and transformative projects, all underpinned by an emotionally intelligent understanding of stakeholder impact.

Your capacity to innovate

Your innovative and original contributions are also spotlighted, showcasing the forward-thinking and creative advancements you've pioneered, backed by the ability to inspire and bring people together for a common cause.

Your ability to lead and motivate

Leadership is framed not just through outcomes but through the lens of emotional intelligence, highlighting your ability to cultivate teams, enhance communication, and make an impactful impression on a range of stakeholders, demonstrating a leader who understands the human side of business.

Your commitment to excellence

Finally, your unwavering commitment to excellence is portrayed as a byproduct of your professional and emotional acumen, reinforcing your reputation as a leader who elevates standards in recruitment, product development, and customer experiences through a keen understanding of people and processes. This comprehensive reflection ensures that your CV resonates not just with the expectations for the role but also with the emotional depth and understanding required for top-tier leadership positions.

Steer Clear of Application Missteps:

Neglecting Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

The primary hurdle? Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). It's estimated that a shocking 70% of CVs are eliminated at the initial screening due to a mismatch with the employer's selection criteria, signalling the end for generic CVs.

The One-size-fits-all CV Dilemma

Sending the identical CV for multiple applications is a sure-fire error. Tailor your CV for each application, showcasing how your distinct skills and experiences make you the perfect fit.

Mismatch with Job Requirements

A CV that doesn't reflect the specific skills and experiences sought in the job advertisement is likely to be overlooked. Your CV should closely align with the job selection criteria outlined by the employer.

Overly Stylised CVs

Favour simplicity over excessively stylised CVs that focus on decoration rather than substance. CVs heavy on graphics and elaborate designs can confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), significantly diminishing their effectiveness. Furthermore, many organisations and jurisdictions dismiss applications with photos to sidestep allegations of gender or ethnicity discrimination.

To avoid the pitfalls and boost your chances of an interview, focus on devising a CV that's not just clear and concise but also bespoke for the job in question and compatible with ATS requirements.