Could Achievement Amnesia Cost you Your Next job?

5 months ago 25th Jun 12:54

Perhaps just as worryingly, the majority of candidates appear to spend a disproportionate amount of time making their CV stand out with creative designs (36%) - despite the fact most employers and recruitment agencies don't think such embellishments are important.

Achievement Amnesia is a common - and potentially costly - problem, according to CV specialist, Karl Gregory, from iProfile.org: "Most people think a quirky CV style or generic responsibilities are what employers are looking for, but the research shows that actually the specific achievements of individuals are what make the difference. We work with some of the biggest recruiters in the UK and they tell us that candidates regularly undersell their achievements - addressing this issue could significantly boost people' chances of getting through to the interview stage, as well as getting the salary they deserve."

The report argues that jobseekers must begin keeping an ongoing record of achievements during the periods when they are not actively seeking work if they are to avoid underselling themselves when they begin interviewing.

Gregory concludes: "There are now tools available online that let people record and structure their achievements as they happen so that your CV grows with you. They also allow you to keep track of all your professional training and qualifications so that people can be in the strongest negotiating position possible when they apply for vacancies. These tools also allow people to share this information quickly with potential employers in an online format that is welcomed."

A full version of "Underselling in CVs", published by iProfile and including tips on how to best structure your CV for maximum impact, is available to download from iProfile's Career Advice section.

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