MWB 34 - How To Write An Interview Winning CV
A note on crafting a CV based on your highest advantage, where you can leave the basics of cryptocurrency and someone to learn from on Central Bank Digital Currency.
Hello friends,
Have you asked yourself before in what format your CV should be? A question like education before experience or vice versa and a similar question. Well, let’s talk about that today.
I want to share something with you about having a great CV. It was actually my response to what a friend shared. I hope that after reading this, you will be able to gain a better perspective on how you design your CV.
Different people come up with different ways you should design your CV per time. I don’t want to join them and I am not sure you should listen to them all the time as well. But you can listen to me. And I mean this because unlike them, I don’t make a rule-based approach to building a CV that will win you an interview opportunity. Rather I will introduce you to a principle-based approach to designing your CV. The principle is meant to achieve one thing for you, “bring you to the interview table and lead an interesting conversation between you and your interviewer”.
So for me, what I optimize for when designing my CV stems from a simple question, "what will the recruiter be looking for in my CV?" and "what will increase my likelihood of being invited for an interview?" This has always been my guide.
In practice, for me, that means prioritizing my experience above my education. For another person, it could mean education before experience. The question is what is the highest leverage that I have for this position? My experience or my education?
I studied Accounting but work as a Data & Analytics Consultant. If I put my education first on my CV, upon seeing it, a recruiter might just throw it away because of the simple fact that "it doesn't fit and they don't have enough time to look through". So my experience comes first to ensure that the first impression strikes a cord.
Also, my experience comes top because of the brand affiliation. Having PwC at the top of my CV will give me more opportunities than having Obafemi Awolowo University at the top.
There was a time as well that what I had at the top was my education. Because that was the highest leverage I had then.
If I went to Stanford or MIT tomorrow, the order might change again for me. Lol.
And it will keep on changing until my name alone is sufficient to warrant an opportunity. That should be the ultimate goal for everyone. I believe.
Yes, while not all may get to this ambitious point, I believe it should be the ultimate goal for everyone. A point where your name alone is enough to bring you to an interview panel. Of course, you will still be interviewed even at the highest point of your career. However, when you get to a point where your name becomes your highest leverage, you would have arrived.
Best of What I Read
Coinbase has a beautiful blog to explore Crypto basics. I spent some times on it in the past week. Go and explore to learn as well.
Richard Turrin is a leading voice on the subject of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). I spent a considerable amount of time listening to his podcast appearances in the past week. His articulation of history, present and the future potential of CBDC is interesting. He is most active on LinkedIn and following him will quickly bring you up to speed a out the mechanics and ongoing development of CBDC especially in China, since they are the one leading the race.
That's all for this week.
See you in the next.
And yes, thanks a bunch to all of you who reached out last wee on my exams. I really appreciate it. Unfortunately though, I didn't pass the exam. I am booked to rewrite it and I'm sure to prepare well the next time before writing it. Thank you again.
Cheers.