Your CV Writing Consultation: What to Expect and How to Prepare
At CV Pilots, we believe that a highly-personalised approach yields the best results for our clients.
Before we start writing your CV, we’ll organise an hour-long initial phone consultation.
The consultation, which typically lasts between 45 minutes to an hour, is a key component of our writing process, as it allows us to get to know you and understand your goals.
As a result, we'll have the information we need to put together the strongest CV possible.
Ideally, we'll gather valuable information that you didn't even think to include!
Elements we'll discuss during your consultation include your:
- Job search status
- Target positions
- Career goals
- Previous work experiences
- Questions and concerns
While our conversation will be informal and predominantly consists of us asking targeted questions about your prior roles, we highly recommend setting aside some time to prepare.
By reflecting on your past experience and career goals, you’ll be able to:
- Provide specific responses that will allow us to make your CV stronger
- Effectively prepare for your upcoming interviews
Below, we provide an outline of how to prepare and questions to consider.
Reflect on your future goals
While your CV is a fact-based document, we will be able to tailor it for maximum impact if you are clear about your future goals.
Questions to consider:
- What industry will you be applying for jobs in?
- Do you have any specific job postings you are interested in?
- If you are trying to switch sectors altogether, why?
- What skills from your current and previous roles will be transferable?
Know your existing CV in depth
Make sure you know the contents of your current CV (if applicable) and your completed questionnaire inside out.
Questions to consider:
- Are you able to explain each of your bullet points?
- Can you provide specific examples of what you did on the job and major projects you worked on?
Brainstorm what you accomplished in each role
Your CV will not only explain your day-to-day responsibilities but also provide concrete evidence of your accomplishments.
By incorporating specific examples of what you achieved, you’ll be able to stand out from other similar candidates.
Questions to consider:
- What were your main responsibilities in each role?
- Did you work on any special projects?
- Did you develop or implement any new initiatives? What impact did they have on the organisation?
- What aspects of your role can you quantify? Sales metrics? Number of projects? Revenue increases? Costs cut?
- By how much were you able to improve these metrics and via what strategies?
- Did you receive any recognition or awards?
Compile any additional supporting documentation
You may find it easier or more efficient to provide us with additional documents to help us understand certain aspects of your role.
The documentation you may consider sending includes:
- Company overviews
- Job descriptions for current and/or previous roles
- Copies of qualifications you obtained
- PowerPoint slides summarising major projects
- Relevant metrics or dashboards
Reflect on major job search-related concerns
The primary focus of our consultation is making sure that we have the information we need to prepare strong job application documents on your behalf.
However, we're also here to help you navigate your job search effectively.
Questions to consider:
- Are there any concerns you have?
- Which areas of the application process have you found difficult to navigate in the past?
We'll make sure to set aside time to clarify your goals and point you to resources that can help if needed!
Relax!
We're on your side, and we want to see you succeed.
Don't stress and know that all of the information you share with us will be kept absolutely confidential.
By being open and honest, you'll enable us to better serve you and help you meet your goals.
We look forward to speaking with you!
Have any questions about your consultation or need to provide additional information?
Please email us at team@cvpilots.co.uk or call +44 (0)207 043 2684.
About CV Pilots
CV Pilots is an award-winning executive CV writing firm and a proud member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Our previous clients include CEOs and senior executives at the world's leading companies.
As a professional services firm, we take your reputation seriously. We are committed to delivering writing excellence and superior service while operating with integrity and discretion. Recruitment firms we partner with also trust us to consistently deliver quality documents for their clients.
Our writers have studied at top-tier universities and have strong writing backgrounds coupled with industry experience.
Here's how we can help you:
CV, Cover Letter and LinkedIn Writing Services: If you are looking for end-to-end support, hire one of our professional CV writers to rewrite your documents from the ground up.
Executive CV Template Downloads: If you plan to prepare your own CV, consider using one of our classic, ATS-friendly CV templates for Microsoft Word.
To learn more about our services, book an introductory call with our founder here or email team@cvpilots.co.uk.
About the AuthorMatt Glodz
Matt Glodz is the Founder and Managing Partner of CV Pilots and a Certified Professional Resume Writer.
After studying business communication at Cornell University, Matt worked for global companies, where he noted that qualified candidates were frequently denied interview opportunities due to poorly written documents.
At CV Pilots, Matt combines his solid business and writing background to craft CVs that give his clients the best chance of landing interviews. He has lived in the UK, US and Italy.
Based in London, he currently works with applicants ranging from CEOs to recent graduates and has been writing CVs for over 10 years.
He has been quoted on numerous business and career-related topics in outlets including Business Insider, CNBC, Fortune, Glassdoor, The Ladders, The Times and Thrive Global.