Why is it so hard to write your own CV?

If you're like me, you hate writing your CV. It's just so hard... Why? We write reports, make presentations, write emails, so why is a CV so hard to do? Well, it is because -

Everything you write down has an emotional connection to you, so you will procrastinate and struggle to get perspective because you can't separate the self-judgment from the evidence.

Plus, it's hard to capture all you are, do and have done on just two pages. It can feel trite, inauthentic, impersonal - and with the rise of AI - all too generic.

"Am I good enough?" is a question that plagues people trying to write their CVs

It is deeply (deeply) ironic that I became not just a CV writer but a professionally certified one after the years I spent dodging writing my own. I've even stayed in jobs I hated because I couldn't face writing my CV! Now I am a CPRW (Certified Professional Resume Writer), evidence that I am a trained professional. Incredibly, for a former hater, I'm also pretty good at it and get great client feedback on how well I can shape and encapsulate their brand.

The key to understanding how to write your CV is this: your CV is about you, but not for you. You need to write for your reader.

A CV is a marketing tool, a showcase. It is NOT a documentary history and list of everything you've ever done.

Attitudes to working with CV writers have changed and it is now far less strange or seen to be 'cheating' to work with a professional CV writer. Would you try to fix your own car or take it to a reputable mechanic?

You could even argue that hiring a CV writer demonstrates how seriously you take your CV.

If you DIY it, on the technical side, even if you are up to date on all things ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) and keyword matching, it can still be hard to write your own CV because although you know all the guides and rules, it's the content that is so hard to keep clear, concise and relevant.

Self-editing your story is tricky - what is needed, what isn't, how to say it succinctly - it's tough to be so clinical and externally, not self-focused. That is where realising it's about you but not for you is the game changer.

People are still quite cautious and even cynical about asking a 'stranger' to write their CV. There is also the idea that someone who isn't you can know you like you do. But good CV writers are professionals, not random strangers, they don't need to know everything about you to write a compelling CV - and, in fact, it can be better if they don't.

A writer doesn't know the inner you, they will look at the evidence, not the emotions and work with that, removing the burden of feeling good enough or awkward that we can experience when we write about ourselves.

They can also help you be more objective and pinpoint that evidence. It's common that people can't self-edit and cling on to information on their CV that is no longer relevant. It might have been important then, but it's not important now to the roles they are looking at and a professional writer can help you gain that insight.

A CV is a form of marketing, and we employ professional writers to create enticing copy for products, so why not employ the same methods for promoting ourselves?

CVs have changed a lot in recent years. The language we use now is different. Gone are the detailed lists of responsibilities and stock third-person phrases like ‘excellent interpersonal skills’ and ‘ability to communicate at all levels’. In their place are career stories and a focus on the impact you’ve made, not the things you’ve done. They are all about evidence.

And whilst AI can help you get started, it can't challenge your thinking, understand the emotions you are experiencing or help you stop agonising over whether your profile is authentic to you.

If it’s been a while since you’ve been in the job market, it makes sense to find out how things are done now to increase your chances of success. But, would you go so far as to commission someone to write your CV?

Think about this for a second:

1. How many CVs have you written? Maybe one every few years if you’re like most people

2. How much experience do you have writing CVs? Not much. See previous answer

3. Are you aware of current CV trends? No. I’m too busy and not interested enough to find out what ATS is why it's important

And all that is fair enough. Why should you? Why not get someone else – like me – to do it for you?

However, there’s a huge difference between handing over all responsibility and using a specialist who can help you get it right. There are systems, structures and formulas you can follow, but it still has to be “you” enough to feel real.

Marketing blurb can sell a product, but sales decline and the product fails if it can’t live up to the promises made in that marketing copy. It’s the same with a CV. It might get you an interview, but you have to match the CV when you answer the phone or walk through the door, which is why working with a faceless CV service or getting AI to do it for you is pointless (in my opinion).

In my experience, most people, especially recruiters who see 1000s of CVs a year, have an innate ability to spot inauthenticity and they respond to it negatively, whether consciously or not.

Another element to consider is that in a world dominated by manipulated and filtered social media images and AI-generated content, the search for authenticity has become an increasingly necessary feature of recruiting. That’s why, when I work with clients on their CV, I ask them time and again, “Does this sound like you?” because if it doesn’t, it will fail them and I want us to succeed. And I won't write a CV without extensive conversations and a detailed questionnaire.

I work together with my clients to give them the most effective and most authentic CV to help them get that interview and move forward in their career. A CV that showcases their brand, their value proposition and the impact they can have in future roles. A CV that clearly demonstrates to the reader the ROI on hiring this candidate. A CV the candidate feels proud of - seriously! - and one that boosts their confidence when they read it. A CV that is authentically them, at their best.

How nice would it feel not to be staring at that blinking cursor and your CV from years ago, wondering where to start? Can you imagine having a CV you actually feel proud of?

If you are looking to recharge your career and need a CV that is a clear, concise and relevant showcase of what you have to offer, then why not book a free intro call and let's chat.

Click on Book a call on the website, or email me at louise@careertherapy.co.uk

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