WORKSHIFTER - Dispatches from the New Executive Frontier

Step 4: Develop your CV

Part four of our five part series looking at the steps to becoming independently employed.

Let’s face it. There will be intense competition for snagging project work, short-term or permanent jobs that may be created in the coming year. Despite the current financial market turmoil, there will be companies in need of people to help them out. You can be one of them.

In this environment I cannot stress enough how important it will be to present yourself in the best way possible. Clearly outline your ability to deliver results.

Sure, there are all sorts of theories on resume types. The curriculum vitae, or CV, is what I recommend. While a résumé focuses on your job experience, a CV highlights your accomplishments in quantifiable ways. Obviously a CV is much more impressive but also much more difficult to pull together.

Unless you’ve been diligent about tracking your accomplishments all along, you’ll need to do some digging. Your goal is to create quantifiable accomplishment statements such as “Implemented call centers in eight countries 20% under budget and 25% ahead of schedule.”

In addition to the typical job experience details contained in a standard résumé, a CV will often include work samples presentations, publications, research, board memberships – that sort of thing. It’s longer than the average résumé but well worth it in the long run.

Naturally prospective clients will want to see this type of detailed document. They’ll want to make sure up front that you have the proper credentials to perform the service you're selling.

Step 5: Develop your personal business plan