Interim professionals are some of the most sought-after and highly-paid workers in the economy. They’re paid a premium for their ability to hit the ground running. Not only will they need a strong understanding and a proven track record in their chosen field, they’ll also need to be adaptable, with strong people skills and the willingness to move from place to place in pursuit of the work.
Of course, having all of these qualities is one thing. Demonstrating them to would-be employers is quite another. Among the best ways to do this is with the help of a well-thought-out CV. But exactly what does a good CV include?
Strong structure and content
Clients expect very different things from an interim appointment than they do a permanent one. At the very front of the CV should be a standout reason for the client to pick up the phone. They’re reading your CV because they have a problem, and you need to get across that you’re the person to fix it. Don’t waste time with waffling hyperbole – if the company is worth working for, they’ll have appointed someone to read your CV who’ll be able to spot this sort of thing a mile off.
Focus on Results
Your CV should demonstrate your track record by means of a series of short paragraphs, each of which gets across a challenge you faced, a solution you settled upon, and an outcome you achieved. Employers are looking for a proven pair of hands for the interim period; you need to show that you have completed tasks that are relevant to the work in question.
Interim professionals are often brought in to fill vacancies, but they’re also called upon by companies faced with a specific project that requires specific skills. Pick examples which are most applicable to the job in question to give yourself the strongest possible chance of success. For example, if you’re applying for HR contract jobs, pick the results that best demonstrate your HR credentials.
Describe your Skills
Your soft skills play an important part in your efficacy as an interim manager. These might include communication and adaptability. Different companies have different cultures, and these differences can reach from broad structural changes to dress code.
Interim managers aren’t going to be asked to make sweeping changes to a business they’re not going to be with in the long-term; thus you should focus on the specific ways you’d address short-term problems.
Play to Your Strengths
Your CV should emphasise the things you’re good at while disguising the things you’re not so good at. It’s fine to have an appreciation of where you might improve yourself, but your CV isn’t a place to examine your shortcomings: it should give firms a reason to hire you!
