Candidates

Consider your long term goals and try to think beyond what’s in front of you. Do you have target companies and do you follow them? Do you want to work in a certain location? How proactive are you in making that plan happen? We firmly believe that hope is never a strategy when it comes to climbing the career ladder. Don’t be disheartened if you make a wrong career move. It happens to more people than you would expect. Acknowledge your error and move on professionally.

Three quick wins you can action today are:

1. 1. Create a stand-out CV
   2. Maintain a professional LinkedIn profile
   3. Polish your interviewing skills

Our full career planning guide can be found here.

Starting with a top-level view of CV length, traditionally, a CV of 2–3 pages is sufficient to capture the interest of a hiring manager or internal recruiter. However, the length should ultimately be determined by the relevance of the content to the job opportunity. If there is extensive, directly relevant experience that aligns with the employer’s needs, a longer CV can be appropriate. Conversely, if only the most recent role is relevant, a shorter, more concise CV is preferable, emphasizing the most pertinent experience.

In terms of structure, we advise approaching your CV with the same mindset as if you were submitting a proposal to a client. An opening profile serves as an Executive Summary of your CV. This section should focus on the value you can bring to the employer, highlighting benefits rather than listing features. A single paragraph is typically sufficient to create interest. Many bid professionals fall in to the trap of listing their job description. This is very much ‘what you do’, and not necessarily ‘what you are going to do for the employer’.

Following the profile, a Key Skills section should be included. This section is often the first area a reviewer will examine, as it is visually accessible and quickly communicates core competencies. Skills listed should be tailored to each job application and reflect the ‘required skills’ mentioned in the job advert. Examples might include Bid Management, Bid Writing, Bid Leadership, and Customer Engagement. It is crucial to support each skill with evidence of your achievements against it, its relevance and impact. This section also helps ensure the inclusion of keywords that may be used in applicant tracking systems.

Throughout the CV, including the Profile, Skills, and Employment History sections, quantifiable achievements should be incorporated. Metrics such as win rate improvements, efficiency gains, or team growth (for example, expanding a team from X to Y members) add credibility and demonstrate impact.

In the Employment History section, bullet points should be used to describe each role. These are more likely to be read than large blocks of text and are especially effective when recruiters are reviewing multiple CVs. Begin each role with a brief overview, followed by bullet points outlining responsibilities and achievements. Each point should be evaluated with the question, “Why does this matter to the reader?” This approach ensures relevance and strengthens the overall impact of the CV. While not every bullet point will meet this standard, aiming for relevance wherever possible is beneficial.

The CV should conclude with sections on Education and Certifications. Optionally, a Hobbies and Interests section can be included to provide a more personal touch.

The tone and language of the CV should align with the target industry. For instance, legal and defence sectors typically favour a concise, direct style. In contrast, industries such as healthcare or hospitality may benefit from a more empathetic and creative tone. Understanding the audience is key.

A critical step is to ensure the CV is free from spelling and grammatical errors.

Finally, we recommend putting any contact details in the footer. These are often removed by recruiters for GDPR reasons and if embedded at the top of your CV, you risk having someone else curating a final, and not necessarily aesthetically pleasing, version of your CV, before it goes to a prospective employer.

Cramming information whilst traveling to an interview or whilst sat in reception waiting for the interview to start is only going to hamper your performance. If you follow our structured advice, you will be much better prepared to answer difficult questions, allowing your personality to shine through.

Before the interview

• Research the organisation and take note of recent news articles. You’re likely to be asked what you know about the company or why you want to work for that organisation. Being prepared with an answer that references up to date information shows genuine passion and interest.
• For all online interviews, ensure you have a good internet connection and that you are familiar with the platform being used (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)
• Use LinkedIn to research who you are meeting. This is common practice now, so don’t worry about showing up as having viewed their profile; it’s expected and shows initiative.
• Take time to fully understand the job description. Make sure you have a list of questions regarding specific responsibilities. Asking searching questions about the role during the interview can demonstrate your enthusiasm and allows you to determine if it’s suitable for you.
• Know your personal/professional strengths and weaknesses. These are standard questions, and you need to be concise and considered in your response.
• You will most likely be asked why you are leaving your current role. Think carefully about this and be constructive in your response; it is important not to criticise your previous employer.

More interview guidance can be found here.