The traditional CV is based around past performance and usually states a list of generic, commonly quoted skills and experiences that make it very difficult to interpret the future performance capabilities of an individual and to distinguish one candidate from another. The authors illustrate this issue using the metaphor of an iceberg. The perceptible section of the iceberg relates to what you did, where you did it and what you achieved. However a substantial proportion of the iceberg is under water which symbolizes your competences; the aspects of your personality that focuses on how you do a job and the way you do it - not what you do.
Your Traditional CV iceberg.¹
The traditional CV does not exhibit individuality. It will contain a very similar list of skills as other candidates applying for the same position. It does not reveal your personality, values or motivations which is vital to provide an image of who you are. It is successful in portraying what you have done and where you did it but has no reference to how and why you did it; which is the very essence of what makes you unique and distinguishable from other candidates.
One of the greatest benefits of including your competences is that it demonstrates your transferable assets – “a competency that that you can demonstrate its use at the same level of complexity across multiple situations.” ² This is a very important point; it shows that you have specific behavioural traits that can be applied to many situations that relate to the way you do things. This is exactly what employers are looking for as it provides a very good idea of what you are capable of doing and how this manifests itself into future performance.
The Traditional CV Iceberg - Don't Shipwreck Your Career!
Hayden Hill
¹FAUST, B., and FAUST, M., 2004. Pitch Yourself. 2nd ed, Glasgow: Pearson Education Limited
² Faust 2006, p32
