An award-winning CV does not begin with writing.
It begins with understanding who you are and the value you bring.
Many capable professionals struggle to articulate their experience, not because they lack impact, but because they have never taken the time to step back and truly examine what they do, how they do it, and why it matters. Over time, achievements become familiar. Contribution becomes routine. Value becomes easy to overlook.
This framework is designed to change that.
Before you open a CV template or an AI tool, you need to understand Product “You.”
Step One: Define Product “You” (Give Yourself 1–2 Days)
Take a blank page or a spreadsheet and divide it into four simple columns.
This exercise should take one to two days of genuine reflection.
That timeframe is important. The longer you have been in a role, the less you naturally measure the value of what you do. Rushing this step almost always leads to under-selling yourself later.
Column 1: What Do You Actually Do?
This column needs to be very simple.
Ask yourself:
If someone followed me around for a week, what would they see me doing?
Write down everything, using plain language.
Examples:
Run team meetings
Answer client questions
Solve problems when things go wrong
Review work before it goes out
Make decisions
Train or support others
Plan work or projects
Communicate with senior leaders
Do not try to make this sound impressive.
Do not use corporate language.
Do not worry about whether it belongs on a CV.
Just describe what you do in a way that anyone could understand. This is your raw material.
Column 2: Where Possible, Add a Metric
Once Column 1 is complete, go back and look at each task and ask:
How do I know I’m doing this well?
This is where you add evidence.
Examples:
Number of people you manage or support
Size of budgets, accounts, or projects
Time saved, costs reduced, revenue generated
Volume, frequency, or scale of work
For example:
“Support the team” → Supported a team of 10
“Manage projects” → Delivered 5 projects per year
“Improve processes” → Reduced turnaround time by 30%
Not everything will have a perfect number, and that’s okay. Use what you can. Even approximate metrics are better than none.
This step is critical. Metrics turn experience into credibility.
Column 3: Identify the Competency
Now ask a different question:
What skill or capability does this task show?
This is where you identify your core competencies, such as:
People management
Communication
Stakeholder management
Strategic thinking
Problem-solving
Operations
Planning and organisation
This column reveals the building blocks of your experience — your professional DNA. These competencies are often more important than job titles, especially if you are considering a career change.
Column 4: What Do You Enjoy Doing?
Leave this column until last.
Once the first three columns are complete, come back and reflect honestly:
Which tasks do I enjoy?
Which ones energise me?
Which ones would I prefer to do less of?
This matters more than people realise.
When you enjoy what you do, you tend to perform better, progress further, and sustain success for longer. Your CV should position you for roles that build on both your strengths and your interests, not just your experience.
Writing Your Profile: 10–12 Lines Maximum
Your CV profile should be short, clear, and focused.
Aim for no more than 10–12 lines that:
Highlight the most important moments of your career
Are grounded in metrics where possible
Reflect your strongest competencies
Allow the reader to quickly understand who you are
The goal is simple:
Someone should be able to read your profile and get a clear picture of you with low effort.
Making Your CV Algorithm-Friendly
Modern CVs must work for both people and systems.
This means:
Clear role titles
Consistent structure
Keywords that reflect the roles you are targeting
Straightforward language
AI tools such as ChatGPT or Claude can be very useful at this stage — once the content is yours.
Do not use AI to invent experience or write from a blank page.
AI is excellent at polishing, structuring, and refining your words. It cannot replace your thinking.
Guidance for Career Changers
If you are changing careers, your competency list becomes essential.
Focus on:
Transferable skills
Evidence of success within those skills
Metrics that demonstrate impact
Your profile should reflect how those competencies have already delivered results, even if they were gained in a different context.
Upskilling is also important. Courses, certifications, or structured learning show willingness, commitment, and seriousness about the change.
An award-winning CV is not created by clever wording or formatting.
It is the outcome of:
Deep reflection
Honest assessment
Clear understanding of your value
Once you understand who you are professionally, writing your CV becomes much easier — and interviews become far more natural.
The CV is simply the output. The real work is understanding Product “You.”