5 key things NOT to do on your contractor CV in 2024

In the ever-evolving world of contracting, your CV is more than just a document; it's your shop front, your sales brochure, and your professional portfolio all rolled into one.

As 2023 draws to a close, let’s dive into the dos and don'ts of contractor CVs, so we can all start off on the right foot in 2024, writes Matt Craven, personal branding and CV expert from The CV & Interview Advisors.

1. Leave it ambiguous (a.k.a. positioning one CV for more than one opportunity)

You may have multiple strings to your bow, and many contractors have different types of services that they offer to clients.

A great example is the IT Project Manager who can also operate as an IT Business Analyst or in a hybrid PM/BA role.

The issue here is the temptation to simply describe yourself as an “Experienced IT professional.” Unfortunately, this term is far too vague and not aligned with the job title. Not only will that negatively impact how optimised your CV is for ATS, but it doesn’t help the recruiters or clients either.

If you’re such a PM, you’ve got a classic case of needing three laser-targeted CVs aimed at the three different types of roles.

Generic one-size-fits-all CVs are typically ineffective, whereas laser-targeted CVs that make you look like the ideal candidate will serve you much better. Having a master CV with additional content that you can copy and paste in and out of your CV will save you tons of time when tailoring your CV to different roles.

2. Dunning-Krueger effect; thinking your CV’s brill because you created it

Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias where people with limited ability in a certain task overestimate their ability! This overestimation often occurs because they don't have enough knowledge or skill in the area to accurately assess the quality of their own work.

This syndrome often manifests itself in creative tasks – like when a child comes home from school with a painting, thinking they’ve conjured up a Picasso masterpiece. You could call it ‘creative self-delusion syndrome.’ And all of us have probably been guilty of it at some point in our professional lives!

And here’s where it tends to crop up in the contractor CV space.

Many contractors feel a sense of achievement when they create their own CV, which fools them into believing they have a good CV. They have created the CV to their own psychology and likes, and often don’t have the knowledge or skills to objectively assess the quality of the work they have produced. This is classic Dunning-Krueger effect.

Many contractors go to market with a CV that they think is good, yet our research suggests that recruiters consider 80% of CVs to be weak or needing significant improvement.

3. Omitting or overlooking outcomes

By far the most common issue with CVs in 2023 was a complete lack of evidence that the person it represents is good at what they do.

The only way you can communicate an ability to do a task well is to mention the outcomes of previous tasks that fell under your remit. In other words, communicating achievements with tangible business benefits.

I would estimate that over two-thirds of the CVs we review as part of our free CV appraisal service are lacking in achievements.

It’s imperative to fill your CV with projects and achievements and to make sure the business benefits that were achieved because of your work are communicated in no uncertain terms, using some kind of tangible statistic. A good starting point is to think about your KPIs or the justification in the business case and to link the outcomes of your work to these.

4. Screaming inside IR35 when you want outside IR35 contracts

It is not uncommon for contractors seeking outside IR35 roles to produce a CV that, upon reading, actually promotes an inside IR35 status.

Much of the advice around CVs is aimed at conventional job-seekers, so it is very easy to inadvertently position yourself more as an employee than an independent professional.

For outside IR35 roles, it's crucial to speak and think like a business, not a 9-to-5 job-seeker. This means transforming your CV from a mere list of past roles into a brochure of the valuable services you offer to clients.

Adding your Limited company name at the top of your CV and using a professional business email with a proper domain will help create a good first impression (if you want outside IR35 roles).

In terms of content, I recommend a strategic shift in terminology – describing past engagements as being "engaged to do xyz" rather than "hired to" subtly reinforces your status as an independent contractor. Additionally, avoiding terms like ‘Employer’ or ‘Employment History’ further aligns your CV with the commercial contracting world.

You might also consider having a mix of chronological and case study-style CVs, catering to different client preferences and scenarios. The case study-style CV is by far the most outside IR35-friendly option that serves more as a portfolio of client engagements than a traditional job-seeker CV.

5. ‘If this is what this business professional’s CV looks like…’

My final point is more food for thought in 2024!

Most contractors would consider themselves to be a business (as opposed to a job-seeker), so in many ways, we should apply the logic of businesses. Where I am going with this, is that quite rightly few bonafide, professionally-run businesses have home-made or shabby-looking marketing assets.

Think of websites, brochures, leaflets, or exhibition stands. Most businesses make a significant investment in having these assets professionally created to gain a competitive advantage (or more likely, just keep up with the Jones’s). Even your local tradespersons may have invested several hundred pounds into the signage on their vans to look more professional than those still running around in a rusty old white Transit.

Let’s apply that logic to contractors. If we agree that you are operating as a business, then your CV (and LinkedIn profile) are your equivalent marketing assets.

Does it make sense to be going to market with home-made marketing assets? Does this differentiate you from your competition and ooze professionalism? Might it be better to explore a professional CV writing service tailored made for contractors?

Don’t be the contractor going to market in 2024 with a CV that’s the equivalent of a rusty old white Transit!

CV help is at hand…

If you would like one of my team at The CV & Interview Advisors to provide a detailed and confidential 1-2-1 review of your CV, you can find out more on this page: https://cvandinterviewadvisors.co.uk/partners/contractor-uk.

You will also find on this page some discounted services for Contractor UK readers, so if the final point struck a chord, you know where help is!

ContractorUK has partnered with the UK's leading authority on contractor CVs to provide a FREE review of your CV and LinkedIn profile. Contact The CV & Interview Advisors and one of their team will get back to you to discuss if your CV and LinkedIn profile matches up with industry best practice.