Knockout CV

by John Lees

"John Lees is a purveyor of sound, no nonsense career advice which delivers results, whatever your age or status."Carol Lewis, Business Features Editor, The TimesIt doesn't take months to learn how to write a CV that works, but it does take a few hours. This book is designed to take you through that process quickly, taking some short cuts, encouraging your readers to say one simple "yes".



Step by step approach to building a CV from scratch Detailed advice on getting bullet points and the profile rightExample CVs, including entry level and executive CVs Demystifying of CV formats and styles, including 'hybrid', competency-based and functional CVsDrawing on over 25 years' experience of training recruiters, John Lees, author of the bestselling How To Get A Job You'll Love, is one of the UK's best known career strategists. In Knockout CV he shows you how to write CVs and cover letters that convey your strengths quickly and get you into the interview room. "A comprehensive and practical guide to building arelevant, evidence-based CV which will win the recruiter'sattention."Liz Mason, Associate Director, Alumni Career Services,London Business School, UK

"You write a CV for a to get a job. Knockout CV works backwards from the desired result, analysing each feature of the CV from the perspective of impact on the decision-maker. No frills, no diversions, simply full of practical help."Shirley Anderson, HR Director, Talent and Reward, Pilkington Group Limited

"This book is essential reading for anyone considering a career move or applying for another position... This is an excellent, practical guide which I believe will really make the difference to securing that interview."Christine Gaskell, Chair, Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership and former HR Director, Bentley Motors Ltd

"John Lees leads you back to the basic document of so manyjob-hunting campaigns, and yet again opens your eyes to seethe real underlying principles. His clear and authoritative voice brings life back into what is often seen as a routine activity - CV writing - yet is so important in today's hyper-competitive job market."Matthias Feist, Head of Careers & Business Relations atRegent's University London, UK and Chair of Placements in Industry Network

"John has produced an honest and authentic approach to creating a winning CV which speaks to your strengths, and will make the difference to getting noticed and in front of the selection panel."Angella Clarke-Jervoise, Big 4 Partner Recruiter andInternational Career Coach

Praise for John Lees' careers

"When I read John's writing, two things happen. First, I feel as if he's standing right there, personally advising me. And second, I always come away thinking over the issue in a new way. It's a rare, but very useful, gift."Sarah Green, Associate Editor, Harvard Business Review

"I know first-hand the joy that being in the right career can bring and I commend John Lees for his books and seminars which help other people d

Genres: Business, Reference

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John Lees is one of the UK’s best-known career strategists. He has written 15 books on work and career management. How To Get A Job You Love was twice listed as WHSmith Business Book of the Month and regularly features as the best-selling careers book by a British author. His books have been translated into Arabic, Polish, Georgian, Japanese and Spanish.

John acknowledges Richard Nelson Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute?, as a major influence. John’s work as a career strategist was inspired by the creativity, wisdom and generosity of 125 hours’ teaching from Dick Bolles at two of his summer workshops in Bend, Oregon, and a decade of continuing support and encouragement. Dick Bolles wrote the preface to the current edition of How To Get A Job You Love.

As a career coach, John specialises in helping people make difficult career decisions – difficult either because they don’t know what to do next, or because there are barriers in the way of success. John Lees Associates helps career changers across the UK, and John is a regular keynote speaker at UK events, has presented at the world’s largest international career conferences and delivered workshops in the USA, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Mauritius, Switzerland and Germany.

John has written careers columns for Metro and People Management and thought leadership pieces for The Times and The Guardian. He appears regularly in the national press with features in Management Today, Company, Cosmopolitan, Prospects, and Psychologies, His coaching work has been profiled in Coaching at Work and The Sunday Times. TV appearances include the BBC interactive ‘Back to Work’ programme, BBC 2’s ‘Working Lunch’, Channel 4’s ‘Dispatches’, and ITV’s ‘Tonight – How To Get A Job’). He is a regular blog contributor to Harvard Business Review online and in 2012 wrote the introduction to the HBR Guide to Getting the Right Job.

John is a graduate of the universities of Cambridge, London and Liverpool, and has spent most of his career focusing on the world of work. He has trained recruitment specialists since the mid-1980s when he was Chief Executive of the Institute of Employment Consultants (now the IRP). He has worked with a wide range of organisations on career management issues including: British Gas Commercial, The British Council, CIPD, Fairplace, Harrods, Hiscox, The House of Commons, Imperial College, The Association of MBAs, Lloyds Banking Group, Marks & Spencer, NAPP Pharmaceutical, Oakridge, Tribal, and business schools across the UK. John is an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Recruitment Professionals, a NICEC Fellow, and was a founding Board Director of the Career Development Institute.

Alongside his day job, John serves as an ordained Anglican priest. John is married to the poet and children’s writer Jan Dean. They live in East Devon.