“Spread” your CV

Recently, my husband had to update his CV. In the process, he uncovered forgotten skills and experiences that would look good on a CV. His discovery sparked the notion of using a Tarot spread to fill out a CV. It would be particularly useful for people who want to restart or change a career, but do not have an up-to-date CV. He recommends:

If you have one or more old CVs, look through them to refresh your mind, then follow these steps.

Step 1: Recollection

As you were going through your previous CVs, did they jog your memory about any skills and experiences that would not necessarily be on a formal CV? Here we include activities such as courses, volunteering, part-time income-generating jobs, church and community activities that may not seem important for a CV. The one advantage you have over younger and fresher candidates is the experience you have accumulated over the years, in all areas of life, and this experience might just contain something that catches a recruiter’s eye. Furthermore, you may not have realised how much experience you have accumulated over the years. It might also suggest casting your net wider in your search for a job.

See how far you get brainstorming these items.

And, as usual, take notes. A good idea might be to mindmap your thoughts. This is a tool that can point out patterns that you might miss in sequential notes.

Step 2: Shuffle and draw

Now we’ll use Tarot cards to dig up what you have forgotten, and to explore your capabilities. Shuffle your deck and draw four cards. Place them face-down before you.

Step 3: Brainstorm

Turn over the first card. Which activities does the card suggest? Add them to your mindmap or notes.

What clichés, lyrics, metaphors, proverbs, or stories come up with this card? What activities do they suggest?

If the card is the middle of the story, what happened just before, and what will happen just after? What activities do these suggest?

Look at the items on your list or mindmap. What else do they suggest?

Brainstorm as many items as you can. Tarot cards are ambiguous, which means they can suggest a variety of stories and activities.

You can use the traditional interpretations of the card, but concentrate on everything the card’s image and keywords trigger.

Suppose you draw the Four of Wands. You might list celebrating, feasting, dancing, singing, playing, loafing at home, securing something, giving, leading, signalling, waving, meeting, organizing, worshipping, imagining your happy place, arriving, welcoming, having a reunion, visiting, receiving recognition, balancing work-life commitments, remembering joyful thoughts, counting your blessings, meeting a deadline …

Now answer the first question:

Card 1: What do I enjoy doing?

Turn over the next card.

Card 2: What have I learned?

Again, make a list or mindmap everything that comes to mind. Then continue with cards 3 and 4.

Card 3: My strengths and qualities

Card 4: My skills and abilities

When you have completed the spread, you can draw another four cards and repeat the exercise.

Step 4: Present your best self

From what you have gathered, revise or compose a CV that portrays you in the best possible light. Then take your CV and present it with confidence.

Comments

[Andre DeLoach]

Thank you very much for such a brilliant idea! Simply brilliant!