With IR35 reform just around the corner, Contractors who want to continue contracting will be doing everything they can to promote an outside IR35 status. How you write your CV and LinkedIn profile is all part of this ecosystem, so here are 8 top tips to help you keep in the good grace of HMRC.

Write your CV in an implied first-person style rather than using pronouns such as ‘I’ and ‘my’: As far as HMRC is concerned, you are a company not a person; using ‘I’ and ‘my’ in your CV would therefore fail to promote an outside-IR35 status.

Mentioning your limited company name: Once again, it’s all about going to market as a business not a person; a client is engaging with your business, so this naturally should be mentioned both on your CV and your LinkedIn profile.

Having a proper business email address: Proper businesses don’t use Gmail, Hotmail and Outlook email addresses and neither should you; get yourself a proper domain and use this instead.

If you would like an in-depth blueprint to writing a great CV for the energy sector, we are running a webinar on Thursday 28th Jan at 7.15pm for both contractors and job seekers and you can Register Here 

Mentioning your independent contractor / business status in your opening summary: Being clear that you are an Independent Contractor is obviously going to help your endeavours to promote this status; simply add those words in your opening paragraph after you tell the world what you are e.g. “An experienced Rig Engineer (Independent Contractor), expert in……”

Promoting outcomes not tasks – true businesses don’t talk about tasks in marketing literature: When a ‘true’ business promotes itself to the world, it doesn’t talk about tasks, it talks about the outcomes it can drive for clients and its track record in doing so; your CV should be written in the same way. Talking about outcomes and business benefits you have driven for clients is essential.

Using marketing case studies in your CV to showcase client assignments: You work on client assignments rather than “do a job”, so anything you can do to write your CV in this vain is a good thing. I recommend writing several case studies (6-liners written in the STAR framework) and picking the 3 most relevant to add to page one of your CV each time you send your CV for a contract role.

Using terminology such as ‘engaged to do xyz’ rather than ‘hired to do xyz’: Heaven forbid you talk about being “hired to do a job”. Contractors are businesses, who are engaged to provide a service. You should also eradicate employee-related terminology such as who you reported to and phrases such as “responsible for”.

Including recommendations from clients rather than ‘references are available on request’: Not only do recommendations help you to win work, but they also promote a more ‘business’ orientated status. Most companies use reviews and testimonials and you should be no different.

If you would like an in-depth blueprint to writing a great CV for the energy sector, we are running a webinar on Thursday 28th Jan at 7.15pm for both contractors and job seekers and you can Register Here