Cristiano Ronaldo submitted his CV. But would The Media Mentor approve?
It appears that even Cristiano Ronaldo needs a good CV.
The Portuguese football star has been handed a 30-day suspension and a €255 fine after walking out of the national team camp following a disagreement with the manager. But one detail caught my attention. As part of his defence to the Portuguese Football Federation, Ronaldo reportedly submitted his sporting CV, highlighting his achievements and awards.
Now, I've reviewed hundreds of CVs over the years, but I've never had the opportunity to review one belonging to a five-time Ballon d'Or winner. So I thought I'd give it a go.
What would Cristiano Ronaldo's CV look like if he followed The Media Mentor's advice?
I've created my own version (which you can download above), applying the same principles I recommend to people working in journalism, radio, television, podcasting and communications. And there are lessons here for everyone.
Just to be clear for legal reasons. The CV above is NOT that of the brilliant footballer. It is my version created for purely illustrative purposes.
Start with a strong professional summary
Ronaldo could probably get away with writing "I'm Cristiano Ronaldo" and leaving it there.
Most of us can't. A professional summary should quickly establish who you are, what you do and have done and what makes you valuable. Summarise your work and your career history and throw in some detail about achievements too. Do not be afraid to peacock (something that comes quite easy to Ronaldo!). Your aim is to have someone read just the statement and think you are worth talking to.
Show achievements, not just responsibilities
Ronaldo doesn't need to tell us he played football for Real Madrid etc. We want to know what he achieved there. It's exactly the same in media. Don't just tell an employer you produced podcasts, wrote articles or managed social media. Tell them about the audiences you reached, the stories you broke or the difference your work made.
Put your career in reverse chronological order
Even with Ronaldo's remarkable career, a recruiter needs to understand where he's working now and how his career has developed. Clear company names, job titles and dates. Nothing complicated. Ronaldo can only play for one team at a time but if you're freelance, your CV can get messy, especially if you work for several organisations a year. If this is you, try and list the best companies/brands seperately rather than bunch freelance all into one entry. If you do that you can lose some key highlights.
Keep it simple
No photograph (very tempting for Ronaldo to do this), no elaborate graphics, no unnecessary personal information. Yes, even Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't need a photograph on his CV. If a recruiter wants to see him in action, there's plenty of footage available, but you can add a hyper link to a portfolio. Not too many hyper links though as they look messy and people do not click on more than one, if any. You can put your LinkedIn address, where hopefully your picture is professional and not a Ronaldo-like bare-chested celebration!
Don't include everything you've ever done
With a career like Ronaldo's, it's tempting to list every goal, trophy and individual award.
But a CV isn't an autobiography. It's a carefully selected account of your experience and achievements, relevant to the opportunity.
Remember, your CV isn't everything
Perhaps this is the most important lesson from this particular story. A brilliant career and an outstanding CV can demonstrate what you've achieved. But they don't automatically excuse your behaviour or guarantee what happens next. Recruiters also want to know how you work with others, respond to challenges and deal with difficult situations. Even Cristiano Ronaldo has to think about that. Your reputation matters, especially in an industry where the connections network is so important.
Take a look at my version of Ronaldo's CV. My version, not the actual one, I add again.
Would you shortlist him or give him a less severe punishment as a result of it?
And if your own CV could do with some attention, take a look at my 11 key CV tips.
The Media Mentor can also help you review and improve your CV, making sure your experience and achievements stand out for the right reasons.
The Ronaldo CV is an illustrative exercise created by The Media Mentor, not a reproduction of the document submitted to the Portuguese Football Federation.
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