The Process Safety Professional (Part 12). The Resumé / CV

We are writing a book The Process Safety Professional. The current Table of Contents is available here. We are gradually releasing the contents of the book to paid subscribers. This is the twelfth release. It is to do with resumés and CVs.

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The expert's knowledge, skills and attributes are summarized in his or her or resumé or curriculum vitae (CV).

It is critical that the resumé be accurate and verifiable, especially with regard to statements, such as the possession of advanced degrees, or major work experience. Accuracy of the resumé is particularly important when the risk management professional is involved in litigation. He or she must expect to have his qualifications challenged because, if the resumé can be discredited, then the expert's statements can be discredited also.

Many professionals fail to keep their resumés up to date. It is a good idea to check it and modify as needed every three months or so, particularly when new types of work or project are being carried out.

Level of Detail

An expert's resume can become very lengthy because he or she is likely to have years of experience in a wide range of tasks and projects. Such length has its drawbacks - it can make the resume difficult to read and lacking in focus. For this reason it is often a good idea to have a short (say half page) summary at the beginning supplemented by an attachment that provides the detailed information.