Interim manager? Land your dream assignment with the perfect CV

Are you an interim manager who needs to update your CV?

What should an interim manager's CV look like?

Do you have a clean CV, where your career path shows a perfect progression and strong expertise in your field shines through all the way? That may be:

• Because you know what you want and have known it throughout your career
• Because you do not know what else you would do 
• Because you like continuity and have strong staying power – you see things through
• Or because you dislike the unknown and find new things overwhelming
• Because you love what you do and simply want to get better at it
• Or because you dislike risk, and the safest option is to stick to what you know

A patchy CV or an exciting background?

Or perhaps you are one of those who have taken a few different paths and tried your hand at various fields and industries. A patchy CV, some say; an exciting background, say others. That may be:

• Because you did not know what you wanted when you were young and have got to know yourself better over the course of your career
• Because you get bored quickly and want to challenge yourself and meet new people
• Because you have good ideas and both launch and achieve your goals quickly and effectively
• Or because you like starting new things but are less keen on seeing them through
• Because you are curious and love learning new things
• Or because you went off track, ended up in a dead end and are now finding your way back to the main road

Businesses need both types of interim manager

Do you recognise yourself? Do you consistently feel that you fall into the category the company is not looking for? Remember that diversity applies here as in other areas. There is not one type of person who is good and another who is not; businesses need both types of interim manager. The clean CV can be a safe and sound choice and a way of securing specialist expertise. On the other hand, businesses need interim managers who can transfer expertise across companies and industries. We are dealing with different profiles, and a workplace needs both. Diversity is not only about gender and religion, but just as much about choosing different ages, experiences and personal combinations.

What is required of an interim manager

As an interim manager, you will encounter new environments, industries and ways of doing things more often than others. That is exactly where the flexible, curious and fearless type of interim manager comes into their own. At other times, it is very specific expertise that is needed right now. That is why we see that interim managers can belong to either group. But we also see that a month without work between assignments can be stressful and cost some people their sleep, while many interim managers see it as a fantastic opportunity to travel, develop their skills or spend time on their hobbies. Interim managers are flexible and love flexibility.

Show what you have achieved

Talent is more about the ability to learn than about being young and promising. It is the unique combination of personality and expertise that makes you exactly right for this job. Be clear about what you have achieved, both in permanent positions and on interim assignments. Spell out your personal strengths and skills, and focus on them. And become aware of which situations do not bring out the best version of you. That makes it clearer to the client, the headhunter and yourself whether you should be the one chosen this time. Make your CV easy to read, both for us at Agile Interim and for our clients who are looking for an interim manager.

And the beauty of it is that a good choice benefits both sides – a genuine win-win situation.