Publishing A Book To Improve Your CV

One practical means to improve your CV and future career prospects is by writing and self-publishing a book.

Adding a publication to your list of achievements can boost your CV and enhances your professional profile as well as adding credibility and commitment to your professional background.

Linkedin, which has become a very ‘go-to’ platform for employers, HR companies and headhunters, provides for the addition of publications to your online profile.

Self-publishing has made it very easy to publish both in ebook and paperback, so the only hurdle in adding a publication or two to your professional achievements is to write a book. However, this is not as daunting as it first seems.

If you select a nonfiction topic that is either closely related to your profession, or a subject that you are passionate about, the words will flow quite easily. Take a look at some books on Amazon that are in your area of interest and read a few previews to get some ideas.

Whether your interests are in business topics such marketing, communications or real estate, or in lifestyle subjects like food, wine and cooking or ‘how to’ or ‘self-help’ themes on parenting, gardening or vintage car restoration, there is sure to be one topic that you have a passion for, and can write about.

It need not be a tome of one hundred and fifty thousand words. Somewhere in the region of thirty to fifty thousand words is perfectly acceptable to be considered a published book. Perhaps you have a blog, so why not use the posts you have as the basis for your book?

Dig out your university thesis and look at whether it gives you some clues. There are many starting points from which to get ideas and motivation to write a book.

A few hours per week spent writing for a few months could be time well invested in your future career prospects. And if you are in between jobs right now, what better way to use your time.

For those who are already self-published, have you added your titles to your CV and Linkedin profile?

Self-publishing has many uses and benefits apart from writing fiction and hoping to become the next international bestselling author.

As in this case, it can be used to enhance career opportunities or to promote a business.

Some self-published authors make a side income from speaking engagements, which is much higher than their book sales income, due to their book giving them credibility on a certain topic.

For others, it is a way to pass on family history to future generations in the form of an autobiography or memoir.

So, are you ready to write your new book and improve your CV?