How do you go about doing a Curriculum Vitae?

[Matt Bleck]

Anyone got any tips on writing one to give out to potential support, etc. There's rather a few racers on here now, surely one of ya's can spell and and have a better grasp of grammer than I! :shutup:

I really suck at doing this sorta thing so any help would be great! :D

Cheers, Paul.

[Ivan]

+1 I dont know what to put down really

[FROSTY]

In a nutshell--what have ya done,what are ya going to do and most important what can you DO to help your sponsors buisiness

[Edbear]

+1 I dont know what to put down really


Anyone got any tips on writing one to give out to potential support, etc. There's rather a few racers on here now, surely one of ya's can spell and and have a better grasp of grammer than I! :shutup:

I really suck at doing this sorta thing so any help would be great! :D

Cheers, Paul.

If you want to let me know some more details as to what the CV is for I may be able to help. You can PM me if it's more confidential.

[NighthawkNZ]

Don't lie it will come back in bite you in the arse

[SWERVE]

Yep thats it in a nutshell. it is very important to make what you aim to do believeable and achievable........."sponsor me and i will win the champs" when you have never yet won a race wont interest anyone. Be honest and straight up.......keep sponsor informed regualary ask them what YOU can do for THEM. And dont think its easy or gonna happen overnight........... be patient. Be prepared to spend a little money and time to make yourself look professional.........just when you think its a waste of time ome will come along.
GOODLUCK

[CHOPPA]

Yep thats it in a nutshell. it is very important to make what you aim to do believeable and achievable........."sponsor me and i will win the champs" .
GOODLUCK

haha thats what i say, sounds good! Dont write out a CV cause thats all about you. Write out a proposal sorta like you would do if you were trying to get a loan from a bank for a new business

[Coldrider]

There are some examples on "SEEK', just have to structure them to the cause.

[Marmoot]

I'm not a racer, but I know how to write things that get read. It's my daily job.

Put yourself in the readers' shoes and answer their questions:
- Why should I care? Why should I read this? What will this give me?
- Is this guy for real? Can he really do this? What's the proof? Any experience?
- Hmm, this guy sounds ok. Anything else I can know?

Write it in an easy-to-read way (bullet points, a little dash of colour, lines, separate different topics with spaces).
It needs to answer the first question in less than 5 seconds from the time the guy gets his hands on your CV.
Don't be too long, or you'd be boring.

[Biggles08]

Hey Mr Bleck....all these tossers are completely wrong! Its all about the bling bro!!! ehehehe

[emaN]

I'll proof read it for ya bro, with a big fat red vivid in hand!
:shifty:

[Matt Bleck]

thanks for the comments guys, keep em coming! :D

[Toaster]

Don't lie it will come back in bite you in the arse

Especially that PhD in Racing from the "Give me your money and we send you a Degree" University.

I have done a fair bit with using and reading CV's. Happy to help with ideas.

[Woodman]

you can get them done professionally. I did years ago and it was way beeter than I coulda done meself.

[NighthawkNZ]

Especially that PhD in Racing from the "Give me your money and we send you a Degree" University.

Has nothing to do with PhD's... If you want sponsers to believe in you, first they have to believe you...

[Toaster]

Has nothing to do with PhD's... If you want sponsers to believe in you, first they have to believe you...

It was a joke about the high level state sector employee who was recently publicly admonished in court for using a fake PhD. Never mind.....

[NighthawkNZ]

It was a joke about the high level state sector employee who was recently publicly admonished in court for using a fake PhD. Never mind.....

penny drop... ;)

[Cheshire Cat]

lol I was thinking this earlier.....

[KS34]

alot of good comments here, I found it helps alot to build a relationship with the prospective sponsor unless they are in the motorcycle industry or bike nuts it is very hard to convince them of the benefits. plot out the year of racing or term for support briefly and make sure you highlight the exposure opportunities for them along the way like newspaper articles, tv, large crowds and competitors with wallets open etc etc.

[Marmoot]

Don't forget to print it on pink scented paper.

[SWERVE]

haha "pink scnted paper" might work if you a targeting a particular type of sponsor!!!!!!! dont think ive seen any bikes adorned with the "pink flamingo club" logo.
who knows there may be a huge un-tapped marketout there. might even see "grid boys" alongside the "grid girls" ......................................... guys im joking ok.

[Biggles08]

haha "pink scnted paper" might work if you a targeting a particular type of sponsor!!!!!!! dont think ive seen any bikes adorned with the "pink flamingo club" logo.
who knows there may be a huge un-tapped marketout there. might even see "grid boys" alongside the "grid girls" ......................................... guys im joking ok.

Its already being done!!!!! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3397291&id=93676549725

:blink::blink::blink::blink:

[codgyoleracer]

I'm not a racer, but I know how to write things that get read. It's my daily job.

Put yourself in the readers' shoes and answer their questions:
- Why should I care? Why should I read this? What will this give me?
- Is this guy for real? Can he really do this? What's the proof? Any experience?
- Hmm, this guy sounds ok. Anything else I can know?

Write it in an easy-to-read way (bullet points, a little dash of colour, lines, separate different topics with spaces).
It needs to answer the first question in less than 5 seconds from the time the guy gets his hands on your CV.
Don't be too long, or you'd be boring.

What he said

[Shaun]

I'm not a racer, but I know how to write things that get read. It's my daily job.

Put yourself in the readers' shoes and answer their questions:
- Why should I care? Why should I read this? What will this give me?
- Is this guy for real? Can he really do this? What's the proof? Any experience?
- Hmm, this guy sounds ok. Anything else I can know?

Write it in an easy-to-read way (bullet points, a little dash of colour, lines, separate different topics with spaces).
It needs to answer the first question in less than 5 seconds from the time the guy gets his hands on your CV.
Don't be too long, or you'd be boring.

BEST reply so far!

After 23 years of chasing sponsorship, it comes down to one thing really

WHO DO YOU KNOW?

There is NO real "ROI" ( Rerturn on investment) for NZ companies to sponsor motor cycle racers, Next to No TV, and unless you WIN RACES, NO photo in magazine's, So what is, where is the ROI the advantage to a company giving there money away????

I suggest BUILDING your self a spread sheet of people that you know and the people that they know, ( Link there professions etc) linking them together like this, will hope fully give you some people to start talking about what you could do for them, so they can help you to achieve it.

[Biggles08]

There is NO real "ROI" ( Rerturn on investment) for NZ companies to sponsor motor cycle racers, Next to No TV, and unless you WIN RACES, NO photo in magazine's, So what is, where is

Way to think positive Shaun!? lol....I actually completely disagree with this...there is plenty of return on investment if a) you as a rider are willing to put in the extra effort rather than just race...and b) you can think outside of the square when it comes to what ROI actually is. I have only been racing for just over a year, and apart from club-mans I have never "won" a race. I possibly have the biggest portfolio of sponsorship than any other privateer racer in NZ (from what I've seen)...why do you think that is? This is not a brag session, rather trying to make a point. Sponsorship is available if you believe in yourself and you can communicate this to potential sponsors. You are what you think you are...if you think you don't deserve sponsorship, then you don't.

You are right about needing to be able to offer a benefit though...you can't ask for free money... there is no such thing. First try and figure out what the company needs, then go about presenting a solution to this need. You need to be prepared before you present your proposal. If you can do this successfully, that's ROI right there.

I get a bit pissed at the old school thinking that seems to be so deeply ingrained in our sport. For things to change for the better we need to be doing things differently. As they say, if you get up each day and do the same things expecting a different result...you are mad. Think outside of what the accepted 'normal' is and maybe it may end up being better in the long run.

[Shaun]

Biggles08 What do you do for a living?

[Biggles08]

Biggles08 What do you do for a living?

I race :-)....actually, at the moment that's all I do. I'm usually in sales acc management roles...looking at the moment for a job.

[NighthawkNZ]

I'm usually in sales acc management roles..

Why does acc need sales???

[Her_C4]

if you believe in yourself and you can communicate this to potential sponsors. You are what you think you are...if you think you don't deserve sponsorship, then you don't.

You are right about needing to be able to offer a benefit though...you can't ask for free money... there is no such thing. First try and figure out what the company needs, then go about presenting a solution to this need. You need to be prepared before you present your proposal. If you can do this successfully, that's ROI right there.

.

As a past (and present) sponsor - this is bang on the money (no pun intended :innocent: ). If you are prepared to do the work and find out what options for ROI are and present those, it shows that you have done your groundwork and may well be a worthy investment.

It is no different to applying for a job in that aspect - you wouldn't walk into an organisation for an interview without first doing your homework about the organisation (and the role), and deciding what 'value add' you can provide would you? It is one of the first questions I ask any prospective employee - and it's weighting is high.

[KS34]

I race :-)....actually, at the moment that's all I do. I'm usually in sales acc management roles...looking at the moment for a job.

With your experience in account management and obvious talent with collecting sponsors you could broker sponsor deals for other teams and get a commision, I will be first in line!

[Shaun]

I race :-)....actually, at the moment that's all I do. I'm usually in sales acc management roles...looking at the moment for a job.


So you are Normally a professional SALES man as such?

[Biggles08]

So you are Normally a professional SALES man as such?

yup :-)...bloody good one too! (in case there are any prospective employers out there that can afford me:innocent:).

[Marmoot]

and unless you WIN RACES, NO photo in magazine's, So what is, where is the ROI the advantage to a company giving there money away????


You got it the other way around. Media (including TV) loves spectacular crashes and daredevil riding more than race winners.

That's where Doohan failed. That's where Schumy failed.
And that's where Haga got his money from.

Ask Whitetrash :p . He keeps crashing but he got good money every now and then.

[WristTwister]

I think he was wanting a CV to get a sponsor, so he'd need to write something like:

Why I want your brand sponsoring me (you're awesome, and I know it)
Why I fit with your brand (We are kindred spirits you and I, it is destiny!)
What I offer you in return (What I'm willing to do to promote you!)
How you can expect value from sponsoring me! (AKA value proposition: your sponsorship money won't go to waste on me!)

This can all be shown with images, details on how well you run your racing "team", your brand loyalty, and your confidence to speak in front of people. "At the end of the day it was a team effort..."