You only get one chance with a CV. Whether you are an experienced candidate or a first jobber, it is important that to sell yourself to clinch that that first interview. Creating a good impression to a potential employer begins with your CV.
Sell yourself - Think of your CV as your sales pitch. You’re a good sales person, so you have to convince an employer to buy your skills and experience and in order to give you an interview. Use active and compelling language rather than a flat description of your role. The CV must include all your unique selling points and why you are good at what you do – you practical and academic experiences to date and key achievements in a format that is easy to read and makes the reader want to know more about you.
Sketch it out - Most people procrastinate when creating a CV because they don’t know where to start. Plan what you’re going to write and have a ‘brainstorm’ where you note your previous jobs then create lists of skills, tasks and achievements associated. The next step will be to refine your information and only include the information that sells you.
Keep it concise - Keep your CV to two pages or less. The most important aspects of your career and skills should be listed first in a summary format. Your educational background and work history should be chronological and focus on the elements of your training and career to date that stands you apart from other candidates. Avoid too much jargon and use plain English. To check this, you should ask someone to read through the CV and see if they understand it.
Make it relevant - Ensure that your CV is relevant to the position you are applying for and emphasises where you meet the key criteria and skills for the job again putting the most relevant information first. Read some of the job descriptions in our job listings and use similar phrases in your CV. This will ensure you’re ‘speaking the same language’ as recruiters, which makes for a more convincing pitch.
Present it well – When your CV is competing with hundreds of others for a single vacancy, it needs to be clean, professional looking and easy to read. Avoid unnecessary graphics, concentrate on a clear layout, good grammar and spelling and ensure the text is easy to read concise.
If you would like any further advice, please contact us. Once you are happy with your CV, you can register with us and we will let you know the latest jobs for you.
