You will find listed below our top 10 CV Writing tips. Before beginning you must start thinking
of your CV as a personal advert. This document will be the first, and possibly
the last impression an employer gets of you. Your New CV should effectively display
the qualifications, experience, skills and qualities that will show you to be
the best person for the job. When it comes to presentation you need to ensure the New CV looks professional but take care to ensure key information is easy to spot. Apart from that there are no real right or wrong to CV Writing. Just don't try anything to radical with the fonts or colours and ensure you have the CV proof read before sending it out. |
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1) Keep it short and clear Before
you start, choose the right structure for your CV. The most important
information, such as your key skills and recent experience, needs to be
near the top, where it can be seen straight away. Sections you usually
need to include are your Profile, Achievements, Experience, Special
Skills (languages / computers), Education, Training, and Interests. Your CV does not have to be two pages in length, there are
exceptions depending on length of employment history, etc. But remember
if you haven't caught the recruiter's interest by page two then they
probably won't read any further pages anyway.
2) Presentation
Clear, attractive presentation is also important if your CV is to stand out. Ensure that the CV is uncluttered with key points easy to spot. Use some bullet points and keep the sentences relatively short. Some 'white space' around the borders and between each section keeps the document easier on the eye.
3) Employment History
Put your employment history in date order, starting with the most recent first. If you've had time out for some reason, do mention this. Do not go into to much detail concerning positions you held over 10 years ago unless of course it's relevant to the job you're applying for.
4) Include Many Facts
On your CV list your job duties beneath each position. List your achievements, responsibilities and results. Talk about results, what difference did your presence make? Use numbers for achievements wherever possible, e.g. "Boosted sales by 20% in first year", and always write in a slightly formal manner and never use the word "I" or e.g. "Supervised the team" rather than "I supervised the team". Use the past tense for previous jobs and the present tense for your current job.
5) Not too many lists
Include specific skills, such as languages, administrative or computing skills, in a separate section in your CV. Then do not re-list them for every job you've used them in. This is particularly so for IT. Lists of tools and packages make dull reading and won't make you stand out from other people with the same abilities.
6) Put yourself into it
Remember the employer wants a sense of the kind of person you are, as well as what you can do. Are you punctual, conscientious, or motivated? Do you rise to a challenge? With each point on the CV you write, ask yourself "What does this say about me?"
7) Check List Before Sending
Before sending your CV always check for errors. Run a spelling and grammar check and ask someone else to proof read it for you. An employer is not going to believe you're a good communicator if your CV is full of spelling and grammar mistakes.
8) Tailor The CV
You don't have to use the same CV every time. You can have two or three versions, each for a different kind of job you are applying for. It is important to tailor your CV to suit the job you're applying for. It isn't a case of one -size fits all different employers are all looking for different things. Ask for a job spec or read the advert and then highlight the skills on your CV, which are most relevant.
9) Introduction Letter
Unless the advert tells you not to, always send a covering letter. This should highlight the two or three areas of experience from your CV that are most relevant to the advertised job and allow you to explain your reasons for applying. It does not to be lengthy but CV Made Better would strongly recommend not sending your CV without one.
10) Be Honest
Although you want to present yourself well, don't go too far embellishing the truth. No one like a liar especially in the workplace, just remember to highlight anything, which is relevant to the job and let your CV do the rest.