Top 10 CV Tips

Writing a good CV can be one of the toughest challenges of job hunting. We’ve compiled our top 10 steps on how to make sure your CV stands out and gets you that interview.

1. Keep it real!
Usually a CV should be no more than two pages of A4 paper! Employers spend, an average, just 8 seconds looking at any one CV. Keep it punchy and to the point.

2. Tailor it
We’ve all done it. Sent the same CV out to lots of employers to save time. It is important you take the time to alter your CV for each role that you apply for. Use the job advert to see what skills are needed and clearly point out the attributes you have that fit with what they are looking for.

3. Include a personal statement
Never assume that an employer will see how your experience relates to their job. Use a short personal statement to explain why you would be the best fit into their company at that position.

4. Don’t leave gaps
A recruiter/employer will always be sceptical of gaps in your CV. If you have been out of work or travelling then explain this. The personal statement could be expanded upon, if you have been out of work outline any courses or volunteer work you may have done and the skills you have learnt from them.

5. Keep it current
You should keep your CV up-to-date whether you’re looking for a job or not. Every time something significant occurs in your career, record it so you don’t later forget something that could be important.

6. The error of your ways
Employers do look for mistakes on CVs and if they find them, it makes you look really bad. If you’re unsure then use a spellchecker and ask someone else to double-check what you’ve written. And don’t ignore the most common CV mistakes

7. Tell the truth
Lies on your CV can land you in a whole heap of trouble when it comes to employers checking your background and references. The last thing you want is to start work and then lose your new job for lying. You also may get caught out at the interview stage when you suddenly can’t answer questions on what you claim to know.

8. The maths
Backing up your achievements with numbers makes selling yourself much easier. When writing your work history, don’t just say that you increased sales; tell them the percentage you increased sales by and the time period you did that in.

9. Make it look good
Take some time to consider the layout of your CV. Use bullet points and keep sentences short. Use the graphic design trick of leaving plenty of white space around text and between categories to make the layout easy on the eye.

10. Make it keyword friendly
Keywords are very important if you have uploaded your CV to a jobsite. By using job titles and buzz words a search engine will pick up your CV if it is relevant. Have a look online and see what words are commonly used when mentioning the job title you are applying for. For example, a Marketing Executive might use the words ‘SEO’, ‘analytics’, and ‘digital’ which will all be picked up on via search engines.