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A CV is not just a list of your jobs and qualifications; it's a sales document and, in just two pages, you need to make it clear why the reader should employ you over your competition. By following these simple rules, you will give yourself a much better chance of getting the job you really want.
An employer will spend only 30 seconds on your CV, so presentation is the key to grabbing their attention. Make sure the CV is evenly spaced and that there are no grammatical or spelling mistakes. Get the CV checked by a friend or tutor and read it again and again before you send it.
Sounds simple, but if the reader has trouble locating your telephone number, this could be the difference between getting an interview or ending up in the bin!
This should be just a few lines highlighting your main selling points and explaining how you match the employer's requirements. This can be experiences from college, work or your personal life but these few lines will be the first the employer reads, so you need to grab their attention and invite them to read on.
List all qualifications, the school or college attended and the years that you started and finished each course. Put them in reverse order, with the most recent at the top, and include any other training you may have had e.g. IT, Health and Safety, First Aid.
When writing the employment history section explain to the reader what skills you have shown by doing each of your previous jobs. These can be anything from communication skills and team work through to excellent technical and problem solving skills. The work experience section should also include any achievements you have had in the workplace. Achievements are the key to making you stand out, so include absolutely anything which shows you did your job well.
This section includes all other information which does not fit in previous sections. Typical information to include is: personal information (nationality, whether you have a driving licence etc.), IT skills, languages, interests, voluntary / charity work and references (just add one line to say that references are available on request).
Ask yourself what is the reader looking for? When you know the answer to this, make sure you highlight these skills in the CV.
Did you know....Some of these rules may seem to be very simple, but employers will only spend, on average, 30 seconds looking at each CV, so it's vital that you make the right impression.
Is a Professional CV really that important?
If you are applying for an advertised job, or are approaching a company to enquire about future vacancies, your CV will be the very first thing an employer will read and their impression of you will be based on this and this alone.
With the current uncertainty surrounding the economy and the impact that this has had on many industries, especially construction, the number of available jobs has reduced over recent months.
Competition is therefore fiercer than ever and so making the right first impression is absolutely crucial!
Now that you know the 7 steps to creating a great CV, you need to know the 7 biggest CV mistakes. Sloppy CVs say a lot about the author and these are the 7 main reasons why a CV can fail to make an impact!
With spell check programs on your PC there is no excuse for spelling mistakes.
Many of the subjects studied at school may be abbreviated (PE, ICT, RE etc.). You may know what these stand for but don't assume other people will so write everything in full.
Keep the CV as simple as possible. Over complicating it with colour, graphs, photographs or fancy formatting is not necessary. This is a trick some people use to hide the fact that they have nothing to say,
but is a trick all employers are aware of. Stick to presenting the information in the most straightforward way possible.
The reader will know nothing about you so give them as much information as possible, within a 2 page limit.
Don't make wild claims about just how great you are. A CV should sell you but you don't want to appear over confident.
The reader does not need to know the names of your pet dogs or how many brothers and sisters you have. Just include the information that the employer will want to read.
If you use the example CV we have provided, you can ensure a professional finish to the document.
However, make sure that you follow this rule through to the bitter end; print the CV on good white paper and don't fold or staple it. Simply post in an A4 envelope so when it arrives it will be crisp and clear.
Now that you know the dos and don'ts of CV writing, it's time to put pen to paper. There are hundreds of different CV layouts and styles out there and click here to download one example of how to present the information both clearly and professionally.
Although the scenario below is fictitious, this situation is constantly being played out up and down the country.
John Gilbert is the Manager of a local electrical contractor. He's looking for an apprentice and has received 2 CVs for the job. The 2 candidates are both the same age, are both male, have identical qualifications and similar work experience.
Candidate A's CV is printed on good white paper and is in a matching A4 envelope. A brief letter is attached introducing himself and explaining why he is interested in the job. This letter indicates he has found out a little about the company and explains why he is the best candidate for the role.
Candidate B's CV is in a bright red envelope, obviously left over from last year's Christmas cards. When John opens the envelope he finds a CV printed on poor quality paper with faded ink. There is no letter with the CV, the paper has been folded in a number of places and has been stapled together, making the information difficult to read. It looks scrappy and
hastily put together.
What do these 2 CVs say about the candidates and who would you employ?
There really is no competition.
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