Writing An Outstanding CV
Most people don’t have to produce a CV many times during their career, but things are tough at the moment and redundancies are increasing therefore it is best if you are prepared and having a good CV should be part of that preparation. Here are some tips:
Keep It Short And Snappy
An employer will only spend 10-20 seconds reading your CV so it is very important that you keep yours brief and relevant. It should be no more than two sides of A4 pages.
Tailor Your CV
Where possible do not send the same CV to every job you apply for. Take the time and effort to read each job description and person specification and adapt your CV for each role.
Include A Personal Profile
Include a statement explaining why you are the best person for the job you are applying for. This should be at the top of the first page of your CV and should highlight your knowledge, skills and achievements.
Do Not Leave Gaps
Employers are very suspicious of gaps in work history on your CV and will not give you the benefit of the doubt. If you have been out of work in the past, do not leave this out, put a positive spin on it. You may have raised your family or enjoyed a period of travel.
Keep Your CV Up To Date
Whether you are looking for a job or not, make sure you keep your CV current. Every time something significant occurs in your career, record it. That way you are always prepared if anything happens.
Check, Check And Check Again
Employers do look for mistakes, so use a spell checker to double check your spelling and get the help of a friend or colleague to proofread your CV. No employer wants a sloppy worker.
Be Honest
Do not lie on your CV, it can land you in a lot of trouble. Employers do use tools to verify your background and it will be very difficult at interviews if you cannot answer their questions about your experience.
Back It Up
Although this may sound boring, backing up all of your achievements with statistics makes it easier to sell yourself. Do not just say you increased productivity, sell them when, how and by how much.
Make It Look Attractive
Take some time to make your CV look nice, make use of a logical structure that is really easy to follow. Try and use a mixture of bullet points and short concise sentences.
Include Your Reference Details
It is a good idea to have your reference information on your CV and whether an employer can contact them before an interview or not. References that come from previous employers can confirm your character, skills and experience.
My final piece of advice to you is to make sure that you only apply for jobs that are right for you. Don’t send your CV out willy nilly be focused on what you are going after.
Good Luck!