There are a few things you need to remember when writing your CV. Depending on what role you are applying for, companies can be inundated with CVs and applications. Keeping this in mind, you’ll want your CV to be at the top of the interview pile.
Think about presentation! Consider choosing a clear, professional font: the simpler the better. It may strike the hiring manager as a bit odd if the candidate applying for the senior role at their company has a CV written in Comic Sans!
Make contacting you a breeze! Keep important information like your name, location, contact numbers and email at the very top. You want the hiring manager to be easily able to pick up the phone or drop you an email.
Tell the employer why you want this role with them! Create a short but informative personal statement at the beginning of your CV to explain your interest in the role and what you have to offer them. You’ll want to take a moment to tailor this to the specific job you are applying for.
Share relevant work experience! All roles have transferrable skills that we can take with us into our next jobs. Start with your most recent employment first and work backwards. For each role, put the job title, the dates in which you undertook the role, and a brief description of your responsibilities and achievements.
Present your qualifications! You earned them, and it’s time to show them off. Include relevant qualifications, certificates, and awards with the date of when you received them. This includes any degrees and in-house training you may have completed too.
Wear your professional memberships with pride! Make sure to include details of any professional memberships you have that might be relevant to the role you’re applying for.
Be confident and write in a positive tone! If you believe in yourself, others will follow suit. Show you are truly passionate about the role you are applying for and make yourself stand out from the crowd.
Keep it clear and succinct! Like we said at the beginning, job searching is competitive and you want to stand out. Hiring managers will have an easier time choosing you if you keep things brief and informative. Try limiting your CV to 3 pages at most, though 2 is preferable. Remember, it’s about quality, not quantity!
Re-read your CV before sending it out! Check there are no spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors in what you have written. Ensure all gaps in employment are accounted for and stay honest. Why not get a friend to read over it for you?
Add a photo! The hiring manager cares more about your qualities, skills, and experience than your appearance. Your CV doesn’t require a photo, so it’s best to leave it out.
Make your CV too colourful! Your CV should be easy to read, so bright colours and different coloured texts will draw away from the main idea. You can showcase your creativity when you’ve got the job!
Part with any sensitive information like your national insurance, and passport numbers or bank details! These should never be necessary to include on your CV. Keep your data protected and don’t add them.
Generalise! Be factual and straightforward – what did you do and how did you do it. Generalisations don’t tell the person reading your CV about the key role you played and how it made a difference. Take ownership and give brief details!
Applying for jobs can feel tricky, and landing an interview even more so, but by following these Dos and Don’ts of CV writing, you’ll stand out from the rest and prove you’re the best!
To summarise, keep things neat, clear, and concise. Include all relevant information for the job and think about why you want to work for them. Steer clear of bright colours and adding any unnecessary features like photos or sensitive information.
Happy CV writing!