MANY job advertisements ask for ‘applications in writing’. By this they mean you should send your CV (short for Curriculum Vitae) and a covering letter.
A CV should contain basic factual information including your personal details, education, qualifications and employment details. Most CVs are speed-read by recruiters in less than 30 seconds, so it’s vital to make your first impression count.
Use your CV as a personal marketing tool and really sell yourself on it. Try to limit it to one page and make sure all the information is written crisply and clearly.
Although you can keep the basic foundation of your CV constant, remember to tailor it to the job you are applying for. Many people write a standard CV and send it to a variety of different vacancies, then wonder why there’s not much response. It is much more effective if they can provide evidence that you are the best person for the position on offer.
The job description should give you a good idea of what the employer is looking for in a candidate and the skills, abilities and experience needed. Arrange the best examples of how you meet their requirements as high up as possible.
Back to basics
The main areas on your CV should be:
Name and contact details
Education
Work experience
Skills
Hobbies and interests
Referees
Dos and Don'ts
Do
- Keep your CV to one page if possible, two max.
- Include a profile with a brief summary about yourself.
- Follow a chronological order – for your employment history it’s best to start with the most recent position and work back. The same for education – start with your university/college.
- Include a driving licence if you have one.
- Try to quantify your achievements where possible.
- Include IT skills, foreign languages and professional bodies that you're a member of.
- Include all work experience
Don't
- Leave any gaps in your experience
- Include statements such as: 'I am a highly motivated individual with strong communication skills', unless you can provide some supporting evidence
- Put your CV in a folder or bind it together. Many companies will want to photocopy it and it needs to fit their filing system.
- Put your current work telephone number unless you are happy to be contacted there.
- Include any jargon or slang.
Style
There is no set style for CVs but the following guidelines will help you grab the attentions of those reading it and also ensure it’s easy to read.
Always type your CV – go to your local library if you don’t have a home computer.
Print each page on a separate sheet and print on one side only.
Use black ink and on good quality white (A4) paper.
Don’t try to be clever with fancy fonts and coloured paper. Unless it’s a job in a very creative industry, gimmicks will distract rather than impress recruiters.
Stick to the same fonts and headings and keep the overall style consistent.
Make sure your name and contact details are at the top and easy to read.
Check and double check spelling and grammar. CVs should never contain any errors and spelling mistakes will undermine any claims you may have made relating to professionalism and attention to detail.
Don’t try to cram everything in. Keep your CV as concise and well-written as possible and remember you still need to leave lots of white space and wide margins, so it doesn't look cluttered
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