We are sure you all know how important it is to have the perfect CV, it is, after all, a potential employer's first meeting of you but how do you set about writing it? What information should you make sure it contains and what should you take out? We at AllBrightonAndHoveJobs want to assist you in maximising your chances of getting that good so here are tips for making the right first impression.
The Basics
We are all aware it's clear but a Curriculum Vitae (CV) should on all occasions be typed to give it the best clarity possible. It should also be well presented. Think about how it appears on the page. There should be apparent headings and breaks between paragraphs. A prospective employer will likely look through loads of CVs for a job so they should be able to read the relevant information straightaway before short listing it for a more thorough read through. A badly laid out CV which is hard to read will probably end up in the trash.
Personal Statement
Lots of employers like a CV to commence with a personal statement as it allows them to see at a glance what you are about. What should this contain?
- Who are you and what have you been doing in your career? What have you found most rewarding about previous jobs?
- What do you want to do? What are your goals?
- How are you going to go about achieving these goals?
- What do you think are your key skills? What can you bring to a potential employer?
Make sure you give these questions serious thought before you come up with an answer as they probable to be questioned at interview. Here's an example of the type of thing might want to say say:
' I am bright, hardworking and determined about any challenges I take on. My careerto date has all been decidedly customerfocused and I find this to be very enjoyable. I have spent the last six years in a sales environment and I find enjoyable the contact with different types of people this brings. I feel I am intelligent and would like the opportunity to explore. During my time at Barney Ruddles Estate Agents particularly enjoyed learning as much as possible about the procedural and legal parts of the conveyancing process and think that I took to it quickly. I am particularly keen to take on a challenging role with opportunities to advance and train where possible. I am also extremely IT literate and thoroughly like using computers as part of my working life.'
Education
The next section should be your educational history if it is particularly relevant to the job for which you are applying. For example, if you have a degree in Marketing and you are applying for a marketing position then it is useful to state this first. However, if you think that your educational history is not especially important and you are applying on the strength of your experience then it is worth possibly putting your work history first.
Your education should be stated in reverse order with the most recent education undertaken first. It is not necessary to go into vast amounts of detail here, simply state where you studied and what grades you were awarded. It is not necessary to put the dates of study if you do not want to as, under the Age Discrimination Act, you are not required to make any reference to your age and this includes dates from which your age may be discerned. Do not forget to include information of any additional certificates you might have received which may be important to the position.
Work History
Like education, it should be laid out in reverse order, the most recent or current employment at the beginning. You should give the name of the company and the period of time you were employed (this does not necessarily have to be dates but you should put for how long you were employed in that role). It is also useful to indicate where the employer was based, e.g. Brighton and Hove. You should also clearly indicate what your job title was. Underneath explain succinctly what your job role was and your main tasks. This should assist a perspective employer determine whether your experience makes you suitable for their vacancy. Try to be succinct and keep it to only relevant information.
It is not a good idea to put your salary for each role undertaken on your CV as this can cause an employer to make assumptions about your suitability for a role and make negotiating your salary, where applicable, harder. The same can also be said for putting your salary expectation on your CV.
Other Information
It is not uncommon for job seekers to put a small amount of personal information, such as hobbies, on their CV. We would recommend keep this to a minimum. You should, however, state whether you have a driving licence and what type of transport you have.
There has also been a noticeable shift away from employers liking to see photos on a CV. For most positions it is unnecessary to include a photo but if you want to it ought to be passport photo sized and professional looking.
Spelling and Punctuation
It is highly important that you make sure all spelling and punctuation are correct. Literacy is often highly valued to employers so use the 'Spell Check' option on your computer.
Second Opinion
Ask someone to read through your CV. Ask them to check it looks presentable and easy to read. They should also check your spelling and grammar.
Covering Letter
When applying for a position try to include a covering letter. This should state why you are applying for this job in particular and a small amount about the experience and/or skills you have which could be of value to them (avoid repeating too much from the CV itself).
Each Job is Different
Remember that it may not be 'one CV fits all', it's worth spending a few moments checking your CV before each time you send it to ensure it makes the biggest impact for each particular opening. You may want to think about changing some information, particularly your personal statement, to suit the job description.
