Do You Have a Rubbish CV?
Having a good CV is crucial for showcasing your skills, qualifications and experience to potential employers and you landing a new job. We see 100’s of CV’s every week and honestly most of them are rubbish. Here are some tips to help you create an effective CV:
It needs to look good
Make sure you use a clear and professional format, a good font size and a clear layout. Your CV also needs to be concise and should not be more than two pages long.
Your contact info should be at the top
At the top of your CV you should have your full name, phone number and email address. Make sure your contact information is accurate to ensure you can be easily reached.
You need a “Personal Profile” paragraph
At the beginning of your CV you need to write a brief summary which basically sells you and your experience. Tailor your profile to match the job you are applying for that way you are more or less guaranteed an interview.
Make a list of your key skills
Highlight your key skills that are relevant to the job are applying for, either make a list of these or explain them in a bullet like sentence. Include both hard and soft skills in your listing.
Now for your work experience
This part is really important, your experience needs to be listed with your current job first and then going backwards no more than ten years. Provide a concise description of your duties using bullet points.
Next comes your education
Include your educational background starting with the highest level of education ie: University, College, High School in that order. Make sure you list the name of the institution you attended and what you studied.
What about any training you’ve done
If you have completed any training courses make sure you add these after your education. These should be work related, an employer does not want to know about your swimming lessons.
Brag about your hobbies or interests
A lot of people leave this off their CV but it really is important to list your hobbies and interests as it gives the employer an insight into what sort of person you are. For instance are you sporty, a traveller, interested in music of enjoy learning. What they don’t like to see is that you like drinking and going out clubbing!
Tailor your CV for the job you are going for
Customise your CV for every job you apply for to highlight the most relevant skills and experience you have that would suit the role. Make sure your CV is a good representation of who you are and what you are about.
Proof read, proof read and proof read again
Whatever you do make sure your CV has no spelling or grammatical errors on it. Also check that your dates of employment are correct and the format and font style is easy to comprehend and read.
Don’t forget to update your CV regularly
Keep your CV up to date with your latest experience, skills and qualifications. Also regularly review your profile and key skills section to ensure they reflect your professional growth and achievements.
Finally remember a successful CV is tailored, well-organised and effectively sells you to a prospective employer and will make them want to interview you.
Good Luck.