CV writing can be daunting.
The CV is usually the very first time you introduce yourself to prospective employers so it is essential to put your best foot forward.
There is a lot of pressure to put yourself forward in the best possible way. A lot of uncertainty as to what to leave in and what to leave out, and questions surrounding what format to use. Below I will outline some key points and advice on how to create the very best CV.
The purpose of a CV
So first we must look at the purpose of a CV. This is relatively simple – it is used to give a very brief overview of yourself and how the skills and business experience you have built up in your career relate to the job you are applying for. Because of this, my advice would be to create a new CV for every job you apply for, giving yourself an opportunity to adjust to the specific specifications they are looking for, giving yourself maximum opportunity for success.
Think of your CV as a cheat sheet on yourself; your key facts and stats. Something to consider when constructing your CV is the role of HR on the other end. They are likely to receive potentially hundreds of CVs depending on the role, and are thus unlikely to look too closely at all the details. If there is too much detail or an unappealing format, they are less likely to spend time on yours and thus it will not stand out leaving you out of consideration for the role. So an important thing to remember when writing your CV is brevity.
Format
There are countless possibilities for formatting a CV, each way has their own advantages and disadvantages and each job and prospective candidate will have their own preferences. But if we remember the purpose of the CV – a cheat sheet on yourself, and the importance of brevity we can see that any format that makes the information appealing to look at and encourages concise expression of facts will be beneficial to your chances of success
My recommendation for format is to have your name and address at the top. A brief ‘about me’ section that gives the prospective employer an idea about who you are professionally and a flavour of your interests to show who you are as a person. But remember keep it brief! There should then be a section on experience, skills, and qualifications, each with relevant info to the job you are applying for.
Check
A few final tips: Proof read! Poor spelling and grammar gives a prospective employer an easy excuse to eliminate you as a candidate. If this isn’t your strong suit have a friend look through your CV for any mistake as a fresh pair of eyes can make all the difference. Also, most importantly, be honest! There’s nothing to be gained through lying as it comes out eventually, just be honest be yourself and show them why you’re the perfect candidate for the job!