Before you send off your CV or upload it to a job board you need to be 100% confident you are putting your best foot forward. With millions of other jobseekers competing it’s tough to be the outstanding candidate.
1. Check and double check grammar and spelling According to the
REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation), half of all CVs sent to employers contain spelling and grammatical errors, and graduates are twice as likely to make mistakes as their non-graduate counterparts.
2. Exaggeration
Don't be tempted to invent qualifications or embellish the extent of your work experience. You do need to sell your skills, but any discrepancies may be picked up at interview when you're asked to elaborate.
3. Keep it concise and clear
Less is more. Although you may be tempted to include everything you've ever done, try to keep it short. Include only information that's relevant to the job you're applying for. Aim for two pages, maximum.
4. No repetition
Always check that you haven't used the same words for describing different skills, work experience, or interests, and check for unnecessary adjectives. This will help to streamline your CV.
5. Tailor Your CV
Don't be tempted to send the same CV to a large number of employers. Tailoring it will give you a better chance of success. Read the job description thoroughly, and research the employer so you can target your CV.
6. Presentation
Use a commonly used font such as Times Roman or Arial and use an easy to read size such as 10 point.
7. Highlight achievements
If you speed-read your CV, would your key achievements stand out? Employers have little time to tease important information from your CV, so make sure it's easy to read. Remember the purpose/goal of the CV is to get the interview - it needs to stand out and help you sell yourself.
8. Back up with examples
Try to include examples of any skill or achievement. This will give an employer an idea of how you have used your skills, not just a list of the skills you say you've got.
9. Use your friends and family
Get someone to read through your CV. It's easy to overlook mistakes when you've been working on it for a long time, and you'll be surprised what other people pick up.
10. Keep it fresh
Update your CV whenever you've gained more experience, and regularly review what you've written to keep it relevant.
11. Covering Letter
Remember a CV is more effective if it is coupled with a well-written and concise
covering letter.
