How to write a successful CV

It’s not just about finding the right job on jobs24.com, but making sure you get hired. Chances are you’ll have a CV, but does yours really help you stand out from the crowd?

You only have a matter of seconds to make an impact with your CV. It’s your opportunity to sell yourself to potential employers and make sure you land an interview, so don’t fall foul to some basic mistakes.

Keep it between 2 and 3 pages

It’s important to tell employers all about your relevant experience, but any more and it looks like you’re rambling. Equally, any less and it looks like your CV is weak.

Keep it clear and easy to read

Sure you want to stand out, but overly designed CV’s can be distracting. Curb your creative juices and use bullet points and short sentences so they can scan your CV and get the right impression quickly.

‘Pobody’s perfect’

But there’s not a single reason your CV should have grammar or spelling mistakes.

Tell the truth

It happens quite often that candidates who have embellished points on their CV’s, end up getting caught out in questioning. Porky pies will only ever come back to bite you!

Tailor your CV

One of the most important tips to take on board is to adapt your CV to the job you’re applying for and only detail relevant experience. Only put in part-time jobs you had at school if they are relevant or you’re just starting out in your career.

Write a cover letter

You may have been asked in the past and wondered, ‘Why do they need this?’, ‘How long is it going to take me?’ or even ‘What is a cover letter, anyway?’.

Trust us, it’s just as important as a CV, as it’s basically everything a CV isn’t. It’s your opportunity to show your character and really stand out.

If you need a bit more help, upload your CV here for a free confidential review with our expert partners, TopCV. They can even rewrite your CV and cover letter to get you one step closer to that perfect job.

Posted on May 26, 2017