Empowering Growth...
Writing a good CV can be one of the toughest challenges you will face whilst job hunting. Most employers spend just a few seconds scanning each CV before deciding if they are going to process to the next steps and interview process. We have taken the time to compile our top 10 tips on how to show the world 'this is me' and get that all important interview.
Keep it short but sweet:
Usually a CV should be no more than two A4 pages. Employers spend, on average, a mere 8 seconds looking at a CV. One way to put your CV onto the pile of 'not for consideration' is to have too many words and too much life history. You should keep it punchy, to the point and save those niggly little details for the interview.
Make every application unique:
Every single role that you apply for you should have an individual application. It might be easy to get trigger happy and apply for multiple roles at a time, however, you should take the time to amend your CV for every job you apply for. Make sure that you research the company which you are applying for and use the job advert to work out exactly what skills you should point out to them.
Include personal profile:
A key way to make sure when the employer looks at your CV, they see the most relevant experience for the vacancy is to include a personal statement. This could also be followed up with a key skills section. If you tailor this to every role you apply for, they will immediately see your suitability for the position in those first 8 seconds.
Explain any gaps:
It's one of the biggest reasons that an employer will not seek to interview you, gaps! It makes the employer immediately suspicious and can be a worry for them as to what you have been doing during that time. In most parts there will be a simple explanation, and this should be explained in short form on your CV. Leave the details for the interview but if you have done anything such as studying, volunteering etc then you should shout about this.
Keep your CV up to date:
It's important, so that you don't forget in the future, when you leave a job that you spend time updating your CV. You should also keep record of every achievement and qualification you secure - no matter how small - this could come in handy in years to come.
Spell check:
Many employers today will look for errors on a CV and if they see a spelling or grammatical error, this could put you on a back foot before you even start the interview process. If you're unsure then use a spellchecker and ask someone else to double check what you have written.
Be truthful:
Lying on your CV is a big no! It's easier than ever now for people to check dates of employment, background and references and should you be caught lying then this could jeopardise you future with the potential or even new employer. You should also consider the impact of sitting in an interview and not being able to answer a specific question related to your experience.
Include figures with your achievements:
This is often the difference between a good application and a great one. Make yourself stand out from the crowd by backing up your best bits with figures. For example, if you were to increase revenue in a sales role, don't just say this, include the maths! Tell them that you increased revenue by 50%! It's important here to remember to keep this truthful as stated above.
Formatting and layout:
The way your CV looks is important as the content. Make sure you take the time to make the layout look clear and concise. For example, use bullet points, keep the sentences to point and not too much detail, if you have a portfolio then add this to your CV or if you have a LinkedIn profile why not attach the link so the employer can check you out in person.
Make it keyword friendly:
As the job market moves towards Artificial Intelligence, it's important to make sure your CV is picked up in as many searches on major search engines such as Reed, Total Jobs and CV Library. The more times you can get your CV to appear in searches by recruiters and employers, the more chance you have of receiving a call about your profile. If you're not sure, have a search online and see what words are commonly mentioned when you input your job title.
We advise you to keep all the content on your CV positive! For example, if you have left a job due to being unhappy, or maybe there was a negative reason for the end of employment, do not air this on your CV. If asked, you will get the chance to explain in your interview.
If you are recruiting or looking for work then get in touch with us on 01353 880253 | Admin@busybeerecruitment.co.uk
Keep it short but sweet:
Usually a CV should be no more than two A4 pages. Employers spend, on average, a mere 8 seconds looking at a CV. One way to put your CV onto the pile of 'not for consideration' is to have too many words and too much life history. You should keep it punchy, to the point and save those niggly little details for the interview.
Make every application unique:
Every single role that you apply for you should have an individual application. It might be easy to get trigger happy and apply for multiple roles at a time, however, you should take the time to amend your CV for every job you apply for. Make sure that you research the company which you are applying for and use the job advert to work out exactly what skills you should point out to them.
Include personal profile:
A key way to make sure when the employer looks at your CV, they see the most relevant experience for the vacancy is to include a personal statement. This could also be followed up with a key skills section. If you tailor this to every role you apply for, they will immediately see your suitability for the position in those first 8 seconds.
Explain any gaps:
It's one of the biggest reasons that an employer will not seek to interview you, gaps! It makes the employer immediately suspicious and can be a worry for them as to what you have been doing during that time. In most parts there will be a simple explanation, and this should be explained in short form on your CV. Leave the details for the interview but if you have done anything such as studying, volunteering etc then you should shout about this.
Keep your CV up to date:
It's important, so that you don't forget in the future, when you leave a job that you spend time updating your CV. You should also keep record of every achievement and qualification you secure - no matter how small - this could come in handy in years to come.
Spell check:
Many employers today will look for errors on a CV and if they see a spelling or grammatical error, this could put you on a back foot before you even start the interview process. If you're unsure then use a spellchecker and ask someone else to double check what you have written.
Be truthful:
Lying on your CV is a big no! It's easier than ever now for people to check dates of employment, background and references and should you be caught lying then this could jeopardise you future with the potential or even new employer. You should also consider the impact of sitting in an interview and not being able to answer a specific question related to your experience.
Include figures with your achievements:
This is often the difference between a good application and a great one. Make yourself stand out from the crowd by backing up your best bits with figures. For example, if you were to increase revenue in a sales role, don't just say this, include the maths! Tell them that you increased revenue by 50%! It's important here to remember to keep this truthful as stated above.
Formatting and layout:
The way your CV looks is important as the content. Make sure you take the time to make the layout look clear and concise. For example, use bullet points, keep the sentences to point and not too much detail, if you have a portfolio then add this to your CV or if you have a LinkedIn profile why not attach the link so the employer can check you out in person.
Make it keyword friendly:
As the job market moves towards Artificial Intelligence, it's important to make sure your CV is picked up in as many searches on major search engines such as Reed, Total Jobs and CV Library. The more times you can get your CV to appear in searches by recruiters and employers, the more chance you have of receiving a call about your profile. If you're not sure, have a search online and see what words are commonly mentioned when you input your job title.
We advise you to keep all the content on your CV positive! For example, if you have left a job due to being unhappy, or maybe there was a negative reason for the end of employment, do not air this on your CV. If asked, you will get the chance to explain in your interview.
If you are recruiting or looking for work then get in touch with us on 01353 880253 | Admin@busybeerecruitment.co.uk
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