CV Tips
Creating a good impression to a potential employer begins with your CV. It is vital to ensure your that CV makes the best impression. Some tips to help you when you are creating your CV to be put forward.
Make it concise
A CV is not an interview. It should serve to highlight the most important aspects of your career and skills. This should be chronological, to the point and particularly emphasise key attributes that differentiate you from other candidates.
Make it relevant and up to date
Your CV is there to showcase the best of you and you should make sure that you include all the positive aspects of your education, career history and interests and leave out anything else.
Make the CV fit the job
It is good to emphasise the key skills that an employer is looking for. This may mean you will have to change your CV according to the role you are applying for. Put the most relevant information first so they can quickly find it.
Simple presentation
Designs and graphics may look nice, but the majority of employers are interested in the experience and skills you can bring to the role. Do break up your CV with bullet points, bold headings and underlining. It is good to avoid lengthy paragraphs of plain text as they are hard to read.
What an ideal CV would contain:
- 1. Personal details:
- name
- address
- home and work telephone number
- If you require a work permit it would be helpful to add here whether you have a current work permit.
- 2. Education details:
- List your academic qualifications in chronological order, starting with the most recent qualification first.
- 3. Professional qualifications:
- Order your professional qualifications in the same order as your education details.
- 4. Skills:
- It's important to include all of your software skills and languages. Make sure you specify your skill level i.e. conversational French, fluent German.
- 5. Employment experiences
- Start with the most recent role.
- Include the company name, your position and the dates of your employment.
- Provide full job details that are relevant to the job your are applying for.
- List your duties, responsibilities and achievements.
- Show how you have contributed to the company, giving evidence of the value you have added.
- Include any extra involvement you have had in projects and task groups.
- Show how you can handle pressure and tight deadlines, demonstrate your accuracy and initiative at work.
Be 100% honest in your CV, a good interviewer will quickly find out if there are any gaps.
It is good to include your reason for leaving as it is often a question that is asked.
Provide brief descriptions for the jobs that are not relevant.