20th Oct 2009 - Top 10 tips to help make your CV stand out…
In this competitive market everything can help…
1- Spelling and grammar
The most common mistake and yet the most important thing to get right to make a good first impression. Get your CV checked and checked again
2 - Where to start…
Recruiters want to know what you’ve done recently, so list your work experience in reverse chronological order and place your educational achievements after your work experience.
3- Keep it concise
The average recruiter spends only a few minuets scanning a CV, so keep it to two pages or three at most for those in senior positions and attach a deal sheet if possible.
4- Formatting
Remember what looks great on your PC screen might not display well elsewhere so keep formatting to a minimum. Recruitment consultancies often use their own templates, so make sure your CV is easy to copy and paste, and preferably in Word.
5- Specify the key details
Great project manager, good communicator, dedicated employee – all great skills but worthless unless you demonstrate what you achieved. Ensure everything you say is quantified by specifying the actions you took and the results and/or benefits.
6- Explain gaps in your CV
Your CV should read as a continuous, chronological flow of activities, so make sure you explain any gaps such as travelling, maternity leave, sabbaticals etc.
7- Redundancy
In the current economy, stating that you were made redundant doesn’t reflect badly on you. And if you don’t include it the reader might assume you were fired.
8- Exclude irrelevant information
If you’re unsure whether to include something, ask yourself: does this impact my ability to do the job? If no, leave it off. This includes: age, gender, marital and parental status and religion.
9- Interests and hobbies
Although your hobbies and activities may be really interesting, unless they’re relevant to the role or demonstrate a particular skill, keep this section to a minimum.
10- More than one version of your CV
Best kept secret - every role is different, so tailor your CV to that role. Go through the job spec and emphasise your relevant skills and experience on your tailored CV.
Best of Luck!
