If you are looking to take a step up the career ladder then it stands to reason you are going to want to give yourself the best possible chance of success. One of the best ways to do this is to ensure that your CV is the best it can possibly be.
So, what can you do to make sure that your CV is what potential employers want to read?
Set The Right Foundations
You need to make sure that your CV has all of the relevant information. Employers don’t want to have to chase you for the details they need to know so make sure you include all of this on your CV. Sections that are essential to include are – personal information, contact details, education, qualifications, work history and your skills. You should also include any hobbies you have and references that can be easily contactable.
Getting The Right Look
On top of that you need to make sure that your CV looks the part. A clean looking CV will always win above others. A fresh looking layout with an easy to read font and everything broken down into sections is the best way to get your potential employers attention for all the right reasons.
Looking Good
Make sure that your CV is no longer than two pages of A4 paper. When you are sending a paper copy of your CV through the post always send this in an A4 envelope rather than folding it down to fit in something smaller. The upper middle area of your CV is what recruiters will naturally look at first, so make sure any important information is included here.
Small Amendments
Make sure you read the job vacancy advert properly and know what you are applying for. It is worth making a list of what a company is looking for and seeing which areas of your CV cover this. If anything is missing or you have an area of expertise that you can expand on for this job, then don’t be afraid to change this to improve your application.
Why They Should Pick You
You have to remember that your CV is far from the only one people will receive. In fact with the current financial climate competition for job vacancies is higher than ever. Make sure you look at what additional skills you can add to your CV to put you above the competition. It might not be relevant to the job, but well rounded individuals with a range of skills and experiences is what most employers are looking for.
References
You should always include two references on your CV – one from a work colleague and one from someone who can voucher for you as a character. They might not even contact these, but you need to show a willingness to prove your worth should they want to.
Keep Your CV Up To Date
It is important to keep your CV fresh and up to date. If you have undertaken any secondments, new job roles or training at work then you should include this too!
Most of all... Don't do this
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