Read On TO Get Your CV Top of the Pile
Your CV can go through long periods of neglect. Like that houseplant in your kitchen or the weeds on the drive, if you're in a job for a long time you can easily forget to update that little piece of paper. But once you get itchy feet or something comes along that you think, 'Yeah, I'll have a bit of that,' suddenly you need to dig it out of your lost files, blow off the dust and realise you have to go and add in years worth of experience, training and CPD.
But a lot of what you do can be a waste of time. So here are a few tips to make sure you get the most out of your CV when it comes to bringing it up to date.
Tailor Your CV To The Position
When writing a CV, it is crucial to tailor it to the specific position or opportunity you are applying for.
Research the role! Familiarise yourself with the requirements and responsibilities of the position. This will enable you to align your skills, experiences, and qualifications with the needs of the employer. Also, don’t just see the ad and click apply. Run a few searches on the establishment you want to work for. Check them out on LinkedIn and look at their website. Find a few details about them that firstly will indicate whether it’s the kind of place you want to work and secondly give you the chance to find a few details about them you can work into your application to show that you have done your research.
Emphasise your accomplishments that directly relate to the desired role. Not everything you have done will be relevant to the role, so don’t put everything in there. Employers will give your CV no more than a few seconds of attention. Don’t waste that with irrelevant information. Whether it’s academic achievements, extracurricular activities, or work experience, focus on what is most applicable to the position.
Customise your personal statement: Craft a compelling personal statement that summarises your key strengths, career aspirations, and why you are the ideal candidate for the role. Tailor it to reflect the organisation’s values and mission, showcasing your alignment with their objectives (this is where that research comes in).
Structure And Formatting
The structure and formatting of your CV play a crucial role in ensuring clarity and ease of reading.
• Clear and concise: Use a clean and professional format with clear headings and subheadings. Aim for a well-organised document that is easy to navigate.
• Ideally, keep your CV to one page. Two at the absolute maximum. Be selective in the information you include and focus on quality rather than quantity. Present your experiences and qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. This allows employers to see your progression and current relevance. It’s okay to omit things that aren’t relevant, even if that causes a gap in your CV. During the interview, simply explain that gap was an omission to save them time.
• Typically, a CV includes sections such as personal information, personal statement, education, work experience, skills, achievements, and references (optional). Adapt these sections to fit your specific circumstances and prioritise the most relevant information.
Don’t Be Modest
To make your CV stand out, emphasise your skills and achievements effectively. Consider the following strategies:
• Skills: Identify and highlight relevant skills that are sought after in the field or industry you are pursuing. These can include technical skills, transferable skills, and soft skills. Provide specific examples to demonstrate how you have utilised these skills in various contexts.
• Achievements: Showcase your notable achievements, such as academic awards, leadership roles, projects, or initiatives you have undertaken. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to provide tangible evidence of your accomplishments.
• Action verbs: Use action verbs to describe your experiences and responsibilities, such as “managed,” “led,” “created,” etc. This creates a strong and dynamic impression and helps to convey your capabilities effectively.
Struggling? Maybe I can Help
I can tell you what you need to do to make the best CV, but sometimes it can just be really difficult to find the right words. If that's you and you struggle with that kind of thing, get in touch and maybe I can help. I offer a CV and Cover Letter service to help you craft the perfect CV and cover letter to help you secure that interview for the job you're after, and even chip in with some great tips for the interview itself.
For the complete article, and more pieces on CV writing and cover letters, head over to Oxford Home Schooling.
Comments