CVs
A good CV needs to promote the skills, qualities, knowledge and experience you can bring to a particular job. Follow these steps and your CV will make the right impression.
Step 1: layout
Most employers take less than a minute to initially scan a CV, so keep the structure and design clear and simple. Think carefully about headings and sub-headings, and what order to present the information in. Consider the recruiters - are they traditional, valuing academic and intellectual attainment, and would prefer to read about your academic achievements first? Or are your skills or technical abilities more important? Do you have relevant experience that you could list separately to other experience?
Step 2: think visually
Follow these simple guidelines for an impressive-looking CV:
- Length - maximum two pages of A4
- Professional looking - use good-quality print and paper
- Accessible information - even on a scan read
- Use bullet points and short phrases, not lengthy paragraphs
- Spell/grammar/visually check - ask someone else to proofread it
- Keep a logical and consistent scheme of chronology and headings
- Use a clear font of an appropriate size, eg 11 or 12 point
Step 3: language
When you are writing CVs it's important to use powerful, active and positive language. But beware of using words with which you are not familiar, or lying - you may get quizzed on your claims at interview! Emphasise any activities that demonstrate skills the employer requires.
Step 4: personal details
This means that you must include your name and address(es). Provide your telephone number(s), and your e-mail address (as long as you check it regularly). This information should ideally feature prominently on the first page of your CV.
Step 5: leave it out
You may safely omit:
- Listing every GCSE subject and every module of your degree
- Outdated and irrelevant awards and achievements
- Marital status, gender, age and date of birth
- Stating 'Curriculum Vitae' at the top of the page - you could replace this with your name
- There are some matters, such as disastrous exam results, health issues and unexplained gaps on your CV that may be worrying you. Sometimes explanations can be made on the covering letter, but some issues may be better tackled in other ways. If in doubt, take your CV to a careers adviser.
Step 6: draw it all together
Now you're ready to create a great CV! Just remember, to revisit your CV every time you apply to a job. Recruiters can easily spot a template, so it's crucial that you make your CV original and tailored to each individual job that you apply for.
Get your CV checked before you go to the Fair, so you have something at hand if an employer asks for it. But remember that a tailored CV specific to each application will always work much better. It is more effective to make a few, well thought out applications that to send out lots of standard ones.
