CV Tips ...
TOP CV TIPS
- Your curriculum vitae should be honest and factual - do not
be tempted to stretch the truth.
- It must highlight your core skills and achievements relative
to your target position - these should be presented on the first
page and should jump out at the reader.
- It needs to be well-written and concise.
- Ensure that your CV is well laid out with lots of white space
- do not be tempted to include complex formatting, shading,
boxes and stylised fonts.
- Your CV must not exceed two-pages (three is considered acceptable
if you have an IT or academic background).
- When writing your Employment History, it must not represent
a job description but should rather focus on your achievements
and should highlight the benefits that your work has had for
an organisation. Where appropriate, these should be backed up
by facts and figures. Where possible, also include a separate
achievements section, highligting three or four of your major
achievements.
- Ensure that there are no misspellings or grammatical errors
in your document. Get someone else to proof read your CV. These
type of errors are not tolerated and you risk your CV being
binned.
- Each point must sell you in some way. Begin each point with
an active or power word as this brings your CV to life.
- You must focus on what you have achieved rather than what
others have achieved.
- Use bullet points as this makes your CV easy to read.
- Be bold, be clear and show focus.
- Tailor your CV to your target position. It may be necessary
to have multiple CVs.
- Include all your contact information to ensure you can be
contacted easily.
- Write your CV in the first person i.e., 'I have' rather that
'he has', although it is best to leave off the 'I'.
- Avoid being vague.
- Focus on what you have done not what you hope to do.
Your CV is your first communication with a prospective employer.
Making the right first impression is imperative as you only get
one chance to make a first impression. If you compromise on the
quality of your CV, you will dramatically reduce your chances
of winning an interview, particularly in the current economic
climate where competition has never been more fierce.
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Avoid including unnecessary information such as:
- Titles and headings - it should be obvious as to what document
this is.
- Reason for leaving - this will be covered at interview.
- Salary details - this can knock you out of contention before
you have started.
- Photographs - unless it is applicable to the type of work
you are involved in e.g. modelling.
- Weaknesses - never tell a reader what you do not have or what
you have not had the opportunity to do yet.
- Jargon - ensure your Curriculum Vitae is reader friendly to
as many people as possible.
- References - you can state that they are available on request,
but it is inappropriate and unprofessional to include them in
your CV.
- Date of birth, marital status, religion, nationality, children
etc. - this has no bearing on your ability to do the job.
Finally, you should select a format of Curriculum
Vitae which is most suited to you and your background.
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