Do you know that Your CV is your opportunity to sell yourself to a new employer, so it’s important you make it work for you. They can be very different depending on the job you’re chasing, but there’s some basic advice that can be applied to most people.
1. Layout
Advice for the length of your CV ranges from 1-2 pages. One thing’s for sure, it’s definitely not a good idea to go on for reams and reams. When an employer has hundreds to go through, they’re not going to take the time to read your 10 page CV which lists in minute detail everything you’ve ever done.
If you’re looking at jobs in the creative industries, a one page CV with an interesting design is likely to have more impact than a bog standard Word document.
In general, try to avoid a cluttered page, with very long sentences and no discernible order.
2. Language
This is another area which should be tailored to the specific industry you’re applying to. For instance, you’re likely to use much more formal language when chasing a job as a lawyer than you would applying for a job as a photographer.Don’t be afraid to throw in some specific lingo related to the job industry, but don’t make your entire CV a page of jargon. When making claims on your CV, such as “boosted sales figures” make sure you quantify such statements, how much did you boost sales by?
Put the most important elements required by the job at the top of the CV, such as work experience. This is usually followed by your education, but if you need a specific qualification for the job you’re after, you might consider placing it nearer the top. The same can be said if it’s your first job after graduating from university.
3. Work experience
If you’ve got a lot of work experience, think about which of it is most relevant to the job you’re applying for. For these roles, include more details and achievements and list them towards the top of your CV, you can place any extra work under “other work” nearer the bottom of your CV – it’s important not to leave any gaps.Where possible, list your responsibilities and duties for each post, and explain what you learned when doing each role. If you’re looking for your first job, list any internships or voluntary work you may have completed and explain how this helped you develop. If you’re a bit short on work experience, talk about projects, groups or associations you were involved with at school, college and university.
4. Hobbies and interests
Most people put these right at the bottom of the CV, but they are a great way to show off your individuality and other skills that might not be obvious from your work experience and qualifications.Try to avoid the clichéd, hobbies, such as “watching television” – who doesn’t enjoy watching television? Instead, include things which show that you’re a more rounded individual – such as a hobby you’re particularly passionate about, whether that’s fishing, rock climbing, photography, crafting or cooking.
Maybe you’re a member of a club or organisation, that shows dedication, loyalty and team work, so include things like that too.
