What Does your CV Say About You? 

The CV is your first opportunity to catch the attention of your potential employer. You have a short space of time to gain, maintain the interest of the reader and sell yourself as the perfect candidate for the position. You need to be able to highlight all of your personal attributes as well as the skills you will bring to the position you are applying for in just two pages. It isn’t always easy, but it can be done by including only the most relevant information and written in a way that will keep the attention of the employer and make them see you are the ideal person for the job.

Your CV: What to Include

There are some essential items you need to include within the CV, without them you will leave the reader feeling flat and your CV will simply be disregarded.

  • Name

It may seem obvious but so many people neglect to put their full name at the top of the CV.

  • Contact information

Make sure every means of contact is made available such as phone numbers, email addresses and home address.

  • Brief Bio

Summarising yourself in just a few points isn’t always easy but it is necessary. You need to give an overview of yourself and your skills for the employer to sum you up as a person and employee.

  • Qualifications

You don’t need to include every certificate you have ever gained; yet the most relevant qualifications to the job applying for are crucial.

  • Work Experience

The last three positions are the best to include; employers don’t need to know every single position held since you were a teenager. Also remember to explain any gaps in employment.

  • References

State that references are available upon request rather than listing the names of potential referees. This saves time and space.

The most common way to apply for positions is a job application online that determines the exact information you must provide. This short, condensed application is easy for you to complete and employers to read. It is a good stencil for the way in which you complete your CV. Keep it precise, and simple and most of all relevant.

What it says About You?

Tailor your CV to each position

Again this may be common sense, but it is a good idea to thoroughly read through the job advert to determine what is expected of you. If you write your CV to specifically appeal to the important elements within the job specification the employer will see how seriously you have researched the job and how you would fit into the position.

Short and Sweet

Keep your CV to a maximum of two pages, any longer and the reader will lose complete interest early on if they feel they have reams of information to read through. The information you include needs to be relevant to the position you are applying for, such as the qualifications and work experience, which you possess.

Font, Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation

Make sure your CV looks as professional as possible, starting by typing it rather than handwriting it. A legible font is the most important thing to consider, keep it simple and easy to read. Things such as spelling and grammar mistakes are inexcusable as the computer does the hard work for you. Good spelling also shows you are serious, conscientious and passionate.

Sell Yourself

A reader typically loses interest in your CV after between 10 – 30 seconds so you need to really sell yourself before they put your CV to one side. Explain why you are a good candidate, better than the competition and give a strong impression of yourself without having to physically meet the person.

~DF~