We know how important it is to have the ideal CV, it is, after all, a potential employer's first meeting of you but how do you set about writing it? What details should you make sure it contains and what should you leave out? We at AllBasingstokeJobs want to aid you in improving your chances of getting that desire so here are tips for making the right first impression.
The Basics
We know it's clear but a Curriculum Vitae (CV) should on all occasions be typed to give it the best ease of read possible. It should also be well presented. Consider how it appears on the page. There should be apparent headings and breaks between sections. A prospective employer will is likely to look through dozens of CVs for a job so they should be able to read the relevant information at a glance before short listing it for a additional thorough read through. A imperfectly laid out CV which is complicated to read will probably end up in the bin.
Personal Statement
The majority employers want a CV to commence with a personal statement as it allows them to see immediately what you are about. What should this include?
- Who are you and what have you been doing in your career? What have you liked about previous jobs?
- What do you want to do? What are your goals?
- How are you going to go about achieving these goals?
- What do you consider to be your key skills? What can you bring to a prospective employer?
Make sure you give these questions real thought before you answer them as they are likely to be questioned at interview. Here's an example of the type of thing might want to say say:
' I am bright, hardworking and determined about any challenges I come up against. My workup until now has all been decidedly customerfacing and I find this to be very enjoyable. I have spent the last ten years in a sales environment and I enjoy the contact with different sorts of people this brings. I feel I am intelligent and would like the chance to take this further. During my time at Make Money Estate Agents especially enjoyed learning as much as possible about the procedural and legal avenues of the conveyancing process and feel that I learnt quickly. I am especially keen to take on a challenging role with the chance to advance and train where possible. I am also very IT literate and really like using computers as part of my working life.'
Education
The next section should be your education if it is particularly relevant to the job for which you are applying. For example, if you have a degree in Finance and you are applying for a finance position then it is useful to state this first. However, if you are of the opinion that your education is not especially relevant and you are applying on the value of your experience then it is worth possibly putting your work history first.
Your education should be listed in reverse order with the most recent education undertaken at the beginning. It is unnecessary to go into vast amounts of detail here, simply state where you studied and what grades you were awarded. It is not necessary to put the dates of study if you do not wish to as, under the Age Discrimination Act, you are not obliged to make any reference to your age and including dates from which your age may be obvious. Remember to include information of any extra certificates you may have achieved which may be significant to the position.
Work History
Like education, it is important that this is laid out in reverse order, the most recent or current employment at the top. You should state the name of the employer and the period of time you were employed (this does not have to be dates but you should indicate for how much time you were employed in that role). It is also useful to state where the employer was based, e.g. Basingstoke. You should also clearly indicate what your job title was. Underneath explain briefly what your job role was and your main tasks. This should aid a potential employer determine whether your experience makes you right for their vacancy. Try to be succinct and keep it to only relevant information.
It is not advisable to put your salary for each position undertaken on your CV as this can make an employer to make assumptions about your suitability for a role and make negotiating your salary, where applicable, harder. Similarly the same could also be said for putting your salary expectation on your CV.
Other Information
It is not uncommon for people to put a small amount of personal information, such as hobbies, on their CV. It is advisable to keep this to a minimum. You should, however, state whether you hold a driving licence and whether you own your own car etc.
There has also been a noticeable shift away from employers liking to see photos on a CV. For most positions it is unnecessary to include a photo but if you want to it ought to be passport photo sized and professional looking.
Spelling and Punctuation
It is vital that you make sure all spelling and punctuation are right. Literacy is often highly required to employers so use the 'Spell Check' option on your computer.
Second Opinion
Ask a friend or contact to read through your CV. Ask them to check it looks presentable and easy to read. You should also ask them to check your spelling and grammar.
Covering Letter
When applying for a opening you should incorporate a covering letter. This should state why you are applying for this job in particular and a small amount about the experience and/or skills you have which would be important to them (avoid repeating too much from the CV itself).
Each Job is Different
Remember that it is not necessarily 'one CV fits all', it is worth spending a few moments reviewing your CV before each time you submit it to make sure it makes the best impact for each particular position. You may want to consider changing some information, particularly your personal statement, to suit the job description.
