We are sure you are all aware how imperative it is to have the perfect CV, it is, after all, a potential employer's first meeting of you but how do you set about writing it? What information should you include and what should you take out? We at AllHorshamJobs want to aid you in increasing your possibility of getting that ideal so here are hints for making the right first impression.
The Basics
We are all aware it's clear but a Curriculum Vitae (CV) should on all occasions be typed to give it the greatest ease of read possible. It should also be excellently presented. Think about how it looks on the page. There should be apparent headings and breaks between sections. A potential employer will probably look through loads of CVs for a job so they should be able to see the important information at a glance before short listing it for a more thorough read through. A imperfectly laid out CV which is hard to read will probably end up in the bin.
Personal Statement
The majority employers would like a CV to commence with a personal statement as it permits them to see straightaway what you are about. What should this contain?
- Who are you and what have you been doing in your career? What have you enjoyed about previous jobs?
- What do you want to do? Outline your goals?
- How are you going to go about achieving these goals?
- What do you think are your key skills? What can you bring to a potential employer?
Make sure you give these questions real thought before you decide upon the answers as they should be expected to be questioned at interview. Here's an example of the type of thing may say:
' I am bright, a conscientious worker and determined about any challenges I come up against. My workup until now has all been extremely customerorientated and I find this to be very enjoyable. I have spent the last several years in a sales environment and I enjoy the contact with different types of people this brings. I feel I am intelligent and would like the opportunity to use. During my time at Barney Ruddles Estate Agents really enjoyed learning as much as possible about the technical and legal avenues of the conveyancing process and felt that I absorbed it quickly. I am really keen to take on a challenging role with the opportunity to progress and train where possible. I am also extremely IT literate and very much like using computers as part of my working life.'
Education
The next heading should be your educational history if it is especially 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 believe your education is not especially relevant and you are applying on the value of your experience then it is worth considering putting your work history first.
Your education should be noted in reverse order with the most recent education done at the beginning. There is no need to go into extensive detail here, just state where you studied and what grades you were awarded. It is not essential to put the dates of study if you do not want to as, under the Age Discrimination Act, you are not obliged to make any reference to your age and this includes dates from which your age may be obvious. Remember to include information of any other certificates you might have be awarded which may be significant to the position.
Work History
Like education, it must be laid out in reverse order, the most recent or current employment at the top. You should give the name of the business and the period of time you were employed (this does not necessarily have to be dates but you should put for how long you were employed in that role). It is also important to indicate where the employer was based, e.g. Horsham. You should also clearly state what your job title was. Under this explain succinctly what your job role was and your main tasks. This should assist a perspective employer decide whether your experience makes you right for their position. Try to be succinct and keep it to only relevant information.
It is not a good idea to put your salary for each position undertaken on your CV as this can cause an employer to make assumptions about your suitability for a position and make negotiating your salary, where applicable, more difficult. The same can also be said for putting your salary expectation on your CV.
Other Information
It is common for job seekers to put a little bit of personal information, such as hobbies, on their CV. You should keep this to a minimum. You should, however, state whether you have 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 vacancies it is unnecessary to include a photo but if you would like to it ought to be passport photo sized and professional in appearance.
Spelling and Punctuation
It is vital that you make sure all spelling and punctuation are right. Literacy is often highly desirable to employers so use the 'Spell Check' facility on your computer.
Second Opinion
Ask someone 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 role try to include a covering letter. This should state why you are applying for this job in particular and a little bit about the experience and/or skills you have which could 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 checking your CV before each occasion you submit it to ensure it makes the biggest impact for each particular vacancy. You may want to consider changing some information, particularly your personal statement, to suit the job description.
