|
back to hints and tips
1. Having the right CV
There are three types of CV:
a) A good one – well written, punchy, with good grammar and eye-catching for the recruiter. This will open doors to new jobs.
b) An OK one – most people fall into this category; they feel their CV is “good enough” and doesn’t need changing. It may just need a few tweaks or a complete overhaul to go from getting just a couple of interviews to getting the right interview!
c) A poor CV – one that is poorly written and doesn’t highlight your skills. It may be that it isn’t geared towards the areas you are looking to target. If your CV is poor it will not be looked at – recruiters spend a very short period of time on each CV and won’t bother with one that is poorly written or too cluttered with irrelevancies.
If you don’t know where to begin,futurestart’s CV writers can help – have a look at the CV writing page or call on 01329 220556
2. What can make your CV stand out?
Simply – it must be clear, concise and easy to read. Recruiters are looking to see what you can bring to the job and they make their minds up in about 20 seconds or less.
Carrying this philosophy over into your job interview will help you create the right impression right from the start. Always think to yourself when applying for positions “What can I bring to this job?” not “What can it do for me?” Recruiters want to know that you are genuinely interested in the role.
3. Why are dates important?
Your CV is not only an introduction to your key skills it is also a sales document. It needs to be accurate and factual while highlighting your key skills and achievements. Potential employers will check dates of employment when they take up references and it is becoming increasingly common for senior positions for employers to conduct a full 10/15 year employment screen of all new employees.
Employers also sometimes will check your online profile so make sure that your employment dates tally with those on LinkedIn for example.
Any gaps in employment of more than a month need to be explained and turned into an advantage if at all possible. For example; gaining more qualifications, attending courses, travelling to experience new cultures, house renovations – which could be an example of project management skills, or caring for a sick relative – demonstrating a commitment to family values.
If you are unsure what to put in your CV our CV writers will help you. Once you have ordered the relevant package you will be sent a questionnaire to complete. Once your current CV / questionnaire has had an initial appraisal our CV writers will be in touch to fill in any gaps.
4) Where should I put my personal details?
Many people get confused about the best place to put their personal details – preferring to put them at the start of their CV. Professional recruiters and the CV writers at futurestart recommend that this information is put at the end of the CV.
Your CV is a sales document designed to highlight your skills and achievements in an easy to read format. A typical recruiter spends less than 30 seconds scanning a CV and wants to see relevant information up front.
Your CV should start with a punchy profile and then a chronological employment and education history detailing your achievements in each role. At the end of the CV is the place for additional information and personal details.
This information is only relevant once the recruiter is hooked by your CV – remember that they se hundreds of CVs for each position and don’t want to spend their time reading hundreds of personal details, they would rather know about what you can do rather than where you live.
futurestart’s CV writers will format your CV to suit what recruiters are looking for. All our CV writers are professional recruiters themselves with many years experience in what recruiters are looking for so they are best placed to make the most of the information that you give them. Simply buy the relevant package and they will do the rest.
back to hints and tips |
