Jobs and Careers Summer 2021 - 41

JOB HUNT SPECIAL
In the letter, demonstrate that you
have done your research and understand
the company's culture, that you know
what they're looking for and how you
can fulfi l their requirements. Also
use it to highlight the most relevant
parts of your CV. Be enthusiastic,
job-specifi c and, again, concise - any
more than one side of A4 is too long.
3 Pick a smart design
One way to make your CV stand out is
to make it visually engaging. Take your
cue from creatives applying to tech
giants such as Facebook and Google, who
have turned theirs into video games or
chocolate bars. You don't have to be wacky
or overambitious, but there are various
approaches to take: use an online tool
such as cvmkr.com or resumup.com to
fi nd new ways to present your resumé.
4 Use the right language
Think about how many CVs the recruiter
has read in which the applicant claims
to be " hardworking " or a " team player " .
You need to make yourself stand out.
Use powerful, active words such as
" created " , " produced " and " transformed " .
Emphasise skills and experience that
are relevant to the position, and provide
clear, real-life examples of those skills.
5 Strive for perfection
Don't rely on spellcheck - it can't catch
every error. A pair of fresh eyes can pick
up on things you've missed so if you can
get someone to check over your CV and
What to include in your CV...
Contact details At the
top, you should include
your full name, home
address, phone number
and email address.
You don't need to
put your date of birth
or a photograph.
Profi le This is a concise
statement that highlights
your key attributes or
the reasons why you
would like to work in a
particular fi eld. Make
sure you keep it short
and snappy - around
100 words is perfect.
Education List and
date all your education,
including any professional
qualifi cations you've
attained, starting with
the most recent.
Work experience Detail
relevant experience in
reverse chronological
order. If you have lots in
your chosen fi eld, put
it before education.
Skills and achievements
This is your opportunity
to talk about the foreign
languages you speak
and the various IT
packages you use.
Interests Writing
" reading books and going
to the cinema " won't
catch anyone's attention.
But when relevant to the
job, interests can provide
a more rounded picture
of who you are and why
you'd be a good fi t.
covering letter before you submit your
application. If you can't, try reading it
backwards, word by word, to help you
pick up mistakes you may miss when
reading normally. Accuracy could be
the diff erence between your CV being
dropped straight into the recycling bin
and being invited for an interview.
...and what not to
References You don't need to say
" references available on request " -
most employers will assume this to
be the case. You certainly don't need
to provide names at this stage.
Clichés and buzzwords These have
no place in a CV. They're a turn
off likely to see your application
discarded. Check our list below
before sending your application.
Watch your wording
Avoid
* Go-getter
* Think outside
the box
* Synergy
* Go-to person
* Results-driven
Include
* Achieved
* Improved
* Trained
* Ideas
* Ambitious
* Dynamic
* Detail
orientated
* Strong
work ethic
* Managed
* Created
* Infl uenced
* Adaptable
jobsandcareersmag.com /// JOBS & CAREERS /// 41
JOBS & CAREERS /
http://www.cvmkr.com http://www.resumup.com http://www.jobsandcareersmag.com
Jobs and Careers Summer 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jobs and Careers Summer 2021
