Jobs and Careers Spring 2020 - 31

YO U R C V

What to include in your CV...

F

ive to seven seconds.
That's how long
you've got to make
an impression on a
recruiter with your
CV, according to
research. And whether that impression
is a good or a bad one is up to you.
From designing it to be easy to read
with clearly labelled sections to making
sure spelling and grammar are correct,
there are numerous vital aspects to
your CV. Ensure yours makes it clear
why you're perfect for this particular
job, rather than having a generic CV
you send in whenever you spot a
vacancy, and you'll be off to a flying
start. Here's our expert five-point guide
to writing an application that will get
your discovered rather than discarded.

Be concise and relevant
Very few employers need to know
about every part-time job you had as
a teenager (unless it's useful for the
role) and they definitely don't want
the details of the month you spent
finding yourself in a Thai beach resort.
Keep it neat, easy to read and no
more than two pages long. Tailor the
experience and skills you're listing
to the vacancy you're applying for.

Cover yourself
Every CV should be accompanied
by a covering letter, worded to grab
your potential employer's attention
and make them want to read your
application in full. According to
reed.co.uk, 40% of employers
will discard a CV immediately if
it doesn't come with a letter.
In the letter, demonstrate that you
have done your research, that you
know what they're looking for and how
you can fulfil their requirements. Also
use it to highlight the most relevant
parts of your CV. Be enthusiastic,

Contact details

Education

At the top of your CV
you should include
your full name, home
address, mobile number
and email address.
You don't need to
put your date of birth
or a photograph.

List and date all your
education, including any
professional qualifications
you have attained, starting
with the most recent.

Profile
This is a concise statement
at the beginning of
the CV that highlights
your key attributes or
reasons for working in
a particular field. Try to
keep it short and snappy
- 100 words is perfect.

Work experience
Detail your relevant
experience in reverse
chronological order. If
you have lots in your
chosen field, this should
come before education.

Skills and
achievements
This is your opportunity
to talk about the foreign

languages you speak and
the IT packages you use.

Interests
Writing "reading and
going to the cinema" won't
catch anyone's attention.
But when relevant to the
job, interests can provide
a more rounded picture.

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.

... and what not to!
Clichés, jargon and
buzzwords have no place
in a CV. Not only are they
a turn-off, they're also
so generic they won't
set you apart (except for
all the wrong reasons).
Check our list before you
send in your application.

Avoid

Include

* Go-getter
* Think outside the box
* Synergy
* Interface
* Go-to person
* Results-driven
* Ambitious
* Dynamic

* Achieved
* Improved
* Trained
* Managed
* Created
* Influenced
* Ideas

job-specific and, again, concise - any
more than one side of A4 is too long.

Look the part
One way to make your CV stand out is to
make it visually engaging. Take your cue
from creatives applying to tech giants
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
find new ways to present your resumé.

Wonder words
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.

Finishing touches
Don't rely on spellcheck - it can't catch
every error. If you can, get someone
to check your CV and covering letter
for spelling and grammar. If you can't,
try reading backwards, word by word,
which can help you pick up mistakes
you may miss when reading normally.
Accuracy could be the difference
between your CV being dropped
straight into the recycling bin and
being invited for an interview.
JOBS & CAREERS /// 31

30 JC Spring 2020 CV FINAL Artwork.indd 31

27/05/2020 16:17
http://reed.co.uk http://www.cvmkr.com http://www.resumup.com
Jobs and Careers Spring 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jobs and Careers Spring 2020
