Producing Your Victory C.V

Your CV is the first and hardest hurdle you have to overcome when applying for a job. It is essential to make the best impression you  possibly can to be successful.

Here are 15 vital tips to help you write the perfect CV... 

1.    First and foremost, tailor your CV to the specific job role you are applying for by only including relevant information. The more specific your content is in relation to the role, the better.

If, for example the job is a communications role, be sure to specifically point out your communication skills and emphasise how you have used and developed these skills in past experience.

2.    The format and design of the CV should be kept plain and simple. Be consistent with font and style, and emphasise titles such as your name and the job position with bold or italic.

3.    Be short and to the point. Two sides of a A4 paper should be the maximum, if it is any longer, employers will lose interest.

4.    Include a personal profile summary at the beginning of your CV as this will instantly help to sell yourself.

Include your skills, experience and personal qualities which emphasise your achievements and key responsibilities you have undertaken.

5.    List your education and work experience starting with the most recent  and always remember to include the months and years within these sections.

6.    Be sure to be descriptive. This exemplifies your past responsibilities and ability to use your skills within the working environment . Examples include; organised, managed, implemented and controlled.

7.    Be creative. This will enable you to stand out from the many CV’s that the employers have to search through.

Try to attract their attention by telling them an interesting fact about yourself or point out a hobby, however make it relevant to the job role.

For example, if the job involves team work, playing for a sport team will exemplify your ability to work within a team.

8.    Check your spelling and grammar! Ensure that past and present tenses are used in the correct way. Ask somebody to check over your CV for you to check for any small mistakes which you might have missed.

9.    Do not waffle. Use short sentences and bullet points to format your key points within each section.

10.    Provide a professional email address such as your university email which conveys a professional manner.

11.    Have a copy of your CV formatted in a PDF file as the employer may ask for it in this format.

12.     Make sure you include accessible contact details. Provide both a home and mobile telephone number.

13.    It is beneficial to have at least two references with one being your most recent employee. Be sure to ask permission to list them as a reference beforehand.

14.    If you have produced any work online, include the link to the site for the employer to be able to access. An online portfolio is extremely beneficial to directly expose your work.

15.    Throughout your CV, always be positive!

Start sending your perfected CV to potential employees at  www.studentjob.co.uk today!