CV tips

The main point of a CV is to get you an interview. A CV needs to answer an employer’s main question: How will I benefit from employing you?

Potential employers want to know what professional organisations you are a member of, what achievements you have won etc. These personal facts about you will be important factors for the recruiting manager to make their decision.

Do’s and don’ts

Do’s:

Use your CV as an opportunity to sell yourself.

Make sure you go through the job description and try demonstrating how your skills and experience match up.

Custom tailor your CV to highlight the things that work best for the employer in particular.

Try to convince the employer that you are the perfect recruit for their company.

Consider employers usually get sent hundreds of CVs for each vacancy advertised. An employer might only take 15-30 seconds to look at a CV and decide whether it has potential.

Use specific, measurable numbers and grades for achievements etc. Dates are also important as it shows potential employers how dedicated you are to achieving or staying employed at the same place.

Get the correct length of your CV (2 pages approx)

Keep it to the point and avoid too much information.

Put your qualifications in reverse order starting with the most recent.

Choose a template that’s relevant to the position you are applying for, nothing too intricate or fancy, keep it simple. 

Pick a font that is clear and easy to read, making sure each section is clearly headed and well spaced.

Check and re-check your CV when complete and also get a friend to look at spelling, grammar etc.

Print several copies for reference and interview preparation.

You should include work placement and voluntary work to stand out from other applicants.


Don’ts:

Don't re-use the same covering letter for every application - tailor the letter to each different job role.

Don't write an over informative letter, otherwise employers may lose interest. Keep it to the point and only include necessary details.

Don’t include every single achievement and certificate you may have, but make sure you put all national qualifications or relevant certificates for the specific job.

Don’t use any colours or pictures on a CV. It is a professional document that must be clear to read and easy to understand by an employer.

Don’t mention salary. If you don't already know what the pay is, it's better to ask at interview stage.
 
Don’t forget to place your correct contact details in a prominent place. You could potentially miss out on an opportunity because an employer can’t get in touch.

Don’t highlight your shortcomings. Your CV is not a tell-all book so don’t put anything negative.

Don’t exaggerate information about your level of expertise or the skills that you have. It could jeopardise your employment further down the line. 

Don’t list lots of information about your hobbies unless they’re relevant to the job or show a quality such as team-working.

Don't include a title page unless one is specifically asked for.

Examples of good & bad CV’s

Cover letter -advantages/guide to making and customising a good cover letter.
A covering letter is a short letter you write to accompany your CV or application form.

A neat, well-written covering letter adds a polite and personal touch to your CV or application form.

A cover letter is the first opportunity to sell yourself to an employer, so it’s important to make the most of it. Showcasing why you are best suited for the particular position is imperative.

A cover letter should be no more than one side of A4, even better; 3 short paragraphs describing why you are a suitable candidate,

Targeted Letter:
You may be writing in response to a job advert. This is a targeted letter.
When writing for a specific job, you must include the job reference number.

Speculative Letter:
Or it could be a speculative letter - that's one you write to ask if there are any jobs available.

What a cover letter should include:
Your full contact details so the employer can get in touch with you easily.
The job you are applying for and where you saw it advertised.
A summary of your experience and skills, demonstrating why you are the right choice of candidate for the advertised position.
Find out the name of the person in charge of recruitment and address your letter to them personally.
Say what job area you are interested in.
Make sure your letter shows enthusiasm and strengths to why the employer should offer you a chance to interview.
Briefly describe your achievements and skills you posses for the job and what you can offer.
Explain why you are interested in this particular organisation.
By keeping your letter positive and short, there is a better chance that a busy employer will read all of it!