One of the hardest things to do when hunting for a job is to write a good CV. Some employers spend only a few seconds scanning a CV before deciding ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

 

Here are our top 10 tips for writing a CV that will hopefully get you an interview

 

1. Tailor Your CV

For many, the number one thing that improves a CV is making sure that it is tailored for the job being applied for. Since so much job application is done online, it is very easy to send the same CV to every single vacancy. Don’t do this. Tailoring a CV may be more work, but a CV that doesn’t address the requirements of a particular role will be quickly discarded. Employers will also respect the effort that has been made. Tailor a CV by:

• Researching the company’s website, blogs and social media profiles to know as much as possible about the organisation.
• Writing down the specific requirement of the job using the job description.
• Matching where skills and past work experience fit the job’s requirements.
• Starting the CV with good examples of skills and industry knowledge that show you are a good fit for the role.
• Removing anything irrelevant to the job.

 

2. Keep it Short

A CV should be no more than two pages of A4 paper. A long and detailed CV will almost certainly be quickly discarded. Include only the most important and relevant parts. Details can be given in the interview.

 

3. Write a Personal Statement
Explain clearly and concisely why you are the best person for the job. This can be expanded in a cover letter, but putting it at the beginning of a CV will catch the employer’s attention.

 

4. Check for Errors
Employers will notice mistakes on CVs and because they receive high numbers of applications will use them as an excuse to bin your application. Always, always use a spell checker and, if possible, get someone else to read what you’ve written before it’s sent.

 

5. Avoid Having Gaps
Any gaps in a CV will probably make a prospective employer suspicious. It is very tempting to try to hide these, but it is possible to put a positive spin on periods of unemployment, by saying the time was used to complete courses or to do volunteer work. There are positive things that can be done to advance professional development, even when not working, so highlight these.

 

6. Don’t Lie
Some people say that everyone lies on their CV, but that is not true. Lying might get you an interview, but it won’t help to answer questions on something that you’ve claimed to be an expert about.

 

7. Make Sure a CV is Up-to-Date
It sounds simple, but it is easy to miss adding recent skills and experience to a CV. Relevant recent experience is much more powerful than relevant experience from years ago.

 

8. Format, Format, Format
Ensure that your CV looks as good as it possibly can. Use clearly defined sections and bullet points where appropriate. Keep sentences clear and concise. Leave space between sections and make the layout of the CV as simple as possible.

 

9. Understand Keywords
We started by saying that some employers spend only a few seconds scanning a CV before deciding ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, but the fact is that some CVS are rejected before being seen by humans at all.

 

Because the vast majority of job application are now done online, many employers receive far more CVs than they can check through practically, so Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), or ‘Resume Robots’ can reject up to 75% of CVs before getting to a person.

 

The ATS acts like a specialised search engine and a CV needs to written in a way that optimises its chances or getting ‘found’. Employers use key words to identify people with the required skills and qualifications. Note the keywords in the job advertisement and ensure they are part of your CV. Make sure that skills and experience documented in a CV is relevant (going back to tip number 1).

 

It is not quite as simple as this and dealing with Applicant Tracking Systems is another entire article, but following the above tips will help.

 

10. Check Again.
Double-check everything again before sending. Check that you have made the CV as relevant as possible. Spell check again, just to be sure. Make certain that you have attached all relevant attachments to an email.

 

And good luck