CV Writing

In today’s competitive and fast-moving recruitment market, you only have 30 seconds to impress a potential employer with you CV. To give yourself the best chance of securing and interview for your your dream job, you need to make sure your CV works for you. By following the below simple rules, you can maximise your chances and stand out from the other applicants.

Format

Make sure the format is clear and easy for someone to read. It’s best to order as follows:

  1. 1.    Name & Contact Details
  2. 2.    A Personal Statement (if preferred)
  3. 3.    Education & Qualifications
  4. 4.    IT Skills & System Experience
  5. 5.    Work Experience

You want your CV to be 2-3 pages long depending on your experience. Remember, if you say too much, people are less likely to see the best bits of your story so far.

CV writing
"Make sure hiring managers can easily see your qualifications and when you achieved them. If you are currently studying, still include it in this section and make it clear where you are up to in the qualification."

Name & Contact Details

Its best to keep this short and sweet. All you need to include is your mobile number, email address and home address.

Personal Statement

Here you have the chance to say a little something about yourself. Highlight how you approach work and what you are looking to achieve in your career. If you have any specific circumstances that you would like to highlight, this is the place to say.

Education & Qualifications

Make sure hiring managers can easily see your qualifications and when you achieved them. If you are currently studying, still include it in this section and make it clear where you are up to in the qualification.

IT Skills & System Experience

Although it usually isn’t a deal breaker, having previous experience of a future employers system is a huge bonus and will make you stand out more. List all programmes you have used and include specific details if applicable.

Work Experience

For each position, you need to highlight the following:

  • Company Name
  • Job Title
  • Dates To and From
  • Reason for Leaving (if applicable)
  • Responsibilities
  • Achievements

Responsibilities

Bullet point your day to day responsibilities, starting each bullet with an ‘ing’ word. Make sure you keep things factual and concise, and avoid any jargon that might not be used outside of a specific business.

Writing your CV
Helping you prepare your CV

Achievements

This is your chance to show what you have done outside of the normal job spec. List anything you have improved and any key projects that you have worked on. Each one is something that is unique to you and your career, and will make you a top candidate in the employers eyes.

Tailoring your CV

It is crucial that you tailor your CV to each application, its much easier than most people realise. Make sure any skills or experience that are relevant are easy to see, if necessary move them to the top of the list. Edit your personal statement to suit the position to give yourself even more of an edge.

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