CV Advice
How to write the perfect CV
I have found that when we speak with exceptional candidates, who have exemplary skillsets in their previous positions, they may not know where to start when trying to write that all important CV to win the interview!
When you are in the moment of your position its hard to think about the duties that you were completing on an everyday basis. A bit of advice here; check the job spec that you were provided by your current Employer, this should give you all of the details for the position that you have been working in and quite often their wording can be just what you need!
If you don’t have access to this, then check Google for a job spec that looks similar to yours and look at the wording and allow it to give you inspiration
CV Advice
How should I write the CV
There is plenty of CV advice available, but you can follow these key tips to help you brush up on your skills:
- Stand out – Your CV should demonstrate your unique blend of skills and experience. Make sure you include examples of commercial success, problem resolution or management achievements.
- Keep it simple – Your choice of font and layout are key to making sure a would-be employer carries on reading your CV. Simple formats work best.
- Don‘t be generic – Work out who or which industry sector your CV is destined for and tailor it to highlight the right aspects of your experience for them.
- Check and check again – Avoid errors at all costs. This means spelling mistakes, dates which conflict with one another and incorrect email address and phone number.
- Firing off an old CV will look unprofessional – make sure that yours is regularly updated to meet the requirements of any jobs you are applying for.
- Use a template – By following a CV template you are not restricting the way in which you can express yourself, but you will find that your CV becomes easier to read and covers all the most important aspects of your work history.
Checklist on what to include in a CV
- Contact details – i.e., name, address, mobile number and email address. If relevant, also include your LinkedIn profile or blog site where employers can find out more about you.
- Objective – in 1 or 2 sentences, summarise and emphasise your key attributes and your intended future career path. Your words must flow seamlessly – avoiding cliché and superfluous and/or “buzz” words
- Employment History & Work Experience – place this before Education if you have been working for a while. Start with your most recent job, detailing your experience concisely in bullet points
- Education & Training – start with your most recent qualifications and work back to the ones you received at school
- Language proficiency – if you speak more than 1 language, this element distinguishes your CV if you are applying for a job at an international company
- Achievements – include your academic/professional achievements to distinguish yourself from other candidates
- Interests – include this if relevant to the soft skills needed for the job
- References – name two people (not relatives), along with their email address and phone number, who may be contacted to obtain references
Another bit of important advice!
Think about the roles that you are applying for and take time to ensure your CV matches the role before you send it!
It’s hard to come back from an objection. Much easier to get it right first time.
If you have a diverse CV with different skillsets then please consider having 2/3 versions of your CV to match that particular experience.
Therefore you can submit your CV to roles and look credible and confident within the skillset and your experience will shine through.
If you send a generic CV with everything on it, then the information you are trying get across may be diluted and therefore the decisions makers may choose others over you. The aim of sending your CV is to get your chance to get in front of the hiring Manager.
We are always happy to help you with guidance and advice so if you need any help or tips explained in more detail, then please do not hesitate to contact us here at Layka Recruitment on 01932 629550
You’ve mastered the CV now get prepared to interview