When applying for jobs, your CV is your ultimate selling tool. By following these tips and spending some time getting it right, you could soon reap the rewards.
Formatting
Highlight titles and main headings in bold. Keep the order chronological. If you have little work experience, you can put your academics first. If you've been working, put your academics towards the end. Don’t try to reduce the font size to 8 points and reduce margins to fit it all in. Only include what's really necessary to get you the job.
Length
No recruiter wants to read an 8-page CV, so make it short and sharp. Keep the number of pages to two or less.
Spelling and grammar
Always check your spelling and grammar. Nothing looks more unprofessional than a CV with lots of errors. Spell-check your CV and ask someone else to read it over.
Contact details
Make your contact details clear so recruiters know how to contact you. Many recruiters have problems finding email addresses or phone numbers on CVs.
Adapt your CV
Don’t just send out the same CV to every employer. Think about the organisation you’re applying to and what they're looking for; then change your CV to match. For example, if they're looking for someone with experience of leading teams, include details of that in your CV.
Qualifications
If the job you’re applying for requires particular qualifications, highlight those on your CV. If the role doesn't require specific qualifications, don’t list every grade you received at school and university.
Work experience
Write about more than the responsibilities you held in each work experience role. Provide details about what you achieved, including figures and statistics if you can. For example, saying you implemented a graduate programme that increased applications by 50% looks much better than a bullet point confirming the fact you managed graduate programmes.
Personal statements
Recruiters have differing views on personal statements. Some like them, others don't. If you want to include one, don’t just write a statement such as: 'I’m a results-driven professional with excellent communication skills.' Think about what the organisation wants and how you can highlight your skills for the role in a short paragraph. For example, 'I’m a reward specialist with two years' experience in a medium-sized organisation. I am experienced in linking reward strategy to business needs to engage and reward our people in line with their performance.'