Create a winning CV
Selling yourself
Think of your CV as an introduction - the first thing an
employer reads before they are in contact. It is your chance
to sell your personality and skills for the role you are applying
for. It should be written in a way that encourages them
to contact you and want to find out more. There are steps
you can take to give your CV the edge over the many others you'll
be competing against. If you follow these steps you'll find your CV
is more likely to achieve its goal: getting you
that interview.
You should include:
- Contact details, including name,
address, phone numbers and e-mail address. Put this at the top so
employers can refer to it quickly.
- Personal statement This is where you
give a neat summary in two or three lines of who you are and what
skills you offer.
- Education, qualifications and
training.
- Work history, including paid or unpaid
jobs or positions you've had. You'll need to provide key
dates.
- Key skills and personal qualities - this
is where you show you're a good choice. Think about what a
particular role will involve and focus on the skills you have that
match the employer's needs.
- Other key skills and talents If there
are other skills you haven't mentioned, now is the
time.
- Any relevant licences e.g. forklift /
driving licence, current police check.
- Hobbies and interests may be of interest
to your employer - particularly if they show you're passionate
about something, you engage in team activities, or you get involved
in any voluntary or charity work.
- Referee details Give the name, job title
and address of two people who have agreed to give a reference on
your behalf.
- You don't have to include your date of birth
if you don't want to. Employers are not allowed to choose
potential candidates based on age.
You should not include:
- A photograph of yourself.
- Your National Insurance number or
tax file number.
- Whether you're male or
female.
- Marital status and whether or not
you have children.
- Your nationality.
- Any periods of unemployment.
- The reason you left any previous
job(s).
- Any illnesses or
disabilities.
- Any holidays you have
planned.
Top tips
There are different styles you can use for your CV.
The most frequently used style is listing all your
information i.e. educational history and employment history,
in chronological order. To make your CV stand out,
remember to:
- Always keep the employers needs in mind.
Every employer will have their own needs and requirements, so
make sure that your CV matches up with the skills and experience
they're actually looking for.
- Make it easier for them. Opt for a
clean, clear layout (again referring back to it being in
chronological order), if you need help getting the formatting
right, you can ask your Adviser for help or look
online.
- Make sure all dates match up, and everything is spelt
correctly. Give your CV to someone to read through.
It is vital that there are no mistakes as this makes you look
sloppy and one of the reasons why CV's get rejected.
Remember, CVs help you to:
- Sell your personality and skills to a
potential employer.
- Get you to the top of the interview
pile.
- Encourage the interviewer to find out
more about you.
Try the CV builder at www.reed.co.uk/CareerTools/CVBuilder.aspx
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