10 Tips for a Successful CV
Aug 11, 2014
10 Tips for a Successful CV
1. Things to include
- contact details- education- relevant professional experience (most recent/most relevant first)- key skillsOptional sections include:-- personal statement- reference list - interests- achievements and hobbies
No more than 2 pages
-Your email address is the first thing your potential employer sees
[email protected] doesn’t read well for your reliability, while [email protected] reads as spam
- Use your full name or your university email account
2. [email protected] won’t get you a job
- Good for creative industries- Remember, HR spend less than 30 seconds reading a resume. If the information is too difficult to decipher they won’t even look for it
3. Creative CV’s?
- Make use of headings and separate information into different sections- Contact information first
- Make sure education and work experience is easy to find and read- Include only your relevant work experience
- The same applies to education: Tertiary education comes first (don’t need to write specific grades)
- Skills can be included under work experience or in their own section
4. Make it clear
- Don’t write an essay- Use bullet points- Highlight skills based on what’s asked for in the job description- Specific skills examples can be written about in the cover letter- Full sentences are not compulsory
5. Be concise
-Use standard fonts eg. Ariel- Keep the font consistent throughout- Don’t use fancy borders- Multi-coloured is not attractive or easy to read- Do NOT include emoticons or text speak
6. Style
This is where you sell yourself and your skills. Make sure to mention:--How you can contribute to the company- Key skills and how you’ve used them in the past- Don’t reiterate your CV- No longer than 1 page- Thank them for their time
7. Write a cover letter
-Use a different CV for each job you apply for- Highlight skills from the job description- Update your CV regularly – include new education or work experience as well as certificates and awards- Easier to keep your CV constantly updated than to create a whole new CV every time you look for a new job
8. Tailor and Update
- Check the formatting, make sure spacing, fonts and text sizes are consistent- Proof read – check for spelling and grammar mistakes- Save in PDF format with an appropriate name
9. Polish, proof and PDF
-Keep your social media up to date with work and education experience- Make sure anything you don’t want employers to see is either locked down or deleted - Keep all social media accounts consistent- LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are most commonly checked.
10. That’s not all folks!
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