Top 10 tips for CV success​

Submitting your CV for a new job opportunity is often the first chance you have to make an impression with a prospective employer. It is therefore critical that you take the time to make this document as professional and polished as you possibly can, avoiding spelling mistakes, poor layouts and any gaps in career history.

Putting together a first class CV is something that can sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be that way, if you follow the basics and thoroughly check over your work once you have completed it – remember, it is all about the finer details!

So what happens if you have a poor CV?

Hiring managers don’t always have time to decipher messy resumés or call a candidate to attain missing information. Did you know that the average employer spends between 15 and 20 seconds looking at a CV, before making their judgement? It’s a well-used cliché, but you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression!

Follow the hints and tips below to help you create a winning CV that you can be proud of for years to come!

2. Specify roles, responsibilities and achievements

• Remember to include your individual job roles that you have undertaken with an employer – you may have transferred roles so be clear on your specific responsibilities in each role
• Include a brief bullet-pointed list of your main responsibilities, this doesn’t need to be exhaustive but it’s important that prospective employers know what skills you’ve acquired
• Keep in mind that a CV that doesn’t list achievements is just a job description! Be sure to outline your key successes from each role. Whether it’s exceeding a target you were set, implementing an idea that saved the company money or winning an award for your work, showcase how you’ve made an impact.

4. Spellcheck!​​

• Press F7 before it goes anywhere. Spelling and grammatical errors are possibly the biggest pet hate to employers reading your CV, those red squiggles are there for a reason.

6. Explain any gaps

• Don’t brush over gaps in employment, whether you were caring for an ailing family member, raising children, travelling or just looking for work, include a short sentence explaining this.
• Equally if you were unemployed but took a temporary role or volunteered don’t forget to include it.

8. Keep interests relevant

• Everyone enjoys socialising and spending time with their friends, it’s irrelevant. Your interests should demonstrate a skill or particular personality trait.
• Sports activities are always good as they suggest an ability to work as part of a team and any volunteering work looks great too.

10. Double check it!

• Have a family member, partner, or friend look over it for you – they may spot mistakes that you have missed! After staring at a document for too long we tend to miss minor details and a fresh pair of eyes is needed to pick up on them.