Get Your CV Noticed

It is important to get your CV noticed because it showcases your key experience, skills and qualifications to potential employers. It is typically the first thing employers will see before reviewing your application, so it is crucial to make yours noticeable to stand out from the competitive crowd of job applicants. Here we will review the Do’s and Don’ts to help you create a high quality CV that will catch the attention of employers and increase your chances of landing an interview.

What To Do

• Put all the relevant information on the first page, with special focus on the opening paragraph. Most employers won’t read anymore if you haven’t got their attention immediately.
• Your ‘Personal Profile’ or ‘Bio’ section should be honest and include the values you bring to the company, explaining what you can do and why it works.
• List your Key Skills – that’s what they are looking for. If they ask for specifics make sure you list them as well.
• List Major Achievements which are both business and personal – this shows off who you are within the workplace and outside in your community.
• List your most recent experience first, then move backwards in time towards your education.
• Your Qualifications should be listed in the order of: Professional, Work Related and then Education.
• Personal information should include your hobbies, without mentioning anything unprofessional or irrelevant.
• Be sure to outline any licences you have, especially if they are required for the job (such as a driver’s licence).
• Ideally you should have one testimonial or reference which is professional, and one that is about your character and personality.
• Pull detail from their ‘ideal candidate should have’ section on the application. This can be used to tailor your CV to ensure you match all the necessary skills and requirements.
• Before sending your CV to the employer, check all the information you included is correct and re-read the document thoroughly.
• Include a LinkedIn profile for business roles, and any other platform that displays your achievements and portfolio.
• Employers also love to hear about any voluntary or charity work you have done in the past.

What Not To Do

• DO NOT use the same CV for every application. Each document should be tailored to the specific company.
• No spelling or grammar mistakes. You can use online tools such as Grammarly to review your CV and avoid this.
• No unexplained gaps or spaces on the page.
• DO NOT put anything that is not true!
• No need to put your address or area where you live – you decide where you can travel to – not them!
• Do not put your age unless required to as oftentimes it’s irrelevant.
• Don’t waffle on… keep the detail for the interview – the facts are what employers look for.
• Do not use graphics unless that is the role.
• No unnecessary information or opinions.
• No need to include a picture – if you do make sure it’s professional!
• No crazy fonts or colours – keep it professional.

Our Example CV

Profile:

Highly professional, motivated, and personable HR Professional with a proven record of valued customer service.

Cover things like – dedicated, focused, sustained high-level, supervisory (up to XX people), trained and organised. Experienced with computer packages: Excel, Word and PowerPoint skills. Highlight what they are asking for! Demonstrates the proven ability to ensure… , Etc.

Key Skills:

Major Achievements:

• At least four things – business or personal.
• Success in projects you have delivered.
• Charity achievements – e.g: climbing Ben Nevis, doing marathons, raising £XXX.

Experience:

• Date to date title of businesses with your job title.
• Brief bullet points of elements of job.
• Most relevant role first.
• Include as many roles as you have had with bullet point detail and explain any gaps – e.g: maternity leave, gap year, volunteering.
• Highlight anything they have stated they are looking for at the top of your job role points.

Qualifications/Education:

• Professional Qualifications.
• University / College Qualifications.
• School – group each – 4 A levels, 8 GCSE’s etc.
• Any Mandatory H&S training – First Aid / FLT.

Personal:

• Driving Licence – If they show driving as part of the role or if you think you need to show you are able to get to their site.
• Hobbies – if you want to state them.
• Linked In – https://www.linkedin.com/in/YOURNAME/.

References/Testimonials:

References – available upon request.

Ensure that you have one professional reference, preferably from the last place you were employed, and one character reference from another friend or colleague.

We Can Help

If you would like any further guidance on creating a high quality CV, fill out our contact form and book a free one-hour consultation with Joanne Ferguson at Hunter Global. We will give you the expert guidance needed to get your CV noticed and land an interview from your job applications. You can also call us on 01636 701386 to discuss any further queries you may have.