We are sure you all know how important it is to have the perfect CV, it is, after all, a potential employer's first meeting of you but how do you set about writing it? What details should you put in and what should you leave out? We at AllGatwickJobs want to assist you in improving your chances of getting that are longing for so here are tips for making the right first impression.
The Basics
We are sure you are all aware it's obvious but a Curriculum Vitae (CV) should always be typed to give it the greatest clarity possible. It should also be excellently presented. Consider how it appears on the page. There should be clear headings and breaks between information. A potential employer will likely look through dozens of CVs for a job so they should be able to see the significant information immediately before short listing it for a more thorough read through. A badly laid out CV which is not easy to read will probably end up in the bin.
Personal Statement
Most employers like a CV to start with a personal statement as it permits them to see immediately what you are about. What should this contain?
- Who are you and what have you been doing work wise? What have you liked about previous jobs?
- What do you want to do? Outline your goals?
- How are you going to go about achieving these goals?
- What are your key skills? What can you bring to a potential employer?
Make sure you give these questions real thought before you decide upon the answers as they should be expected to be questioned at interview. Here's an example of the type of thing might want to say say:
' I am bright, hardworking and serious about any challenges I come up against. My careerup until now has all been very customerorientated and I find this to be very enjoyable. I have spent the last couple of years in a sales environment and I find enjoyable the interaction with different sorts of people this brings. I feel I am intelligent and would like the chance to exploit. During my time at G K Estate Agents particularly enjoyed learning lots about the technical and legal avenues of the conveyancing process and think that I took to it quickly. I am particularly keen to take on a challenging role with opportunities to progress and train where possible. I am also extremely IT proficient and really enjoy using computers as part of my working life.'
Education
The next heading should be your education if it is particularly relevant to the job for which you are applying. For example, if you have a degree in Law and you are applying for a legal position then it is useful to state this first. However, if you think that your educational history is not especially important and you are applying on the importance of your experience then it is worth considering putting your work history first.
Your education should be displayed in reverse order with the most recent education taken at the beginning. There is no need to go into huge detail here, purely state where you studied and what grades you were awarded. It is not vital to put the dates of study if you do not wish to as, under the Age Discrimination Act, you are not required to make any reference to your age and this includes dates from which your age may be obvious. Remember to include information of any additional certificates you may have achieved which may be relevant to the position.
Work History
Like education, it should be laid out in reverse order, the most recent or current employment first. You should give the name of the employer and the period of time you were employed (this does not have to be dates but you should state for how much time you were employed in that position). It is also important to indicate where the employer was based, e.g. Gatwick. You should also clearly state what your job title was. Underneath explain succinctly what your job role was and your main tasks. This should assist a potential employer decide whether your experience makes you right for their role. Try to be succinct and keep it to only relevant information.
It is not advisable to put your salary for each role undertaken on your CV as this can cause an employer to make assumptions about your suitability for a role and make negotiating your salary, where applicable, more difficult. The same can also be said for putting your salary expectation on your CV.
Other Information
It is usual for people to put a small amount of personal information, such as hobbies, on their CV. It is advisable to keep this to a minimum. You should, however, state whether you have a driving licence and whether you own your own car etc.
There has also been a noticeable shift away from employers liking to see photos on a CV. For most positions it is not necessary to include a photo but if you wish to it should be passport photo sized and professional looking.
Spelling and Punctuation
It is important that you make sure all spelling and punctuation are right. Literacy is often highly valued to employers so use the 'Spell Check' option on your computer.
Second Opinion
Ask someone to read through your CV. Ask them to confirm that it looks presentable and easy to read. You should also ask them to check your spelling and grammar.
Covering Letter
When applying for a role try to incorporate a covering letter. This should indicate why you are applying for this job in particular and a small amount about the experience and/or skills you have which could be important to them (avoid repeating too much from the CV itself).
Each Job is Different
Remember that it may not be 'one CV fits all', it is worth spending a few moments checking your CV before each occasion you submit it to ensure it makes the biggest impact for each particular opening. You may want to consider changing some information, particularly your personal statement, to suit the job description.
