CV maker
Thursday 19 February 2009
The key to getting an interview is an impressive CV that highlights all of your skills. Here are some tips on how to polish yours up.
Curriculum vitae
A CV is a marketing tool that shows the employer all your skills. It should include:-
- Personal details
- Current or previous job role(s), plus duties
- Key achievements
- Educational qualifications
- Hobbies
- Referees
It should show that you meet the needs of the employer, therefore it's important to tailor each CV for each job.
When writing it, think through the employer’s eyes – would your CV stand out amongst the others?
It's always helpful to get a friend or family member to check it through, or you could visit someone from your schools Careers Department – they know exactly what an employer is looking for.
Find out more.
Functional vs chronological
The most common ways to write a CV is through the functional or chronological formats.
Chronological order lists previous job roles in reverse date order, followed by your duties in this role. This is great for highlighting what you’re good at.
Functional CVs group skills into categories followed by a brief list of previous job roles. This format is useful if you haven’t got much experience to write about.
It’s all in the words
When describing duties, start with active and descriptive words like ‘assisted’, ‘provided’, ‘organised’ or ‘supervised’. Specify your achievements within these duties as well - were you part of any successful projects?
Use what you have as an advantage. Mention relevant courses or training programmes - it'll give you an edge over the others. If you've got a website that showcases all of your work then link to it - anything that gets an employer to see your work is a bonus.
Showing some enthusiasm for the role and everything that comes with it is a must - ‘I would love to’ is better than ‘I am prepared to’. The latter shows that you are already contemplating the worst.
‘Interests and hobbies’ is quite vital. Employers really do value extra-curricular activities because, if anything, it shows you can adapt to different situations.
Looking good
Select a font that is easy to read such as Arial or Times. Font size should be 10 or 12 points.
Your CV shouldn’t look like a brochure for a holiday camp, but it should stand out. Use bullet points and borders where necessary, with occasional bold and italic text to highlight key points.
It should be kept to two pages - anything longer and the employer will probably get bored.
Filling a gap
If there’s any sort of time gap on your CV, then an employer will want to know what you did throughout that time. Work experience or volunteering can fill these gaps up. It doesn't matter whether you were paid, employers only care about the duties you did whilst there.
References
Picking the right referee is vital. A tutor who you only saw once a term is a no no. Instead, ask one of your favourite teachers or lecturers - someone who knows you and whose lessons you enjoy. Referees will tell the employer about your attitude, how you interact with people and how hard you work – so you need someone reliable.
Don’t lie!
As tempting as it may be, don’t do it! Approximately a third of job applicants lie on their CV, and the majority get caught out.
A duty listed on a CV isn’t just short term, employers will rely on you to carry it through in the future - that’s why they hired you.
Where to send it?
There are lots of options. Hand out your CV on your local high street or speak to employees over the phone and ask if you can email it to them. Chase them up if you don’t hear from them after a while.
You can search for jobs online too - visit Job Centre Plus, Guardian Jobs, Direct Gov or Monster. If you want more information on a job before applying then visit Connexions Direct.
