C.V Writing Advice

Grammar! Grammar! Grammar! Cannot stress this enough. Read your CV at least three times before getting someone else to give it a proof read also.

The content may be strong and the layout very good but a spelling error will take away from all that without a conscience. It will give the impression that you are lazy.

As your CV is likely to be in a pile of hundreds nowadays, it is important that you keep your CV concise and not have the reader trawling through pages upon pages for the information they are looking for.

You want the reader to have a good impression of your CV and having it condensed to two pages is one way of doing that.

This can be a frustrating task if sending out countless CV’s per week, however it is probably the most effective thing you can do to increase your chances of getting that interview.

You must read the job advert, the job description and person specification (if available) and use these to identify what are the key skills and characteristics the reader will be looking for in your CV.

Make sure you highlight these skills in your CV where possible and adapt your experience and attributes to make up for the criteria you may not possess.

When detailing your interests and hobbies outside of work, be careful how these may make you appear to a reader. Remember, they will not be able to pick up from your voice trajectory, body language, etc what your personality is like.

This section of the CV is a small chance for the reader to see your personal side. Try to avoid solitary interests such as ‘watching TV’ as this may make the reader feel as though you lack in people skills.

Where possible, try to include interests that involve social interaction and require interpersonal skills, such as manager of local underage team, involved in local theatre group, volunteering, etc.

While you may have plenty of strengths you relay to the reader, you must be wary of the common pitfall of information over load. Use bullet points and keep the information concise and relevant.

This will allow for more ‘white space’ on your CV making it easier on the eye for the reader. It will also help the reader pick out the information they are looking for. Remember, the reader is looking for specific information, not a biography!

Litter your CV with power words such as ‘designed’, ‘managed’, ‘developed’, etc. Use these words to emphasise your projects and achievements.

You are trying to sell your suitability to the job, give yourself that bit of ‘umph’ through the CV.

Do not leave any timeline gaps in your CV. Have some text relating to a period where you were out of work or travelling such as training or up-skilling courses you may have undertaken during this time or any voluntary work you may have been involved in during your travels.

A gap does not create mystery and intrigue, instead it creates a level of caution and sense that you have something you wish to hide. This would not bode well with your ‘Honesty’ characteristic!

The most important tip to take from this is that while you may wish to flower your experience and abilities, there is a line you must not cross. If you cannot stand over what your CV states with a clear conscious then take it out.

The truth will come out in the interview and damage your chances of getting the job, or worse it may not come to light until you are working in the job and everything starts to fall apart in your work.

It is in your interest not to get yourself into a position which you are not fully equipped for.