We all have our CVs that we use whenever we want to apply to or move jobs. It is probably one of the most important documents in your life. Considering that Curriculum Vitae literally translates to “Course of Life” its importance cannot be overstated. Whilst we at Zoop do offer a CV Designing Service for candidates, we are aware that sometimes people wish to make them on their own. So with experience in making our own CVs, plus reviewing thousands that come in every month, the team want to give you some ideas about what to include and what to avoid.
1: Double and triple-check everything. This one gets said around our office every day. We have lost count of the number of times we get a candidate that we like, but when we contact them, the number is wrong. This isn’t so bad when another contact detail is left in the CV like an email address, but if that is also wrong then you often have no hope.
Even small typos on the CV can be embarrassing if you have been sending them out without checking. Dylan thought to bring up the example of his date of birth. On his first CV, he accidentally put his year of birth down as 19998. Now it’s quite obvious that he isn’t a man born 18,000 years in the future (or is he?) but it shows that you have properly reviewed your own content, which can be a negative for any potential employer.
2: Keep your CV brief. This one is more for your potential employer’s benefit, but will end up being to yours as well if you follow suit. We recommend no more than 2 pages. It’s great if you have lots of experience, but not everyone is willing to go through every detail. It is essential that you keep your CV short and sweet, thus making yourself far more attractive on paper to any recruiter who reviews it. One way that can help is Number 3.
Another way to keep your CV brief is my keeping your personal statement short as well. The recommended length is no more than 4 lines, or 150 words. It is better that you write this last before sending your CV, as you might find it easier to draft your personal statement after looking at your skills and work experience.
3: Keep your experience relative to the job you are applying for. If you do this then Number 2 is a breeze. If you’re applying to be a Digital Marketing Executive, especially if you have a couple of years’ experience in the trade, you do not need to talk about the time you worked behind the bar at Spoons. If there’s an anecdote that you think will be helpful for you, then by all means bring that example up at the interview. More importantly, if you tailor your CV for each role you are applying for, you may end up with several variations. That’s not a bad thing at all, as sometimes you may need to apply to a slightly different job, plus you show yourself as being adaptable.
4: Talk about your duties where you have worked. Sometimes people will need to know more about what exactly you have done. Rob thought this was a good tip to bring up. He recalled how when it comes to welding, it is really important for applicants to state exactly what materials they have worked with, as familiarity with materials that they would be working on is far more attractive than someone who may have more years experience but doesn’t know how to work with the particular trade. Even in other duties, if you mention your duties, employers will notice what duties you’ve performed will match with the ones required on their advert, and will be more likely to take an interest in you for doing so.
5: Additional Sections. If you have any qualifications, awards or even relevant interests, then do add them onto your CV if you can. If you are applying to work as a Senior Care Assistant and have a valid NVQ Level 3, you will immediately garner an interest from us or the care home you are applying for. If you can drive, then put it in your CV. It saves time in the interview and will only make you more appealing. Languages are a particular favourite to put on there for certain industries. Plus if you have any hobbies and interests that may be relevant, stick them on there too.
6: Check again, don’t forget to save! We know we’re just repeating Number 1, but on multiple occasions we end up with candidates applying and sending completely blank CVs. There is nothing worse that you can do.
7: Cover letters. These don’t seem as necessary, but they’re always helpful. Some employers will demand a Cover Letter as well, so be prepared to send one just in case. You will feel like you are just repeating what you are already putting on a CV, but if you stick to it, you are more likely to have your CV reviewed. We will release a little guide on how to write a strong cover letter, so don’t fret too much right now.
Make sure you follow our advice, and we’re sure your CV will look amazing. If you do need a hand though, then get in touch and we’ll happily help you.