When you’ve spotted your dream job, you want to do all that you can to make sure that you have the ultimate, standout CV, which couldn’t in a million years be ignored. But sometimes, knowing where to begin can be tricky! Perhaps it’s the pressure – who knows? There’s just something about that moment when you sit down to write your CV and…nothing.

Have no fear though, because we’ve been speaking to the recruitment gurus at Your World, to see what advice they can share and here it is…

KISS – Keep it Simple Sucker

They say that most employers spend less than 30 seconds looking at a CV (some resources actually say as little as 6 seconds!). We’re sure you’ll agree – that’s not a lot of time, at all. Therefore, you need to make sure that it’s laid out clearly with headings and sections, in a clear and concise manner while packing a punch.

We recommend that you lay your CV out in the following order:

1. Profile
2. Skills and Experience
3. Recent Work History
4. Previous Work History
5. Qualifications and Training

Your Information

Make sure that within your information at the top (name, address, contact details etc.) you state whether you have a driving licence and if you have access to a vehicle. It’s also good to say if you’re willing to travel and how far.

Remember to list your availability and whether you’re looking for part-time, full-time, flexible, temporary or permanent work.

Sell Yourself

You need to promote yourself to the employer from the get-go, so make sure you’re defining ways that you stand out throughout your CV (most importantly in your opening paragraph) to catch their eye.

Your personal profile should outline any skills and experience that are relevant to the job you’re applying for, and detail what makes you the best at what you do. Researching the job and what it entails will help with this. You might want to drop in whether you have specific skills like audio typing, experience with online systems such as Sage or System 1, work achievements, breakthroughs you’ve had or any interesting places that you have worked.

Tailor Made

Going back to one of the recommendations in the section above, it’s essential that you explicitly state and make a point of the exact systems and programmes that you can use. For example, don’t just say that you are comfortable using medical software, clarify that you can use System 1.

Tailor your CV to the job you're applying for by attempting to think like the employer and what they would want to hear. Something that is relevant to one role might not be for another, and you could squeeze in a different selling point about yourself.

Work History

List your work history in reverse chronological order; employers are looking for your most recent job first. You can also mention any responsibilities you had during that post, primarily if they tie in with the one that you are applying for. Just ensure that you continue to keep things concise when detailing your role.

Remember…

• Make sure that you answer your phone, even from numbers you may not recognise. Can you imagine missing your dream job all because you didn’t pick up the phone? Equally as important, remember to check your emails on a regular basis so that nothing is missed there either.
• A good CV promotes conversation at an interview, so ensure it’s interesting and intriguing to the employer.
• Make an emphasis on your relevant work history rather than listing all the jobs that you have had (unless you haven’t worked in many roles, in which case you can mention any transferrable skills).
• Choose a simple and professional font such as Calibri or Arial, keeping the size to either 11 or 12.

 

Good luck!