We are sure you all know how important it is to have the perfect CV, it is, after all, a potential employer's first introduction to you but how do you go about writing it? What information should you make sure it contains and what should you take out? We at AllSwanseaJobs want to help you in increasing your chances of getting that superb so here are hints for making the right first impression.
The Basics
We are all aware it's obvious but a Curriculum Vitae (CV) should always be typed to give it the best clarity possible. It should also be excellently presented. Think about how it looks on the page. There should be apparent headings and breaks between sections. A potential employer will is likely to look through lots of CVs for a job so they should be able to read the significant information immediately before short listing it for a more thorough read through. A imperfectly laid out CV which is not easy to read will probably end up in the bin.
Personal Statement
Most employers would like a CV to begin with a personal statement as it permits them to see at a glance what you are about. What should this contain?
- Who are you and what have you been doing work wise? What have you enjoyed about previous jobs?
- What do you want to do? Outline your goals?
- How are you going to go about achieving these goals?
- What do you consider to be your key skills? What can you bring to a potential employer?
Make sure you give these questions real thought before you come up with an answer as they probable to be questioned at interview. Here's an example of the type of thing may say:
' I am clever, hardworking and serious about any challenges I come up against. My careerup until now has all been decidedly customerorientated and I have found this to be very enjoyable. I have spent the last nine years in a sales environment and I find enjoyable the contact with different types of people this brings. I feel I am intelligent and would like the chance to take this further. During my time at Make Money Estate Agents really enjoyed learning lots about the procedural and legal parts of the conveyancing process and think that I learnt quickly. I am especially keen to take on a challenging role with the chance to advance and train where possible. I am also extremely IT proficient and very much enjoy using computers as part of my working life.'
Education
The next section should be your education if it is particularly relevant to the job to which you are applying. For example, if you have a degree in French and you are applying for a multilingual position then it is useful to state this first. However, if you are of the opinion that your education is not especially relevant and you are applying on the importance of your experience then it is worth considering putting your work history first.
Your education should be noted in reverse order with the most recent education undertaken at the top. You do not need to go into vast amounts of detail here, purely state where you studied and what grades you achieved. It is not vital to put the dates of study if you do not wish to as, under the Age Discrimination Law, you are not obliged to make any reference to your age and this includes dates from which your age may be obvious. Do not forget to include information of any extra certificates you might have received which may be important to the position.
Work History
Like education, it must be laid out in reverse order, the most recent or current employment at the beginning. You should give the name of the employer and the period of time you worked for them (this does not have to be dates but you should indicate for how much time you were employed in that position). It is also useful to indicate where the employer was based, e.g. Swansea. 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 suitable for their position. 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, harder. 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. We would recommend keep this to a minimum. You should, however, state whether you hold a driving licence and what type of transport you have.
It is not always the case that employers like to see photos on a CV. For most vacancies it is unnecessary to include a photo but if you would like to it should be passport photo sized and professional looking.
Spelling and Punctuation
It is essential that you make sure all spelling and punctuation are perfect. Literacy is often highly valued to employers so use the 'Spell Check' function on your computer.
Second Opinion
Ask someone to read through your CV. Ask them to check it looks presentable and easy to read. They should also check your spelling and grammar.
Covering Letter
When applying for a position you should include 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 minutes reviewing your CV before each occasion you send it to check it makes the best impact for each particular vacancy. You may want to consider changing some information, particularly your personal statement, to suit the job description.
