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Making a good impression at interview is essential for securing that job of your dreams, but how are you going to be selected in the first place? Sending in the same CV with each job application, very often the same CV you've had for years with just your latest job added on, is not the way to do it!
A Curriculum Vitae needs to get you that interview, and being only one of several, if not hundreds of other applicants' CVs, yours needs to immediately make an impact.
It needs to be clear and concise and show your suitability for the job. Here are some guidelines to help you put together your perfect CV.
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Focus
The order in which your CV is presented is likely to change, depending on the stage of your career.
Attributes and experience that are relevant to the job should be prominent. If you're a school or college leaver your education and interests would probably be most important, however someone whose career has progressed over the years would benefit more from highlighting their work experiences and achievements rather than their education which may no longer have any relevance.
Structure & Design
Think about how you structure the CV, bearing in mind what your focus is. It should be no more than 2 pages plus a covering letter. Be concise, but explain your achievements.
The CV should be easy to read - while fancy, colourful fonts may reflect your personality it's better to stick with standard, universal options. Using graphics is best avoided with CVs, they are a resume of your working life, not an example of your design skills!
Content
While sticking with a concise approach, you must be sure to include evidence of achievements and how they benefitted your employer.
Avoid negatives - use problems or challenges to highlight how you used your skills to influence a positive outcome.
Tailor the content to the business or industry you are applying to - highlight skills you think will benefit their organisation.
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