The Importance of a CV

A CV when paired with either a cover letter or application form is an essential tool in allowing you to access a job opportunity.

Now in this post I am going to go through the elements which are essential in your CV, tips to make yours stand out. How to reinvent this staple piece of your information for the modern day and common mistakes to avoid.

Now to start off this information is primarily for those starting their career journey and not those who are already established. Although the information mat still be useful to help give your CV a boost. 

The first thing in my view on your CV should be your contact information, your mobile number and a professional email (an abbreviated name and a domain) so recruiters can get in touch. You need to allow the recruiter or job a point of contact with you so they can let you know about your application success. Also include any professional social media handles certain jobs may require a broader range of SM details but generally stick to LinkedIn as this is a snapshot of your career to date. If you are pursuing media or marketing then twitter and instagram may be useful. Warning! be mindful of your content especially if you are highlighting it to employers think about how you may want to be seen. Also do the same with your social media you do not want to promote as something you may say in school maybe an issue in your later life and as recruiters will search for you on social media increase your privacy on the accounts you do not want highlighted. If you are interested in causes and want to promote the different things you have done include it if you think its relevant such as a blog or vlog. If you have your own website or business include that and then embed your social links neatly under that website it will keep your CV more tidy.

Summarise your experience why should a recruiter buy into you as a person this section for me has altered following taking part in a personal branding course. The summary is more about you as a person and why the company should want to work with you. This should also be reflected on the various social media platforms you use to highlight your personal brand.

Next we move into your skills and strengths this is the area where you put up to ten buzzwords about yourself allowing the recruiter to know how you will fit with the company. You need to be clear and honest here as this section stands out so think about what makes you a good employee or someone that they would want to work with. You need to think what skills you have developed in school, work and clubs as in your cover letter you should be able to link these skills to your achievements. Do not just mirror a companies values.

When you get onto your work history remember to include points which are relevant to the job you are applying for. I would recommend keeping a note of the different experiences and jobs you have done over the years as this should be how you present what you have done in each role. Think how you the role has helped you grow what you have achieved in it and how has it shaped you. Link this to skills you have developed and ideally an achievement you made within the role.

In terms of your qualification you need to describe what your learnt from your modules if you studied a vocational college course or university degree. This will allow the employer to better understand what modules you did at university how diverse or specialised the degree is. Think what insights the qualification gave you for both your academic achievement and how it applies to the job you are applying for.

When you move onto your achievements initially this is what you have done through your school, college, university and job market. You need to think about any and all awards you have participated in, what you have achieved in the roles or through your qualifications. Have you had an impact on your local area have you ran any campaigns or published any articles you have written on social media or your website. Think what you are proud of and what you want to talk more about with the company. 

Lastly have you got any organisations you are affiliated to do you have a qualification which is endorsed by a professional body or are you working with any ongoing projects. Remember to make your CV stand out you need to showcase both the skills and requirement for the job but also how you are unique and different. Today it has never been more important to show your individuality whilst also showing how you fit into their ethos as businesses realise that young people are shifting the ways they view careers your CV needs to reflect you.

For anyone who wants help with building your CVs and developing your career potential please get in touch or look at our career related services.