Graduate Advice - Clear Out Your CV
CLEAR OUT YOUR CV
With unemployment rising and the job market becoming increasingly crowded, a good CV and covering letter are worth every minute you spend honing them to perfection. Very often your CV is the first opportunity to make an impression on potential employers, and therefore even something as small as a spelling mistake or incorrect punctuation could make all the difference.
Sue Tumelty, author of CV and Interview Handbook, published by Which, says many candidates make their CVs too long (or too short),and some even lie about previous employment..
Her top tips for clearing up your CV are:
- Make life easy for yourself. Prepare a generic CV, then tailor it for each individual application.
- First impressions count. Use an easy to read font and clear headings. Check spelling and grammar.
- Keep it short and simple. Take no more than two pages, use positive, action words and short sentences, and use white or cream, good quality paper.
- Don’t put your age or marital status on your CV. This is irrelevant and could breach discrimination laws.
- Don’t ever lie on your CV. This could result in instant dismissal if your employer ever finds you out.
- Be careful how you appear on social networking sites. A prospective employer might not like your Facebook or Bebo entry.
- Don’t have a joke email address. Present a professional image at all times.
- Don’t just attach a generic covering letter. Do some research and tailor letters to individual people and organisations, and explain why you are the ideal candidate in direct reference to the job specification.
Sue Tumelty says: ‘It’s a hard time for anyone job seeking as the number of vacancies has decreased recently while the number of people looking for work has soared.
‘Some people may not have looked at their CV for years, while others spend little or no time preparing one. But, the CV is the first chance candidates get to make an impression on their potential employers, so having a current, up-to-date and accurate CV could make all the difference between getting the job or remaining a job-seeker.’
CV and Interview Handbook can be ordered on 01903 828557 (£10.99, p&p free) or at www.which.co.uk or bought from bookshops.
