There are numerous things that you can do in order to boost your CV. If you’re looking to add a new and impressive skill, consider taking up a new language. Learning a foreign language is one of the most requested skills in the job market today as employers are always looking to hire bilingual or multilingual candidates. It’s never too late to learn a new language and today there are many resources that can help you do so. For example, there are language apps that make learning a language easy: in fact, you can practice while on the go and when it’s most convenient to you. Did you know that the French language is one of the most requested by employers and on Babbel there is an entire course that can help you learn it in a fun and practical way?
Your CV’s layout, spelling, spacing and consistency is also extremely important and should be triple checked before being sent across to a possible employer. A poorly laid out CV means that employer has to go looking for information instead of it standing out. Avoid strange/fussy fonts and use simple clean fonts like Arial, Verdana or Tahoma to make it easy to read. Font size should never go below 10 points and don’t exaggerate with bold, italics and underlining.
You also want to make sure that your CV isn’t crowded with insignificant or old experiences. Only highlight the most recent and relevant ones. If your CV is over two pages, consider removing words to cut it down. While it may be tempting to fill up tour CV with inspiring words, you want to make sure your CV is direct and clear. Avoid using too many colours as it may throw employers off and make sure to always be clear and direct.
Including a good personal statement can also be extremely effective if you get it right. Make sure to keep it short, highlighting your best qualifications and strongest personal skills. Persuade the employer that you are the perfect candidate for the job and a good fit for the work environment by reading the job description and writing your personal statement to reflect this.
Don’t forget keywords either. Sometimes CV are scanned by a software before even reaching a human being. These programmes pick up on and search for specific words or phrases related specifically to the job position or industry. A few sample keywords are can really make the difference. Make sure to include the relevant keywords from the job description in your CV and personal statement.
Once you feel like your CV is ready to go, test it out by sending it to a few friends, colleagues or even tutors. Have people give you an honest opinion and ask for constructive feedback. Remember that updating your CV is an on-going process and that you should tailor it to specific job applications while making sure it is always up to date. Remember to always proofread it, don’t exaggerate with colours and fussy words and make sure it truly resembles your personality.
*Collaboration with Emily Jones
Amazing how quick your knowledge goes out of date, up until about 8 years ago I was a recruiter, so I'd say my skills are good but I've never seen key word recognition software, it does sound useful for shortlising massive applications though. Mich x
ReplyDeleteI love updating my CV, it's so important to keep it current and relevant.
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