In our current economic climate a lot of people are having issues
finding jobs, which is understandable, so I thought I’d give my personal tips
into job hunting. I don’t claim to be an expert – this is just information I’ve
picked up on the way from schools/colleges/my own personal experience. It’s
always good to have a ‘simple CV’ for part-time work and a ‘job-specific CV’ if
you want to go into a certain field. These tips are for a simple resumé.
THE CV
1. IMAGE IS IMPORTANT
The first thing an employer sees in your CV is the layout. Before they read anything they see the header, the footer, the length, font and the general layout. If it looks crowded or messy then that is a potential reflection on you as an employee. Keep it plain and organised to give across a good impression. If you wouldn’t want to read your own CV because it looks boring, crammed or ugly then why would a potential employer?
The first thing an employer sees in your CV is the layout. Before they read anything they see the header, the footer, the length, font and the general layout. If it looks crowded or messy then that is a potential reflection on you as an employee. Keep it plain and organised to give across a good impression. If you wouldn’t want to read your own CV because it looks boring, crammed or ugly then why would a potential employer?
2. TELL THE TRUTH
If you’ve seen The Apprentice then you’ll know the final ‘round’ includes a CV check where invariably at least one of the possible candidates tells a little white lie. This little white lie then escalates into a ‘make or break’ career move. It’s always best to tell the truth. You can ‘sugar-coat’ to some extent; if you have had a short amount of experience then you can ‘play up’ the importance of it. Be careful though because there is a very fine line.
If you’ve seen The Apprentice then you’ll know the final ‘round’ includes a CV check where invariably at least one of the possible candidates tells a little white lie. This little white lie then escalates into a ‘make or break’ career move. It’s always best to tell the truth. You can ‘sugar-coat’ to some extent; if you have had a short amount of experience then you can ‘play up’ the importance of it. Be careful though because there is a very fine line.
3. TOO MUCH IS SOMETIMES... TOO MUCH
Of course, we all want to look as though we have lots of experience but a long list of your roles and responsibilities is less informative and more irrelevant. The potential employer may take one look at this long list and snore their way through your CV. Stick to simple bullet points. Also, unless you have no higher qualifications it is best not to list every GCSE and instead state how many you have and your grades in English, Maths and Science.
Of course, we all want to look as though we have lots of experience but a long list of your roles and responsibilities is less informative and more irrelevant. The potential employer may take one look at this long list and snore their way through your CV. Stick to simple bullet points. Also, unless you have no higher qualifications it is best not to list every GCSE and instead state how many you have and your grades in English, Maths and Science.
4. EVERYTHING IS RELEVANT
This is crucial. Especially for those pulling on strings that have a small amount of experience or grades. Obviously getting a high grade in your KS3 SATs cannot be included in this but a short placement is something you can always include. There are key skills that you’ve picked up from your experiences that you can take into virtually every field of work. Remember to include these, particularly if you’re searching to pad out your CV a little.
This is crucial. Especially for those pulling on strings that have a small amount of experience or grades. Obviously getting a high grade in your KS3 SATs cannot be included in this but a short placement is something you can always include. There are key skills that you’ve picked up from your experiences that you can take into virtually every field of work. Remember to include these, particularly if you’re searching to pad out your CV a little.
5. KEEP IT CURRENT
Continue to update your CV. This is so important. If you’re sending off bulk CVs to companies make sure that it’s kept up to date, even if you think nothing’s changed there may be something you might not have spotted. You may also have links online such as a popular figure on a blogging website which, in our media-centred world, has become ever more relevant in CVs . This also shows that you’re computer-literate and enjoy social media, which is aspiring in today’s world.
Continue to update your CV. This is so important. If you’re sending off bulk CVs to companies make sure that it’s kept up to date, even if you think nothing’s changed there may be something you might not have spotted. You may also have links online such as a popular figure on a blogging website which, in our media-centred world, has become ever more relevant in CVs . This also shows that you’re computer-literate and enjoy social media, which is aspiring in today’s world.
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