Your step-by-step guide to designing the perfect CV
A CV is your opportunity to showcase yourself in the best possible light. Whether you’re applying for a job, or simply updating your CV to make it more inclusive and diverse, we have some tips and tricks that will help you create an engaging curriculum vitae.
The CV is your personal commercial
This is a commercial for yourself that you can choose to run to your best advantage. Your CV is what will hopefully land you the job, so it should be tailored to the job description and clearly reflect your best qualities. You also want the CV to look great! The graphics, font, and layout should be crisp and well organized. This helps readers cut through the clutter. To boost your chances of getting the job, think about how the job will impact your lifestyle and make sure the CV showcases this. If you have a hobby or interest, consider describing this as a “gift”, or “part-time job”. It will help you stand out and highlight that you’re flexible, enthusiastic, and very much a team player.
What should I include in my CV?
Your CV should describe who you are, your background, your skills, your achievements, and your future career plans. These should be presented in a way that clearly explains who you are and what you offer. Your CV should include the following: Year Location Earning level Clubs and groups you’ve been part of Transportation of your qualifications Composition of the design Clients you’ve worked with Include photographs that show your face and smile but don’t include embarrassing pictures of yourself! Instead, include professional headshots in the ‘Summary’ section. It’s always better to be liked than to be liked for what you look like. How do I include my qualifications? Provide at least three or four years of experience as an actual job.
Is my CV up-to-date and inclusive?
For a CV to really stand out, it needs to stand out! However, you can only showcase yourself to a certain degree, so take the time to make sure you have a profile that’s exciting and appealing to the job you’re applying for. It can be very intimidating at first, to put yourself and your skills on paper, but once you see the responses you get, it will become easier. Here are a few ways to make sure your CV is up-to-date: Write a profile about yourself and your skills, as well as your aspirations for the job you’re applying for. Write about your interests and hobbies to make sure your CV reflects your personal brand and character. Research your company and set the right expectations about the type of person you are, based on the job description.
When and how should I send my CV?
You’ve done the hard work and you’ve found the perfect role to apply for, but what’s next? You should always, always, always try to email your CV as soon as possible, especially if you haven’t yet spoken to a recruiter or hiring manager about your potential application. Job recruitment websites can also help. To find the ideal platform for your job application, Google ‘Best Job Recruitment Websites’ and ‘Recruitment Websites for [Job Type]’. Many recruiters will filter your search by these search terms to find jobs that require their search terms. However, if you can’t find your dream job on the above platforms, then it’s best to email the recruiter directly! These can be just as beneficial and quicker for both parties.
Conclusion
Working for yourself will require you to put in the time to create an ideal CV. The better it reflects your skills, the better chance you’ll have of attracting the job that you want. Got a job you think deserves better than what you’re presenting? Want to share some of your feedback with us? Use the contact form below and we’ll keep your comments private.