How you present yourself to a potential employer comes down to how effective your CV is at making you stand out from the crowd. Sometimes, your application may be overlooked even if you have the right skills for the job, simply because your CV is not truly representative of your skills and capabilities. We’ve put together some tips on how to create the best CV that demonstrates your skills to help you land your dream job. If you decide to invest in improving your skills to pursue your chosen career path, then you can save money with the Skillshare discount code from BravoVoucher.
Grab their attention.
The first thing you should consider when preparing your CV is to try and imagine the recruiter who will be reading it. They will probably have seen many similar applications so you should make sure that one of the first things they see when they look at your CV is your key skills and accomplishments. You can highlight your skills by using a bulleted list, or make a summary of your key skills in the first paragraph but make sure they’re at the start to grab the attention of your potential new employer straight away.
Customize your CV based on the particular role you’re applying for. This is important because many job seekers don’t make the extra effort to adapt their CV for each individual position they apply for. Even if you’re seeking a job in a particular industry or sector, where the skills and competencies they’re looking for might be similar it’s worth taking some time to make sure your application is focused on the specific role and responds to the job description adequately. You can also leave out any experience that is not connected to this particular role.
Keep it short.
You may be so keen to get the job that you end up putting everything you possibly can on your CV. Although this approach might have its advantages, especially if you have a lot of different skills and experience, it’s not necessarily going to help you be successful at this stage. It’s a much better idea to keep your CV short and to the point and remember that you can elaborate on any particular points at the interview if you are successful. Try to focus on the skills, responsibilities, and work experience that are most relevant.
Use a professional template.
Making your CV look more professional is going to contribute to your first impression. You can use a different style depending on the company that you’re applying to or the type of position you are seeking but remember that a professional-looking CV is going to make you and your skills stand out. You can select a modern or more traditional style based on your personal preference, as long as it’s written formally, and spending time working on an appropriate layout is worthwhile. You should also send a covering letter to accompany your CV where you can also highlight your skills and explain why you are suitable for the role.
Keep it real.
Sometimes it’s very tempting to exaggerate your skills or experience to help you get that all-important call for an interview. No matter how much you want the job, this is one of the most common mistakes that applicants make. Even if you haven’t got all of the skills that are requested in the job advert, focus on the ones you have got and remember that if you do get an interview, the employer will ask you specific questions and may likely run background checks to verify your qualifications and employment history.
These tips should help you to focus your CV and make sure your skills are considered appropriately. Remember to stay positive even if you’ve been searching for a new job for a while, and don’t give up on your dreams! If you want more advice on how to create a successful CV, check out the Guardian’s list of the top 10 tips.
