When your CV reaches a prospective employer it needs to stand out against the competition to make it through the first round of rejections. Errors such as spelling mistakes, bad formatting, missing references or long-winded personal statements all increase the risk of the CV being rejected before it has been properly read. Employers are looking for clear and concise lists of skills and experiences that match their requirements as closely as possible. It is vital that all essential skills required are matched, along with as many of the desirable requisites as possible. Remember, your CV is your opportunity to ‘sell yourself’ and demonstrate not only your experience to date, but also your potential.
Here at jobs.ac.uk, we have several articles written by career advice experts to offer tips and advice around writing and structuring your CV to get it noticed by employers, including tips on how to make sure you:
- Write your CV with the job listing in mind
When applying for jobs, it’s best to rewrite your CV with that job in mind. You can tweak it to show the relevant experience you have, but it shows that you are willing to put the effort in to get noticed. This attention to detail also demonstrates a good work ethic that will carry over into the work place.
- Make sure you include clear contact details
If they can’t contact you easily, they can’t arrange interviews.
- Read the job specifications thoroughly
Most jobs will have essential criteria in the job description. If you can’t prove that you match each of these, it’s highly unlikely that your CV will go any further than the first round. List the essential and desirable criteria and demonstrate how you meet each of them with examples of successes.
- Research the company you’re applying to
Employers are more likely to engage with candidates that know something about the business they could potentially join. Show you are keen and knowledgeable about the industry or business you are applying to.
- Demonstrate how you plan to grow
If you have a clear career pathway that you are working towards, demonstrate how the role you are applying for fits within that. Show you have clear progression goals in mind. Employers value staff who are engaged in their own development.
Visit here for advice, tips and CV templates to adapt for a variety of roles at all job levels.
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