At Euro-Projects we literally see thousands of CV’s every week and from this have our own unique format to represent CV’s to our clients. We have listed below a number of tips you may wish to consider to improve your own CV based on what we look for.
- Easy to read:
Space out the format of your CV so it is uncluttered.
- Essential information:
Include details such as :
- date of birth
- preferred location to work / willingness to relocate
- salary guide
- notice period or availability
- all contact details, where you can be contacted.
- Get your message across:
Busy recruiters speed read CV’s so highlight key words and skills throughout your CV or put a succinct profile at the front with key abilities, knowledge, skills, and industry sectors worked in.
- Use specifics:
If you have achieved specific and quantifiable objectives, relevant to your current job search put them in, i.e. targets set and achieved or exceeded, by how much etc.
- Avoid vague comments:
Don’t waste time with vague comments such as “I work equally well on my own or as part of a team”. Treat every word you write as costing a pound.
- Order:
Put your work experience in chronological order, most recent first. This is particularly relevant if your career is established. You are selling your current skills set, not those of 5 or 10 years ago, also bias your CV accordingly.
- Length:
If you can’t get your details succinctly onto an absolute maximum of 3 pages it is definitely too long. Two sides of A4 is still the ideal.
- Hobbies and interests:
Not always relevant and unusual pass-times can sometimes be off-putting, If you are struggling for space, these are an easy sacrifice.
- Objective awareness:
Remember, your covering letter should make an employer read your CV, your CV should make them want to meet you. If you have additional relevant information you want to go into in more detail, you can take it with you, and discuss if invited to.
- References:
Again, if you are struggling for space leave them off, if you get far enough into the process you will be required to provide some anyway. “References available on request” does not add value to your CV.
