At 2020-Recruitment, we get a lot of candidates asking us for feedback on their CV.

We obviously spend a substantial amount of our time reviewing CV’s, ensuring the information is up to date and relevant. Your CV is an expensive document so invest the time in creating one. It could make all the difference when applying for a job.

There are no set rules when creating a CV, however, based on our experience here is some information that may help you.

Personal Profile

Have a Personal Profile at the beginning.  Your profile should be brief giving an overview of your skills and experience tailored to the job you are applying for. You want to stand out in a good way creating an immediate impression for the person reading it and it also shows you are an ideal fit for the role you’re applying for.

Contact Details

Make sure you include your contact details such as email address and telephone number and where you are located. You would not believe the amount of CV’s we receive without this information!

Employment History

Ensure your employment history starts with your current or most recent job. This should include the name of the company, dates of employment and position held. List your duties and key responsibilities, along with any relevant achievements and skills you have acquired and training courses undertaken.

Do not leave gaps on your CV. Always make sure to list any gaps in your CV whether it was a career break, travelling, maternity break, etc.

Be Truthful

There is no point lying on your CV about any previous jobs or training you claim to have as you may be asked about these at the interview stage. We do recommend, however, that you tailor your CV to suit the job being applied for. This is about your understanding of your skillset and assets that are most essential to a specific vacancy. Ensure all qualifications are on even those that may not be relevant to every job you’re applying for as it shows your willingness for self development.

No Photographs

No photographs on your CV, images or graphs (unless you’re applying for a job that requires these).

References

Almost all recruitment agencies and employers will request two references of your most recent employer, however, we would recommend you do not put these on your CV as these will be requested at a later date. You only need to state References available upon request.

Finally

Keep your CV to 2 A4 pages if you can, removing any unnecessary information and always double check your CV for any mistakes before sending to any prospective employer, recruitment agency or job board. Errors such as dates being out of sync or spelling and grammar mistakes can be off putting.

 

If we can help further or you would like advice with your CV, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the 2020-Recruitment Team on 01592 805600.