7 Top Tips for an Excellent CV

First impressions last! Your CV is the first impression you give of yourself when approaching a potential employee. Make it count! Here are some tips that can help you land that interview.

1.    Keep it Clear and Concise

Keep your CV short and to the point! 2 pages are considered more than enough. Prospective employees spend less than 30 seconds when first sifting through a pile of CVs. Most of their judgment will come from your CV.

The top half of the first page is the most important. This is where you would enter your personal details and a personal statement or career objective. Having a punchy professional profile is also useful.

Do not include unnecessary personal details. Your life history has no place in your CV. Only use essential and relevant information that is related to your application.

2.    Presentation is Crucial

Your CV must be well structured and clearly presented. Layout is crucial when compiling your CV. Use a simple font and keep your paragraphs short and/or bulleted. The harder it is for a prospective employee to read your CV, the less likely they are to consider it.

Use professional language and make sure that you have NO spelling or grammatical errors. Employees tend to spot mistakes and this makes you look bad. Use a spellchecker and get someone else to double-check your CV before submitting it to anyone.

Use your space wisely by setting small margins and avoiding large open spaces. You want to keep your CV to 2 pages.

Make sure you use a professional email address! [email protected] sets the wrong tone straight away. Rather create a new email address like [email protected] and make sure you check you mail settings to use reflect you name [Tracy Smith] when sending emails.

Also name your CV file professionally: Tracy Smith CV.docx rather than CV draft 2. For most applications it is preferable to send a .docx file rather than a .pdf, but it is advisable to have both formats.

3.    Adjust your CV to the Job

Research the position you are applying for, as well as the company you are sending your CV to. Creating unique CV’s for different roles is important. Adjust your CV by highlighting the skills and qualifications most relevant to the position you are applying for.

4.    Be Honest!

Lying on your CV may get you into a lot of trouble. It may get you into an interview but as soon as the vetting process starts you will be caught out. The exaggeration of facts is as bad as lying. Be honest and forthright. No-one wants to hire a “bullshitter” and you most certainly don’t want to be known as one.

5.    Qualifications and Skills

Include qualifications that are relevant to the position you are applying for. Nobody cares that you are a qualified Reiki Master when you are applying for an administrative or management position.

The accumulation of skills doesn’t always include a certificate. Be sure to include relevant skills gathered and your level of competence.

6.    Employment History

List your employment history, starting with the most recent or current employment. Employers are most interested in your current abilities, rather than what you did 20 years ago. Older history can be reduced to a one-liner. Include the reason for leaving previous employment.

Explain gaps in your employment history, whether it was to take time to study, travel or recuperate for illness. If you were retrenched or dismissed, be as truthful and transparent as possible without being disparaging.

7.    Keep your Social Media Clean

Prospective employers and recruitment agents often look for your social media accounts. Make sure there are no inflammatory, offensive or obscene posts or shares on your profile. Delete anything that may be a cause concern or dismay.

Do post or share inspiring information that mirrors on your character. Don’t be disrespectful or impolite online – it reflects badly on you.

Create a professional social media presence to increase your chances of getting the job. LinkedIn is a good place to maintain a visible online CV, but make sure you keep in updated. Not only does this make you look good, it also improves the image of the company you work for.