In an age when a couple of lines on a text message is worth a thousand words in old money, creating a good CV that will attract attention and, more importantly, land the perfect job, is a complex and taxing art.
Today’s CV should contain a blend of up-to-date information containing skills relevant to the 21st century, alongside 100 per cent correct spelling and grammar and no small amount of what we might call ‘flow’ – more of that later.
Putting together an attractive CV can be daunting, but if you follow our tips below you will stand a much better chance of attracting employers, getting shortlisted for an interview and - fingers crossed – landing that perfect job.
1.Keep it short, keep it sweet
The advice to keep CVs snappy and relevant has never been more vital than now. ‘Eyeball time’ has shortened since social media arrived on the scene, and HR staff simply don’t have the time or inclination to read an essay. In a nutshell they just need to know who you are, what you can do and why they should employ you for this role. Your challenge is to condense this information on to one page – the skill is in the editing!
2.Be accurate and professional
You don’t need to add your every achievement but where you do, make sure that your information is accurate. No lying about PhD’s Master’s Degrees, or anything else – you will get found out! Also, be professional. It’s fine to include a line or two about your hobbies and interests, but don’t get into politics or religion – people are quick to judge and might not want a highly opinionated person on their team.
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3.Make a LinkedIn profile
An up-to-date, interesting and visual LinkedIn profile is your opportunity to present yourself more fully to a recruiter. If you haven’t already created a profile do so now, and get it looking appealing and relevant. Doing so helps to paint a more rounded portrait of yourself, not just as a potential employee but someone with personality, dedication and skill. Again, though, keep it professional. Once you’re happy with your profile, link it to your CV.
4.Tailor your CV to the job
Recruiters are trained to spot a one-size-fits-all CV, fired off in the hope of it hitting the target. Inevitably, this kind of CV only hits the recycle bin. Read the job specification carefully and tailor your CV accordingly. Keeping things clear and relevant will attract the recruiter’s attention, telling them that you’ve thought this through and that in doing so you may interview well.
5.Know what to leave out.
This is quite a skill and it’s worth giving some thought to the selection process. Should you include all your employment and education history, or just that relevant to the job? We’d argue that giving an outline of all your educational achievements is more important than a full work experience history. Working a couple of student jobs in your teens might have been fun, but are they really relevant to more professional roles? Choose wisely, and consider what will really attract attention.
We hope this handful of tips will help you to mould and shape a CV that will guarantee to attract attention in 2024. If you’re looking for a role in sectors including construction, industrial, professional and mechanical and electrical (among others), have a look at our latest job listings to see what roles are currently available. Alternatively, give us a call on 01895 80 81 88 and one of our friendly staff will be happy to help you find your perfect next role.
