It’s important to polish your CV when you start your job search. A great CV can make all the difference in getting yourself noticed by HR Managers & Recruiters who are tasked with finding the very best candidate. You want your CV to grab attention, cut through the competition and generate enough interest to get you an interview.

Tailor Your CV

Often people make the mistake of sending the same CV time and time again. It’s important to ensure it is targeted to the role you are applying for. It may seem like a timesaver but if you haven’t adapted it to the industry and job sector you’re applying for, it’s unlikely to persuade the potential employer or recruiter that you’re committed to a career in that sector and that you’re the best fit for the job. The more your CV resonates with the person reading it, the more chance there is that you’ll be called for an interview. Emphasise your industry-relevant qualifications and experience throughout your CV and give prominence to these at the top, so the reader immediately gets an idea of your suitability over that of other candidates.

Let’s Begin

The starting point for your CV should be your contact details and personal profile at the top of your CV, before moving to your work history. List your name, location, email and mobile number. In this digital age it’s not unusual for the recruiter to contact you via WhatsApp if you are unable to speak. Having a personal statement, otherwise known as a personal profile, is a great way to capture the reader’s attention by summarising your skills, strengths and career goals. Essentially you can use your personal statement as an ‘elevator pitch’ for the role. Write a focused summary of what you have to offer, keeping it concise. Sum up your personal and professional attributes, tailoring it towards the specific role by highlighting your skills that most closely match what they are looking for. Your profile should sit at the top of the CV, just after your name and contact details.

What I’ve Learned

Your CV should include after your personal profile your education including date of attendance, the name of the institution and subject, along with your final grade. Be sure to highlight any other certifications, courses, training, and accreditations you have obtained. Competency in the use of various IT applications is an important factor in many industries and recruiters will look out for this when shortlisting candidates for interviews. Highlight your skills in IT applications at the top of your CV so it won’t be missed.

A Lot of Experience

Often candidates are unsure if they should list all of their roles if they have built up a lot of experience. As a general rule you should be more detailed about the previous 10 years and highlight the roles which are most relevant to your chosen career and the job you’re applying for. Start with your current and most recent roles at the top of your CV as the recruiter will read these first, listing the rest of your work history in reverse chronological order. It’s important to include duties and responsibilities as a job title does not sell your capabilities. Aim for 5 bullet points for each role allowing the reader to understand what you were responsible for, what you did well and where you added value.

How Long Should my CV be?

The length of your CV will depend on the number of roles you’ve had as well as the skills and accomplishments which unless you are a fresh graduate is unlikely to be a single page. The ideal length of CV is around 2 pages as most are skimmed for initial interest within 30 seconds. Ensure you have a good structure with clear sections and headings, and that everything you’re including is relevant. Top tip avoid the use of any tables, columns or fancy graphics as these can play havoc with recruitment software.

How do I Look?

Keep your CV clean and uncluttered, with wide margins and generous spacing between sections, ensuring you use the same font throughout. For a guide on font size, use 10-12 point for your body text, and a maximum of 16 for headings. Don’t reduce font size to fit more in, your CV should be clear and readable. It is best to avoid using capitals for entire words and be sure to embolden any headings. It is so important to check your CV thoroughly for spelling and grammatical errors, as a mistake gives a bad impression and could even cost you the job.

Help!!!

The experienced GRS team are well equipped with the knowledge to assist you in producing an effective CV that will be your personal marketing document that employers will want to read, and which will help you get that all important interview. Our interview coaching and preparation will give you the tools you need to perform a winning interview to take you on to the next step in your career.

Our CV Writing service will give you a professional and formatted CV in English highlighting your skills, achievements and accomplishments throughout your career. Whether you are looking to enter the workforce or are a seasoned professional in your industry, we will produce a well written CV that will sell you to potential employers and hiring Manager’s. Our service includes:

• A 1-1 session with and experienced CV writing Consultant.
• An eloquent and well written CV in English in both MS Word and PDF

For further information on the dedicated CV Writing Service, please contact a member of our team on +357 25342720 or +356 27780664 or email jobs@grsrecruitment.com