How to write the best CV
A good CV is a great start. The question is, is it good enough to get you the job? Every CV is different, and the number of CVs received and accepted in job postings every year is increasing, so you will need to think about how to make yours stand out from the rest. Here are some tips for writing a CV that show off your skills.
7 top tips on writing a great CV that stands out from the crowd!
Get the basics right. There is no right or wrong way to write a CV but there are some general practices you should include:
Presentation is key
Stick to no more than two pages of A4.
Understand the job description
Make sure you cover your key knowledge of the role in the CV
Make the most of your skills
Make the most of your interests/hobbies
When you're applying for a job, you need to think about what you can offer employers that will convince them that you’re the best candidate for the job. For example, if you speak a second language, this will be advantageous to a business that has a variety of international language involvements.
Writing a CV is a complicated task but a process that is used to assess your suitability for work. It is important to note that in many cases, depending on the role, you won't be asked for hugely detailed interview. If you do get an interview then you will be asked questions that are relevant to your job.
To begin with it's always good to try and anticipate what the interviewer wants you to include in your CV, and you should also try and think about how to write a CV that communicates your key value to potential employers and recruiters that you're good at your job.
CVs contain lots of key details that reflect how you might see yourself doing the job. Let's assume you're a newbie. As a beginner, your CV should aim to show the reader that you are passionate about your chosen project and that you enjoy it. It's probably also the best way to show you're a capable candidate. However, you must be careful and think through what you actually want to say, because what you write will have a huge impact on the outcome.
If you have taken time to study the job market and how to make your CV stand out from the crowd, you would already have a good idea what you want to say. Maybe you want to state your technical proficiency but be careful not to clutter your CV. A CV shows all the projects you have completed, how much you learned and other key facts. It also details specific skills that you could use in the future.
Most CVs include information on your education and work experience.
The application should tell the "positive narrative", where the applicant lives a great life through great achievements and personal growth. The concept of the "positive narrative" is not universal, but is present in all fields (although in different forms).
When writing your CV, be very specific. Don't write a short CV saying, "Hi, my name is Thomas, I am studying at University level. I am interested in modern art, future technologies, and the life sciences. I am looking for a career in art history". You need to provide more context.
Think about your main professional objectives in your CV. If you want to succeed in art history or art history related fields, then your CV needs to say, "I am going to study art history at University level, hoping to achieve a graduate degree in art history."
Always include your name, full contact information, age and role in the job application. If possible, link to your LinkedIn profile with a small paragraph at the bottom explaining why you are applying for that job.
Use keywords as search terms. There are literally hundreds of job sites on the internet, so it's vital to include keywords related to your job title, title, specialty and even industry.
Have a couple friends or colleagues read your CV for you, asking you questions to get a better sense of how it would fit.
Good luck and happy job searching. Xpressjobs currently have over 60,000 jobs available across several industry sectors, so if you are considering looking then perhaps with your new CV you can grab that dream new job today!
Xpressjobs is a UK jobsite specialising in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry. We pride ourselves on our involvement with the community of the sector. We are, therefore, making the necessary adjustments to offer some aid in light of the current COVID-19 situation. We are now advertising roles out with our usual sectors, that we believe members of the hospitality industry would be well suited for based on their transferable skills.
This advice was supplied by Xpress Recruitment
