CVs or resumes, as they are sometimes called, are still key documents in the world of recruitment.  It’s essential that you understand how to design a CV which is going to illustrate your skills and experience in the best possible way.  Here are some top tips to make sure your CV is as strong at it can be:

A CV isn’t a list it’s a persuasive document. When a recruiter is reading a CV they are constantly asking themselves what you could do for them if you worked for their organisation.  So rather than just providing a dry list of all your responsibilities ask yourself what you have achieved in your previous jobs or volunteering experience and make sure you showcase those achievements. By highlighting those achievements early on in the CV the employer is more likely to read the rest of the document. Think about how you can use active words to illustrate your achievements and emphasise the skills you would bring into a new business. 

Build towards a specific vacancy or job
Whilst a ‘general CV’ might sound like a good idea, in reality, they rarely work.  The best CVs are those that are targeted at a specific job vacancy. This enables you to emphasise the most relevant experiences and skills which you have for that particular position.  It may sound like more work but it is vital to demonstrate that you are committed and don’t just want any job but that specific job. It can really impress a recruiter to see a CV that is clearly aimed specifically at their business and their opportunity.

Remember relevance is key
Remember that employers are looking to make a connection between what they are offering (e.g. a job vacancy) and what you are offering them (e.g. your skills and experience).  Make sure you highlight your most relevant experience.  If you’ve had a range of different jobs or roles in the past, you can group together the most relevant and feature it early on in the CV  (making sure you include dates) and move the less relevant content towards the back of the CV or remove it entirely.  Be careful you don’t overlook what could be seen as relevant from the employer’s perspective though!

Choose your headings carefully
 One way of successfully organising a CV is to use the most appropriate headings that will best capture the recruiter’s attention.  For example, if you are applying for a legal role rather than using bland headings like ‘Employment History’ you could instead introduce a section called ‘Legal Experience’ which could include both paid and voluntary work you have done in that field.

Make your layout matter
Whilst it might be tempting to experiment with lots of different fonts and different shaped headings remember that the layout is there to support the content of a CV, not distract from it.  Keep it easy to read and smart and remember that the standard length of a CV is 1 or 2 pages, depending on the sector and local regional conventions.  For example, CVs in banking tend to be just one page, whilst CVs used for academic jobs in universities can be much longer. Make sure that you research so you know what is the expected length in your own local recruitment market.

Check, check and check again
 There is no point spending hours writing a tailored CV if you are going to forget to check for spelling errors or grammatical typos.  One single error can make it far more likely that the recruiter will simply reject your CV at the first hurdle.  Make sure you repeatedly proofread your CV but also ask a friend to also check it for you to double check your accuracy. It’s really worth taking the time and effort to do this.

Use QM CV Builder to create your CV from scratch using templates, or to get instant on a CV you have already drafted. You can also browse our CV guides online, and book an appointment with an Application Adviser when you are ready to apply for a specific opportunity. 

Last modified: Tuesday, 1 December 2020, 5:45 PM