HOW TO GET NOTICED WITH JUST A CV

So how do you get yourself noticed with just a CV?

CV formats are usually the same but employers expect you to make your CV unique by including your experiences and skills that others may not have.

Tips:

1.     Keep the format simple and short
only put down relevant extra curriculum activities if it will help your CV such as courses or mentorship that may not be a qualification but something you do in your spare time to gain skills.

2.     Avoid using clichés
people always tend to use the same works when describing themselves such as – motivated or passionate. Recruiters want to see people using more industry terms that apply to the job description rather than just a list of jargon words.

3.     SELL yourself
your CV is meant to sell your skills and experiences. This makes it is important that you include examples of success or high standard achievements (recruiters and employers love it!)

4.     Tailor your CV
When you are aware of who or what industry you want to work with/for you have to tailor your CV so it highlights the specific experiences needed for that job!

TRICK - when applying for different jobs and roles it is important to have different CV’s that’s shows and brings out skills for that particular sector.

5.     CHECK and CHECK AGAIN!
You have to avoid errors at ALL cost. Grammatical errors can be a huge determining factor for jobs in certain sectors. Ensure all your dates match up, email is correct and phone number is current.

CV Checklist

Here are things you must include in your CV:

1.     Personal Details:
Include – your name, address and contact number

2.  Educations and Qualification
You need to list your education from the most recent to the oldest(with dates). It only needs to go back as far as your secondary school education. If you feel the subject gave you relevant skills for the job ensure you state it!

3.     Relevant Skills:
The employer uses this section to identify if you have the skills for that job role. Start by identifying the skills that employer wants and included it in your CV. Give some detailed examples of any work experience or interests that might make you stand out as a candidate.

4.     Work Experience:
This can be a paid and unpaid work placement, volunteering or anywhere you’ve offered you time to gain experience. This can all be added to your CV to you’re the skills you’ve developed and how the experience shaped you personally.

5.     Interests:
Do not give a long list of interest but pick out two or three and write about what you’ve learnt from them. For example, doing an internship abroad means you are adaptable, a risk taker and open to new challenges.

6.     Referees:

o   DO NOT USE FAMILY MEMBERS.

o   Always try to keep it professional and put down past employers as references. 

o   If you are a still in university you can put down you tutor as a reference.

o   You can always leave that section and put “ References available upon request”

o   Always get permission from your references first

7.     Update your CV regularly
keeping an up to date CV means you can apply for jobs immediately and efficiently.

8.     Using a template
you can use a template as a guide but ensure that you include and make the CV personal.

9. Keep your social media professional and ethical. Organisations now type in names on Google search to scan and see what their potential candidate is like online. So be careful.

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