Writing a CV can be hard. You have to somehow condense all your experience into 1 or 2 A4 pages. I mean it’s hard as a student, can you imagine what it’s going to be like once you’ve graduated and worked at multiple different companies. I have therefore created a short guide on mistakes to avoid when preparing your CV.
Adapt the CV According to the Position
It’s easy to make one CV and think your job is done. However, that is not the case. Different jobs will have different job descriptions and require different skills and experience. It is, therefore, extremely important to adapt your CV depending on the vacancy you are applying to. It is also important to make your CV specific to the vacancy you are applying to if it is too generic and employees can tell that you have sent out the same CV to multiple different companies they may choose someone else over you.
Create a Structure
Your CV should have a flow to it. It is important when writing a CV that it forms almost a pathway, allowing the reader to easily move on from one point to the next. It is important to plan your CV into different sections and make sure that it is in chronological order. If your CV is well structured it also makes it easier for the employee to go back and find the bits that really stuck out to them. Getting a CV’s structure right can be challenging and comes with experience and knowledge. However, StudentJob UK has developed a CV builder to help make it easier!
Provide the Right Information
It’s a great idea to use a template when writing your CV. However, always make sure if you are using a template CV you update it so it isn’t a CV with a fictional characters name, address and number. It is essential that you contact information on your CV is correct if not it is likely to cost you the job as employees won’t be able to get hold of you. It is also important that you proofread your CV, not just once but multiple times, try running it through Grammarly and getting friends and family to read it. Spelling mistakes are deadly in a CV and just from one spelling mistake, some employers might reject you straight away.
Select Clear and Easy to Read Templates
People often think more is better. However, when it comes to a CV you want to keep it short and concise, you need to highlight the relevant skills and experiences depending on the job you are applying to. If your CV is too long an employer will get bored. You need to focus on your skills and qualifications and make it short and simple.