Firstly, we’d like to be clear that we condone using a professional CV designer to help you put together a well presented profile that is articulate, to the point and most importantly, stands out from the typical ”knock together at home” Word Document that the average person puts out into the market. While this will likely require some small financial outlay on your part the rewards will be well worthwhile in that it will increase your chances of an interview! It also looks more professional and will stand out from the pack.

• Name and Personal Details (make sure you include all appropriate contact details. People need to be able to get hold of you!)
• Education – Highest Level
• Personal Statement
• Demonstrated key skills
• A brief overview of the last ten years employment bullet pointed.
• Most recent role
  • Dates worked there
  • Title
  • Key Responsibilities/KPIS (no more than six)
  • Key Achievements (back up with figures and or commercial value)
  • Reason for leaving
  • Next role etc

Things to note

1. Your CV should be condensed to three pages. If you’ve been working for 20 plus years, focus on the last ten years. The remainder of your working history can be bullet pointed.
2. If you have had a brief tenure in a role, ie less than a year, then its very important to outline why you have left this role.
3. Check and recheck your spelling and grammar, and basics such as font size. There are also some key spelling basics we see all the time such as role vs roll. A role is a position you’ve held, a roll is something you buy from a bakery. If these things are not your strength, get a friend to look it over before you start pressing send.
4. Think hard and be honest with yourself about what your key skills are. What have you been really good at in the past? Many interviewers will focus on the strengths you are claiming, so don’t fudge it to look good, as chances are you’ll get sprung at interview stage. Be frank and succinct about your key strengths. If you’re not positive, ask your ex colleagues and manager.
5. Make sure you let your references know you are in the job market, especially if its been more than two years since you spoke to them.
6. Achievements need to be qualified. A statement such as “increased sales for the business” means very little in the light of day. What products? At what margin? To what clients?
   A key factor for you here may be to focus on the things you did that fell over and above your position description.
7. Your personal statement is about your views and thoughts of what you’re like in the workplace, what your motivators are, and what you are looking for in your next role.
8. If providing a cover letter take the time to address it to the person who is advertising the role. Then make sure your cover letter is angled towards the specific role you are applying for. Putting “To whom it may concern” at the top is poor. You may as well write “Dear irrelevant employer representing a company I’m unlikey to interview with.” Seriously. If you’re sending out so many applications you don’t have time to change these basic things such as the title of the role or the person’s name then its time to think hard about what you’re actually looking for.

We hope this guide has been of value. You are welcome to call us for support or guidance. Remember that your CV is your key to gaining interviews. Without interviews, securing a role will be extremely difficult! Therefore time and energy spent here will in theory, be rewarded. Good hunting!