50 GREAT CV TIPS

by Hyacinth Fraser

1. Curriculum Vitae, once translated means `the story of your life'. Do ensure you give a good account of yourself.

2. To heighten your chances of success, your CV needs to attract the reader's attention in the first 20 - 30 seconds. Ensure you create the right first impression with your CV, first impressions last.

3. Ensure your sentences and paragraphs are short and to the point.

4. Develop your CV as part of a holistic approach to the job search.

5. Keep the CV to two pages - maximum (personnel staff have lots of CV's to read). For more great tips, take a trip to the Amazon

6. Make sure you choose the appropriate CV format - Performance CV, Targeted CV or Functional CV.

7. Never use two words when one will do, being concise is the best advice.

8. Make sure your key skill areas are presented on the first page (if there is nothing of interest on the first page, why will personnel staff read on?)

9. Ensure your CV is interesting by using `action' words, e.g. facilitated, organised, created, innovative, accountable etc.

10. Sell your strengths first and then add your career and personal details.

11. Create an attention grabbing profile.

12. Embolden your profile so it stands out. Use up to seven high impact statements that best describe you.

13. Remember the purpose of the CV is to get you an interview. Ask yourself, what information do they need to know about me in order for them to make that decision?

14. Provide information that shows you have the ability to do the job in hand - provide examples as appropriate.

15. Ensure that the CV is honest and that you are able to `back up' the information with hard evidence at interview.

16. Ensure you highlight your key selling points.

17. Don't include information in your CV related to those aspects of your work you don't feel you are particularly good at.

18. As far as possible, spell out what you mean, rather than using abbreviations.

19. Include the following items in the CV:

20. Your personal details - name, address, telephone numbers, email address.

21. Experience.

22. Key skill areas.

23. Achievements.

24. Educational background.

25. Provide information about outside activities if you feel it will add materially to the CV and increase your chances of getting an interview.

26. Some people perceive providing the following details may lead to an element of stereotyping: nationality, health, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, ages and numbers of children and current salary. (You decide as appropriate)

27. References are not necessarily needed on a CV, these can be given once called to interview.

28. Adapt your CV dependent on the specific job focused on.

29. Ensure you spell check your CV.

30. Use a reasonable size font.

31. Create a website for your CV for ease of access of recruiters.

32. Attach your CV to an auto responder email address so it can be sent out automatically.

33. Send an appropriate photograph with your CV if required to.

34. If you are required to send an application form, make sure you only send a CV as an attachment if requested to do so.

35. Use bullet points to emphasis key points on your CV.

36. To help prevent listing any unnecessary detail, list your information in years, rather than months.

37. Focus on your recent history and summarise historical information. For more great tips, take a trip to the Amazon

38. Be sure to attach a brief (one side A4) covering letter.

39. Ensure your CV is grammar and spell checked before being sent out.

40. Avoid the use of jargon.

41. Be sure your CV and covering letter is sent to a named person.

42. Be as objective and factual as possible.

43. An obvious point and yet still worth stating, make sure prior to sending out your CV you do not have any (coffee etc.) stains on it.

44. Be sure your CV is results orientated, focus on your achievements.

45. Get someone to look over your CV to give you feedback.

46. If you think it appropriate, use a professional CV writing service.

47. If at all possible and this is preferable, print your CV using a laser printer and use good quality paper.

48. Ensure your CV is complete - with all relevant areas as outlined above included.

49. Keep a copy of your CV for your reference

50. Please feel free to add your own ideas to this list.

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