An effective CV is a must have for any student who wants to progress in the world of work. Corinne Mills, the MD of Personal Career Management, a specialist career coaching firm shared a number of Do’s and Don’t s in an article on writing the perfect CV, they are:
DO’S
- Research: Find out exactly what the employer you want to impress is looking for, then write a CV that exactly matches their requirements.
- Evidence: Prove what a great candidate you are by including examples of achievements, improvements you made at work or problems you solved.
- Two pages: Aim for a two-page CV. Any more than this and you are likely to be waffling, but any less and you have not provided enough information.
- Proofreading: Thoroughly check your CV for errors and ensure that what you have written makes sense. Then ask someone to double-check it for you.
- Covering letter: Always provide a covering letter or email to go with your CV, as it’s another chance to convince the employer of your suitability.
DON’T S
- Be negative: Avoid any criticisms of past or present employers, or mention any difficult periods in your career history. Your CV needs to be very positive.
- Photo: Do not use a photo with your CV unless you are specifically asked to. It’s usually only relevant for work like modelling or promotions work.
- Rely on one CV: Expect to have a number of CVs that you change depending on the job you are applying for. Always tailor your CV.
- Use fancy layout: Avoid unusual fonts, columns, tables etc in your CV when writing it in a Word document. The formatting can so easily go awry when it is read by a recruiter.
- Be disheartened: If your CV is not being shortlisted then talk to a career coach or someone who works in your chosen area, to check whether your CV is doing you justice and that it is a good match for the roles you have been applying for. Advice and feedback from others is the best and quickest way to turn around a job search campaign which doesn’t seem to be working.
Credit: http://www.independent.co.uk
For more tips, visit: monster.com-cv writing tips
Below are links to YOUtube videos on CV writing:
https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/1EgOHOscyCE&source=uds
https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/WYVwhLChAG8&source=uds
