How to write the perfect CV

Standing out is the key to writing the perfect CV. How you do that, is down to you because a CV is about you, your past, your present and your future.

You need to be selling yourself and making a strong impression.

Think about it – prospective employers are very busy, perhaps more so these days than ever before.

They don’t have time to go through everything in detail, and that means you have to stand out in a crowd.

Get some of the basics wrong, and you’ve blown it straight away.

So, let’s have a look at what you need to do in order to create a perfect CV. Here are our Top 10 tips on writing a perfect CV.

One
The Basics. Detail is important, so always double-check, whether it is the spellings, names, dates, titles – whatever content you have, always check. We’ve seen people use a wrong number or incorrect email for themselves!

Two
Be relevant. You may have bags of skills and experience, but they may not be relevant to the company you are applying for.

That’s not to say they’re irrelevant – use it to your advantage to show how you can transfer your skills to the role you’re going for.

Three
Don’t overcook things. Your past experience should speak for itself. If you spell out what you have done and how this has helped an employer, that’s great. A savvy person will see through any embellishments.

Four
Words matter. If you use words like “passionate” and “committed”, firstly you will sound like everyone else, and secondly, you’ll have to make absolutely certain you can back it up. If you’re “driven” and want to “succeed” follow up with examples.

Five
Up to date. Ensure your CV is up to date, even if it is temporary jobs or roles you’ve done because you’ve been furloughed. Employers want to know what you’ve been doing and whether you have been committed to work.

Six
Don’t be grey. If an employer sees a huge slab of grey text, they may be put off – or at least not see that you stand out. Break up the text with headings. Group skills or experience together. You could use a photo but only if absolutely relevant.

Seven
Be appropriate. By this, we mean adapt your CV for the role. If you’re applying for a social media role, put your own usernames on there. If you are expected to create graphics, perhaps you could present your CV in such a manner. You can be creative.

Eight
Be personal, While your CV should be professional, you can be personal. Firstly, it helps to build a picture of who you are. Secondly, an interesting hobby could prove to be a useful conversation piece.

Nine
Make a statement. When you’ve put your name at the top of your CV, think about a statement, a mission statement if you will. A short, sharp paragraph that sets out who you are, where you want to be, and why you are the right person for the job. It’s a great way to stand out.

Ten
Be brief. You have a short time to make an impression. Don’t write too much but make sure every word counts.

If you need help with your CV, we’re here to help you. Give us a call on 0116 303 3560 and we’ll give you some more pointers.