Traditional Recruitment CV Writing Advice
First impressions last, and your CV is responsible for creating that vital good first impression with a potential employer or recruiter.
A busy recruiter can see up to a hundred CVs in a day, so make sure yours is not lost in the pile but instead gets noticed. Here’s how.
Formatting and Language
- Choose an attractive yet simple style: avoid graphics and boxes and get the fonts right
- Arial and Calibri are good choices in our view but just choose one that is clear
- Bullet points make your CV easy to read and allow the reader to digest lots of information very quickly.
- Long rambling sentences do just the opposite.
- Use CV grammar: not necessarily sentences and paragraphs, think in terms of a concise report.
- Avoid the use of ‘we’ and ‘our’ – instead, try to think like a journalist.
- However, be clear on what you achieved and what you personally contributed.
- Prioritise information so that what’s most important catches the eye first.
Structure
- Open with a brief sketch that positions you at the right level.
- Include interesting information pertinent to the type of position required.
- Describe most recent jobs first.
- Corroborate claims with evidence – include enough to appear convincing and professional.
- Look to build a story of your career in which the strongest experience takes priority.
- Early/minor roles from years ago have little relevance.
Tweak and Test
- Test your CV: spell check thoroughly and try the CV out on friends and partners.
- There is no room for error.
- Remember this is your sales tool so invest the time to get it right.
- It is no good knowing that you are good!
- If the employer cannot see it on paper, you will never get the chance to meet them!