CV Tips for Starting Your Job Search

 Looking for a new job – at any stage of your career – can be a daunting process. The first step of which is getting your CV out there and in front of the right people. So, how do you go about doing this? Do you just find that old CV from years ago, add on the latest job and send it for every job going? If so, stop! If you are seriously considering looking for a new job, take the time to make sure your CV will be doing you justice. Mistakes or out-of-date efforts will probably ensure your CV only ever ends up in the rejection pile. Most candidates think the job interview is the first stage in making sure they get that dream job, when in reality the most competitive part of finding a job is making your CV stand out to employers. Here within the Office Services Division of HRC Recruitment, our experienced consultants see hundreds of CVs on a weekly basis, so we have identified below some of the most common mistakes candidates make. Take a look at our advice: Be specific You need to tailor your specific skills and experience to each and every role you apply for.  We appreciate this may mean stating the obvious on your CV or duplicating information but it’s essential to show the experience you have, at what level, and that you actually match and understand our clients’ specifications. Take time to read each job advert before you apply and review your CV accordingly. Don’t waffle Identify all the duties and responsibilities you have had in each job, we don’t need a description of the company, or the team, we need to know what you were doing on a daily basis.  Our clients like to see clear and concise information on your CV in relation to the experience you have, so they can identify if you are right for that role.  Let clients see the transferable skills you have. The best way to do this is to use bullet points to show your skills. Ignore online templates Sometimes, these can be handy to give you an idea as to where to start but, on the whole, we tell our candidates to avoid online templates. These can either over simplify your CV and miss out important details or over complicate the format. Stick to a regular Word Doc and you won’t go far wrong. Include all relevant details Don’t miss this information out for any of your jobs.  We need to know where you are, and have been working.  Dates of employment should include month and year, for both start and finish dates.  If you have left your last employer be sure to have updated this on your CV.  And please list your job title, this will be the first thing our clients look at on the CV.  Your most recent job should be the first job on your CV. Remember your contact details Here at Office Services, we regularly see CVs with no contact telephone number. Often the mobile number is no longer active. Ensure your contact details (name, address, email and telephone numbers) are current. Also, have a think about the email address you are using to search for employment – is it portraying a professional image of you?  We all have that dodgy email address we have when we were 17, this may not be the best one to use to job hunt. Grammar and spell check Get someone else to take a look over your CV to double check for any spelling, grammar or layout issues. It’s so important there are no errors – no matter how small they might be. For instance, if you apply for an administrator job and spell administrator wrong, it doesn’t really sell you, does it? If you would like to take the next step in your career, I’m always open to CVs or chatting to candidates about their options. Click here to see my details and get in touch.