When it comes to writing a CV, there are certain things to avoid. We want to help make your CV stand out, so we’ve asked our expert consultants to share their 5 top things to avoid when writing a CV.
Make sure your CV is up to date
Sending a CV in a rush is never a good idea. When was the last time you updated your CV? Is everything up to date? It’s easy to get excited about a job and send off your saved CV without checking it first. Is your employment history up to date with your latest job? Even if your current role is a stop gap; something to keep you working through the pandemic; it’s important to make sure it’s on your CV. Even if your last job ended a few months ago, make sure it’s up to date. Don’t think that this will impact on you being shortlisted. In fact, at the moment with the jobs market being so busy, it can be seen as a benefit that you are available immediately.
Spending 5 minutes checking your CV before sending it is our top tip! Sending an outdated CV can give the impression that you lack attention to detail or a pride in your work.
CV already good to go? Take a look at our latest jobs.
Be careful with your spelling and grammar when writing a CV
How often have you sent an email and noticed a mistake in it the second you press send? The same can happen when sending your CV. Take time to read through it carefully. Don’t just reply on spellcheck – it can miss the simplest things sometimes. Maybe you can get a friend or family member to read through it for you. It’s so much easier to find spelling mistakes in someone else’s work than your own.
Having mistakes in your CV can also give the impression that you lack attention to detail. Take time to check before you press send.
Highlight Achievements not Duties
This has to be one of the best ways to get your CV to stand out. Instead of just listing your duties, highlight your achievements too. What was the thing you were most proud of during your job? Were you involved in any projects? Did you take on additional work? Maybe you worked to targets – how often did you achieve them. There’s alwayssomething that you can include to help bring your CV to life.
By sharing your achievements you give an insight into your work ethic and commitment.
Try to keep to 2-3 pages where possible when writing your CV
We appreciate that this isn’t always possible. And don’t cheat by making the text so small it’s barely readable. Focus on quality as opposed to quality. You don’t want important aspects of your CV to be overlooked due to the length. By taking the time to make sure that your CV is tailored and specific to the job you are applying for, you should be able to get everything on 2-3 pages. Focus more on the areas that show you have the skills and abilities to do the job and less on those that don’t.
