Get Your CV Noticed

The first step on the way to landing your ideal job is to get an interview. Your CV, and covering letter is your brochure - a sales tool for you to sell yourself. Make sure your CV gets you noticed and ensure that you are seen every time. Don't forget it's important to always keep your CV up to date as not doing so could jeopardise your chances of it being considered.

Set your CV out in the following sequence:

Personal Details
Name
Address
Telephone Number(s)
Email

Personal Profile
Sum yourself up in one sentence. Your personal profile is your unique selling point, and it provides the employer with a snapshot of you and your career. Include qualifications relevant to your career and aspirations, any work experience you have had and a key achievement in your last position.

Key Skills
Your company needs me! Your CV is a selling tool, telling the employer what you can do and why they should employ you. As well as your career history, list the skills that make you right for the job.

Career History
So what did you do? Write a brief job description of each job. Clarify the company's activities and your contribution. Start with your most recent job at the top - employers prefer to see what you've done most recently, at a glance.

Education & Qualifications
Clearly state your qualifications and grades together with any professional qualifications and certificates gained. Be prepared to back this up with written copies of your achievements.

Other Interests
Include hobbies; highlight any team sports, showing you work well with others. Do not claim too much credit.

Keep it Easy to Read

Allow plenty of white space on the CV, and use headings and section breaks. If information is hard to find, the employer may move to the next applicant.

Proof Read and Keep It Simple
The most common mistakes usually involve spelling and grammar. Ensure the structure progresses logically and just use one type font throughout to keep it simple and easy to read.

Covering Letter:

Employers and recruitment consultants see many CV's and your CV alone is not always enough to make it to the top of what could be a very large applicant list. A good introduction that concisely highlights your skills, experience, key strengths and enthusiasm relevant for the job you are applying for, can mean the difference between your CV being considered or not.

GOOD LUCK !