Points
for those new to the rat race
If
you are fresh out of university, college, or
school it is possible that filling two sides
of A4 with details of experience could prove
tricky. Describe what skills you have learnt
and put into practice during your studies, for
example working in-groups, presentation skills,
perhaps you have carried out some unpaid work
experience. Do not worry about your CV being
thin to begin with, everybody has to start somewhere.
Demonstrate
on paper the benefits you could bring to the
employer's organization
Language
- Use
simple language, you are not trying to impress
anyone with your verbosity. · Back up your
statements with evidence, for example 'Excellent
organizational skills, I single handedly
transferred all the company records onto
CD ROM.' Similarly, try to quantify every
statement, for example 'launched new marketing
initiative which resulted in additional
revenue of 45K'.
- Some
things just don't need to be said, for example
if the employer has read your covering letter
and CV, then it should be evident to them
that you are a good communicator. There
is no need to state it separately; you don't
want to come across as being naïve. Similarly
you don't need to write CV at the top.
- Write
a positive objective statement clarifying
where you want your career to go, avoid
any negative language in your CV.
- Try
to avoid using 'I' too much. A page of I
did this and that is a big turn-off - it
says to the employer you haven't thought
about them, only about yourself.
- An
employer is not going to be interested in
someone who has apparently drifted from
job to job, perhaps across sectors. There
should be some consistency and progression
so that your career seems planned. Employers
want candidates who are targeted and focused,
ambitious types who know what they want
and where they are heading. Your CV should
reflect this considered progression.
- Always
be honest, do not write anything in your
CV that you would not feel comfortable talking
about at an interview.
- Get
someone else to read you CV for a second
opinion, you may have missed some grammatical
or spelling errors.
It
should be noted that there are no universal
rules, this document is only a guide, the key
is to incorporate all of the necessary elements,
follow the conventions, and then incorporate
your own individuality
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