CV Tips

Be honest on your CV – remember details are likely to be checked.

Keep it clear and concise. Two pages is sufficient, three at a push but any longer and you are increasing the chances of “losing” the reader in detail which it would be more appropriate to discuss at interview stage. You need to get a fine balance of giving enough detail to interest the reader and make them want to know more, without swamping them with every duty you’ve undertaken in every role you’ve had. If your CV is particularly technical or job-specific it may be an idea to attach to it a more in-depth synopsis of your experience/technical capabilities. This way there is optional additional information supplied and you are not cluttering your CV.

Add order to your CV. Ensure that all courses/jobs undertaken are in a chronological order (working backwards from where you are now) giving clear dates. Ensure that an easy path can be followed through from your earliest position to your latest. Having to leap from page to page and back again to track your work history will not impress any recruiter.

Target your CV to the position in question. Ensure you major on any experience/skills which are particularly appropriate to the job you are applying for. List software packages used or demonstrate how you have previously managed staff if these are aspects critical to your application. Mention, but don’t dwell on, less appropriate experiences such as the summer you spent with a travelling circus.

Check it carefully. Too often CVs are not proof-read and glaring mistakes leap out to any quality recruiter. Check that your dates are clear and match up. Check your personal contact details are current and that you haven’t left any gaps as to what you were doing over a particular period in recent years. Spelling and layout should also be checked carefully and corrected – particularly if your CV has been typed by somebody else.

If you are e-mailing your CV to a prospective employer, ensure that the page layout is correct before you mail it. It will inconvenience the employer if they have to re-arrange margins and page layout before printing it just because you have not set it up properly.

Print it on good quality paper, perhaps a different colour to white if you want it to stand out against other CVs – it will make it memorable (though nothing too gaudy and it must be easy on the eye). Don’t print back to back – have each page on a separate sheet.

When submitting your CV it’s always a good idea to add a letter/cover e-mail outlining your availability, which position you’re applying for and any other information not included in your CV but which would be useful to a prospective employer. Ensure this is correctly addressed to the appropriate person.

At Supertemps we acknowledge every CV we receive. However this is not the case with every employer. If you receive no response it may well be an idea to check they received your application – this will also bring you to the forefront of their minds.

< Back to top