Your CV is the first impression a potential new employer will have of you and can either open or close doors. Failure to get this right means that you have potentially just fallen at the first hurdle.
Competition in the IT and technology jobs market is fierce. There are a lot of candidates out there applying for the same roles. Perfecting your CV is therefore vital in putting you ahead of other candidates and securing yourself that first interview. Every 3.83 CVs we send to a client gets hired, so we like to think we know a thing or two about what to include. Follow our simple guide to writing your CV and learn how to sell your skills most effectively, tailor your skills to the role, and work out what the best type of CV is for you, improving the chances of your CV being found.
- Remember that most hiring managers will have just ten seconds to read a CV. Keep your sentences short and easy to scan read
- Don’t be too fancy with your fonts. Use standard typefaces such as Arial, 11 or 12 points.
- Check and re-check spelling, then check again. The same goes for Grammar.
- Ensure your personal contact details are printable by all printers, and not in the header/footer.
- Keep the format and language consistent throughout, especially for dates and employment.
- Lead with achievements. Use active verbs and positive language such as, “create” “manage”, “build”.
- The proof is in the examples. Follow up all claims with your own case story. Be quantitative as well as qualitative.
- Ensure you have suitable referees with correct contact information. Your friend’s Dad who you did work experience with at the age of 13 won’t do.
- Include awards or recognition received for work well done, together with professional memberships and relevant training.
- Keep your CV honest, factual and to two pages. Bear in mind that there will be many applicants to a role, and they won’t want to read a novel for each one.
- Ensure every line sells you at your best. If it doesn’t, leave it out. Only include relevant information about yourself.
- Ensure you send your CV with a tailored covering letter ideally to a named individual.
- Include figures (e.g., number of staff you managed or budget size).
- Focus on what you have to offer the employer rather than listing what you have done. Think about why they should hire you
- You’re trying to get a serious job, so make sure you have a sensible email address set up.
Here at Xpertise, we’re not just a recruitment agency, we’re actually pretty good at the career coaching stuff too. Contact us today to find out how we can help you get ready for your next interview.