HOW TO SELL YOURSELF ON TWO PAGES
A CV is your chance to show an employer that you have the skills and experience needed, and that you’re the right person for the job.
However, the way you present your CV can have an overwhelming influence on whether your CV is even read, let alone get you that allimportant interview.
DO…
- Construct your CV with your prospective employer in mind, giving special attention to the job specification.
- Tailor your CV to the job.
- Make your CV clear, neat and tidy and get someone else to check it for spelling and grammar.
- It should be easy to read, with space between sections.
- Left-justify the content, as it’s easiest to read, using black text on quality white/cream paper.
- Place the important information up-front.
- Put experience and education achievements in reverse chronological order.
- Include experience and interests that might be of use to the employer: IT skills, voluntary work, foreign language competency, driving skills and leisure interests that show team skills and organisation/leadership.
- Put your name and email address on every page — in case the pages get separated.
- Make use of the internet for sample CVs and templates to get inspiration for layout/tone.
DON’T…
- Hand-write or type your CV, as it looks unprofessional and old-fashioned.
- Include information which may be viewed negatively.
- Include anything that might discriminate against you, such as date of birth, marital status, race, gender or disability.
- Include salary information or expectations.
- Make your CV more than two pages long.
- Use jargon, acronyms or technical terms unless essential.
- Lie — employers have ways of checking if what you have put is true.
- They may sack you if they take you on and find out you’ve lied to them.
- Include a photograph unless one was requested.