What makes a great CV stand out?

So what exactly do employers look for on your cv?

CV's and personal statements are often described as keys to your future. A great CV can get you your dream job and makes you appear more valuable and employable to companies. But what exactly can you do to make yours better?

Grammar! Don't write like a fool...

Another thing to be careful about is your grammar and spelling. Employers will disregard a cv with spelling or grammatical errors, as it not only highlights your incompetence and inability to communicate in the english language, but it shows how you are sloppy, your work is rushed, and you not take the time to check over your work and ensure it's done to the best of your ability.

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Your Achievements

Your CV should clearly list your major achievements (education, previous experience, any internships you may have (Browse our internship placements here) etc...) preferably at the beginning. This will make for a good first impression too.

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First impressions count! Focus on the organisation and layout.

Try to avoid big blocks of text. The person reading your CV will likely have a few hundred others to plough through, and will not have time to read yours word for word. Try highlighting key information, removing unnecessary text and bullet pointing. Use appropriate headings and spacing and keep your fonts consistent.

The quirky and unusual

Anything that makes you stand out, and sets you apart from other candidates, would go perfectly on your cv. Any unusual hobbies, interests, talents, abilities, etc... stand out and make your application different from all the others. A small brief statement that is unique and quirky should always go on the cv. Hobbies really speak a lot about you and can make the interviewer feel a personal connection to you. They also give you great talking points in your interview!

References

References are worth more than gold to you. They are real quotes from real-life people about you. Having a good set of references from previous employers, people who know you well, people who taught or worked with you, can show your interviewer what others think of you and provide a good foundation for your CV.

Examples. When have you been great?

Insert examples of when you have been great into your cv. When have you demonstrated key leadership characteristics? When have you shown teamwork? When have you been a true team player? What things have you done that you are proud about? Think carefully about each example as you may get asked about each one in your interview. 

Let us help you! 
We can review your cv, and more.

Our CV Review, included in our Career Counselling service, is perfect for ensuring your CV is perfect, inside and out. We help you figure out exactly what to write in, and what to leave out. We help you with the wording, and make sure your cv shines, outlines your employability and screams 'hire me'. 
If you interested in our Career Counselling service (with interview technique training, cv review, the opportunity to gain a great internship and much more) click here. 

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