Your CV is your marketing tool – it will either open or close a door for you. If you need help with your CV in order to market yourself to your maximum potential, please contact us and we will refer you to our wonderful CV doctors.
Here are our top tips from our CV doctor, Lorraine McGuiness to help get you started:
You must remember that your CV is a promotional tool. It is designed to emphasise your key achievements, highlight your career experiences and illustrate your transferable skills that will suit any position you apply for.
How do I get my CV to look professional?
The answer to this question is simple. Find a template, download it and use it. These templates are usually formatted already so all you have to do is fill in the information.
How do I promote myself?
I’ve come across many people where they are afraid to properly promote their abilities. Why? They are too modest and don’t believe in their own potential. You should write the truth about your achievements. If you surpassed sales targets by 150%…… you surpassed them by 150%.
How do I avoid repetition?
If you have been working in similar positions over the years, please DO NOT copy and paste the description and use the same information. Change it a little by replacing verbs with a similar one. Change the sentence structure and include different achievements if you have them.
How do I make my CV stand out?
As with many CV templates, they are already formatted but that doesn’t mean you can’t include some colour or change the layout of the information. Replace the bullet points with a different style, have the headings a different colour and outline positions with bold or italics. If you do this, please remember to keep it consistent and to a minimum.
How do I send my CV?
The best format to send your CV online is PDF since it provides a clear picture of the information, but .DOC or .DOCX documents are also acceptable. Remember to always spellcheck the document before saving and sending!
Remember that your CV is a marketing tool. You wouldn’t create a brochure or advertisement with no colours, formatting or design. They are eye-catching, simple and not over-complicated. Put the time into creating your CV and it will pay off in the long-run.