{"id":1652,"date":"2023-05-23T15:20:43","date_gmt":"2023-05-23T14:20:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/?p=1652"},"modified":"2024-04-23T11:59:45","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T10:59:45","slug":"11-tips-for-cv-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/2023\/05\/23\/11-tips-for-cv-success\/","title":{"rendered":"11 tips for CV success"},"content":{"rendered":"

I know what you might be thinking \u2013 the CV is dead, right? Wrong!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

While it\u2019s true recruitment has become more creative in recent years, with organisations creating their own digital forms and requesting the likes of video applications, there is still a place for the humble CV.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Your CV is a brilliant opportunity to present your skills, career history and experience in a document that\u2019s clear and to the point. Traditional CVs also help to remove bias when compared to video, so it shouldn\u2019t be a surprise that they are still an important part of the recruitment process.<\/span><\/p>\n

But what does a great CV look like?<\/span><\/p>\n

Many of us wrote our first CVs in secondary school when, ironically, there wasn\u2019t actually very much to put on them apart from, \u2018I enjoy reading, swimming and socialising.\u2019 And maybe a paper round. Shudder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fast-forward to now and I dare say you\u2019ll have a lot more skills and experience to share, but working out how to refine your expertise into one succinct document can be a bit of an art.<\/span><\/p>\n

We spoke to the experts at Teesside University\u2019s careers service to come up with some top tips for CV success.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Market yourself<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"ImageIt\u2019s said you\u2019ve got less than 10 seconds to make an impression with your CV. No pressure there, then.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, before you even start, think about all the things you want the employer to know about you which might make you stand out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s relevant employment experience, placements, voluntary work, good academic marks, awards and prizes, community activities, relevant qualifications and modules\u2026 What makes you different?<\/span><\/p>\n

Marketing ourselves doesn\u2019t come naturally to everyone. If you don\u2019t know where to start, why not ask your friend or colleague what they see as your strong points? Sometimes just having a chat can help you to remember skills or achievements you\u2019d forgotten about.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Tailor your CV to the role or sector<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"ImageOne common mistake people make is not tailoring their CV to the job. Think about it, busy employers might be sifting through hundreds of CVs. You want to make it easy for them to see how well you meet the criteria. Listing completely irrelevant information might just mean your CV ends up in the bin. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask yourself, what is the employer looking for? Analyse the person specification and job description to make sure you understand what skills, qualities, qualifications and experience you need to demonstrate.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, in the \u2018employment\u2019 section, decide which jobs are most relevant and which ones you could summarise more briefly. Describe your experience in a way that demonstrates relevant skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Use a structure that works for you <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"ImageDon\u2019t feel restricted to the usual format. Standard headings such as \u2018education\u2019, \u2018employment\u2019 and \u2018additional information\u2019 may be fine, but you can use others if they\u2019re more appropriate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider alternative headings like, \u2018relevant experience\u2019, \u2018projects\u2019, \u2018clinical placements\u2019, \u2018IT skills\u2019 or \u2018voluntary experience.\u2019 Find out what the CV conventions are in the industry you are applying to.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Keep to two pages <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"TwoThe golden rule: keep your CV to two sides of A4. It\u2019s your job to select the important information – not the employers\u2019, so keep it focused. Decide what the person reading your CV needs to know and summarise less important information. Lose unnecessary words and swap sentences for bulleted lists where you can.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re really struggling to get the word count down, ask a trusted friend or colleague to help you pick out the highlights. Sometimes it\u2019s good to get a second pair of eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Include facts and figures<\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"FunEmployers like specifics – they help to show the impact you\u2019ve made. If you supervise staff \u2013 how many? If you manage a budget \u2013 how much? If you deputise for a manager \u2013 how often and how long for? You increased website clicks? That\u2019s great, but by what % did your visits go up?<\/span><\/p>\n

This type of information makes your CV convincing and helps the employer understand what you actually did.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Focus on your achievements <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"celebratoryThese can really make you stand out. Employers are interested in what you have achieved as well as what you did. When you are writing about work, volunteering and other activities, think about what evidence you could provide that shows you did well.<\/span><\/p>\n

It could be getting promoted, meeting targets, making changes, feedback from customers, raising funds or organising an event within a set timeframe and budget. It\u2019s not about boasting; it\u2019s about recognising when you\u2019ve done a good job.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Aim for clarity<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"LensSmall, cramped text in large blocks is off-putting and difficult to read. Don\u2019t make employers work too hard to discover your talents!<\/span><\/p>\n

Use a clear font such as Arial or Calibri in a minimum of 11 point and leave plenty of white space. Bullet points can break up big paragraphs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Employers often scan CVs for information rather than reading every word from start to finish; so clear headings make it easier for them to find the information they are looking for.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Consider appearance <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"PersonIs the look of your CV creating the right impression? Does it appear professional?<\/span><\/p>\n

And how can you make it appropriate to the industry? For example, if you are applying for a creative job does it show off your design skills?<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Check your language<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"ScrabbleLanguage has a huge impact on how people think and feel, so use assertive and positive language in your CV. Weave in words like, ‘achieve\u2019, ‘develop,\u2019 ‘results\u2019 – you get the idea. <\/span><\/p>\n

Passive language can make statements appear weaker. Don\u2019t be afraid to be direct and say it how it is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And (this is crucial), make sure your CV is well organised and has accurate spelling and grammar. You\u2019d be amazed how many typos slip through the net. Use free online checkers like Grammarly <\/a>or ask someone to proof it for you before you submit it to employers.<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Make a good impression with your covering letter <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Covering letters go hand in hand with CVs. Your covering letter is another chance to show prospective employers why you\u2019re the right person for the job.<\/span><\/p>\n

As well as stating what job you are applying for, you should highlight your strengths, tell them what you can bring to the role and convey your enthusiasm for the job.<\/span><\/p>\n

11. Keep your CV updated<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"A<\/span>Once you\u2019ve perfected your CV and secured a new role, the temptation is to put it to one side, content with the job you\u2019ve done. But keeping your CV up-to-date is well worth your time. <\/span><\/p>\n

Reflecting on your skills and experience regularly is important – and it\u2019ll help make sure you\u2019re ready to go next time your dream job comes up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Good luck with the job search!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you a student at Teesside Uni?<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Our award-winning careers team works with you to map out your future career. Find hundreds of live vacancies, meet employers on campus, and get advice on interviews, job searches and applications. Find out more<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I know what you might be thinking \u2013 the CV is dead, right? Wrong! While it\u2019s true recruitment has become more creative in recent years, with organisations creating their own digital forms and requesting the likes of video applications, there is still a place for the humble CV. Your CV is a brilliant opportunity to … Continue reading “11 tips for CV success”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24989,"featured_media":1676,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[6],"tags":[109,143,142,145,144,141],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/files\/2023\/05\/saulo-mohana-wNz7_5EvUWU-unsplash.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1652"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24989"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1652"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1652\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3345,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1652\/revisions\/3345"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/talkingteesside\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}