Avoid these CV mistakes 1. Too long Show off your communication skills by slimming down your CV. A two-page CV is standard for experienced professionals. If yours goes over this, it looks as if you cant distinguish important information, or that youre desperate to include everything in an attempt to look more experienced. At graduate level, a relevant one-page CV is fine. 2. Continuous prose Learn to write in snippets. Keep paragraphs short: long ones (especially in your summary section) will often be ignored. 3. Too generic Get used to tailoring your CV to each role you apply for. Although roles may be similar, there will be a slightly different focus each time. 4. Lacking the so what? factor You need to make a clear connection between what you write and what the potential employer wants to see. Spell out the connection between your background (skills and studies) and the job requirements. 5. Not selling your achievements Find achievements from your course or work experience. We tend to shy away from highlighting our successes, but think from your potential employers point of view and give them what they want, without crossing the line into arrogance. 6. Undervaluing other experience You need to be selective about what you include, but dont go too far the other way and exclude details from more humble roles, voluntary work, or outside activities. Dull language Responsible for and duties included are passion- killers in a CV. In your cover letter, phrases like I wish to apply for... are just as dull. Use interesting, accurate and powerful verbs to whet an employers appetite. Spice up your CV with verbs at the beginning of sentences. Transformed club meetings to double attendance. Cut out wordiness and avoid passive forms or too much background information. @Internitup on Twitter
Posted on: Mon, 12 May 2014 06:00:00 +0000