SIX STEPS TO A STANDOUT CV!

Whether you’re helping your teen write their first resume or refreshing your own, Lorna Davidson, CEO of recruitment specialists Redwigwam, explains how to make the “yes” pile

HAVE A SIMPLE LAYOUT

“It needs to be easy to read – especially on a screen. Avoid bright colours and choose a font that is legible. And don’t make the font too small – I’ve seen people use a tiny typeface so they can squeeze all the information on to two sides, which is silly. Make sure you’ve got your paragraph spacing right, with no weird indents or massive paragraph breaks, and try to stick to two sides of A4, or one if you have less experience. Also set up a Linkedin profile and list everything in detail over there – you can even include a link to it on your CV.”

NEVER EXAGGERATE

“It sounds obvious, but include your name, email and phone number at the top. Have a ‘sensible’ email address for contacting potential employers – pinkginlover@gmail.com might not work too well! A phone number is essential, as an impromptu phone call is a great way to understand candidates quickly. Before you submit your CV, ensure you’re really familiar with it and can confidently talk about your experience if asked. If you’ve exaggerated or lied about anything, you risk getting caught out by employers.”

THINK ABOUT THE ORDER

“Start with your most recent job, unless you’re in an interim position and have recent experience that is more relevant to the position you’re applying for. If that’s the case, you may want to list this first, with the rest of your experience in date order afterwards. Include as much information as possible about your current or most relevant job, and just a line or two about everything else. Think about how you are selling yourself. Rather than listing all your responsibilities, it might work better to write down what you achieved in the role.”

DON’T FORGET YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

“List the highest level of qualifications you have attained – so if you have a degree, you don’t need a breakdown of your GCSES as well. You should also list any relevant work qualifications – so if you’ve done a diploma or training at work that is relevant.”

SHOW OFF YOUR SKILLS AND PERSONALITY

“Remember your CV is a sales tool, so use it to tell people what you are good at. If you are genuinely skilled in something, list it – especially when it is relevant for the job you are applying for. Let your personality shine and use your CV to prove that you really want this job.”

MENTION REFERENCES

“If you don’t mind someone contacting your current employer before you’ve been offered a job, include their details. If you don’t want them to know yet, add “References available on request” to your CV so your potential employer will only contact them later on.”