1. Keep it real - Usually a CV should be no more than two pages of A4 paper
2. Tailor it - Take the time to change your CV for each role that you apply for. Research the company and use the job advert to work out EXACTLY what skills you should point out to them. They will appreciate the obvious effort.
3. Include a personal statement - Don’t just assume an employer will see how your experience relates to their job. Instead, use a short personal statement to explain why you are the best person for the job.
4. Don't leave gaps - Leaving obvious gaps on your CV immediately makes employers suspicious – and they won't give you the benefit of the doubt. If you’ve been out of work it can be a worry but just put a positive spin on it.
5. Keep it current - You should keep your CV up-to-date whether you’re looking for a job or not. Every time something significant occurs in your career, record it so you don't later forget something that could be important.
6. The error of your ways - With most employers experiencing massive volumes of applicants right now, giving them the excuse to dismiss your application because of avoidable errors is not going to help you secure an interview. If you're unsure then use a spellchecker and ask someone else to double-check what you've written.
7. Tell the truth- Employers WILL check your background and references. The last thing you want is to start work and then lose your new job for lying. You also may get caught out at the interview stage when you suddenly can't answer questions on what you claim to know.
8. The maths - When writing your work history, don’t just say that you increased sales; tell them you increased sales by 70% over a six month period.
9. Make it look good - We live in a world where image is everything, and that also goes for your CV. Take some time to pretty it up... Use bullet points and keep sentences short. Use the graphic design trick of leaving plenty of white space around text and between categories to make the layout easy on the eye.
10. Make it keyword friendly - If you’ve uploaded your CV to a job site so recruiters can find you, keywords are very important. Job titles and job buzzwords will help a search engine pick out your CV from the pile. If you're not sure, have a search online and see what words are commonly mentioned when you input your job title.
