The dos and don’ts of writing a CV
Later this year we’ll be sharing new job opportunities for young people. You can sign up to our mailing list to be the first to hear about them.
In the meantime, we’re happy to share some tips on how to write your CV. Our colleague Sarah, seasoned recruiter, trainer, and coach, has a keen eye for detail and a passion for helping individuals get jobs through a well written CV. Read on to find out more.
The Dos:
1
Do explain career gaps – it’s better to explain the gap in your job history than leave employers to guess. You can use explanations such as ‘career break’, ‘studying, ‘travelling’, ‘mental health break’, ‘looking for work’ etc.
2
Do use tools to help craft your CV – tools such as Grammarly are free and you can check the spelling and grammar of your CV. You can also download templates from Google or use free CV builders or formatters.
3
Do use job boards – upload your CV and make it visible to employers. You can also activate job alerts to find roles relevant to you. Good ones include Total Jobs, Reed and Indeed.
4
Do pick up the phone – this can help your chance of success if you phone before to ask questions or follow up your application with a quick call. Ask for the hiring manager.
5
Do set up a LinkedIn account – it’s free and you can do this on your phone. You can find jobs there and even make connections with others. Copy and paste the content onto your LinkedIn profile and use the ‘Easy Apply’ button to begin applying for jobs.
The Don'ts:
1
Don’t use AI (artificial intelligence) to write your CV for you – AI such as ChatGPT can be helpful to get ideas but shouldn’t be used to write your whole CV. Some employers have AI detection technology which means they will know you haven’t written it yourself and may discard your CV.
2
Don’t job hunt alone – speak to recruitment agencies who can help you find local jobs. It can be tiring and frustrating searching online, and they have access to additional job boards and know what employers are looking for.
3
Don’t write off temporary work – temp roles can often be available immediately and can sometimes lead to permanent work. Even if it’s for a short while, you’ll still get paid and may pick up some skills while there.
4
Don’t use the word ‘I’ too often – instead use strong action verbs at the beginning of your sentences such as ‘Accountable for’, ‘Responsible for’, ‘Created’, ‘Developed’ etc.
5
Don’t include references on your CV – you can provide these when requested during interview stages. Employers shouldn’t contact your references without your permission, so use that space to sell your skills.– you can provide these when requested during interview stages. Employers shouldn’t contact your references without your permission, so use that space to sell your skills.
To find out more tips, read the full article on our website.