Your CV is the key to helping you secure an interview where you can better demonstrate your desirable qualities and attributes. The presentation, language and formatting of your CV are crucial to ensuring recruiters see what they need to efficiently and effectively.

CV Writing Tips

1. Do Some Research- be sure to research the positions you are seeking on job boards and pick out the most relevant, sought after requirements.

2. Break Up Your Text- large chunks of text are off-putting and unwieldy for recruiters to review.

3. Present a Powerful Profile- ensure your profile is prominently at the top with a short and sharp summarisation of your most valuable skills.

4. Utilise the Core Skills Section- be sure to list your top qualifications, skills or knowledge in bullet points.

5. Use a Professional Email Address- purpleunicorn99@gmail.com, as an example, is not appropriate for your professional CV.

6. Point Out Your Impact- displaying previous responsibilities is good, but you need to demonstrate how your responsibilities and your results made an impact.

7. Have a Well-Structured CV- ensure your CV is easy to flow through and highlights the most important things: Contact Details, Profile, Core Skills, Job Roles, Education & Qualifications and Interests. Ideally, a CV is 2 pages long with a simple font, format and avoid using a photo.

8. Give a High-Level Summary of Your Job Role- first state what the employer does, where you sit within the organisation and how your role benefits the employer. Below that, you can list key responsibilities and key achievements. This method first gives some context before firing into responsibilities.

9. Avoid Generic Clichés- do not use terms like “hard working”, “team player”, “enthusiastic” and “out-of-the-box thinker”, present examples of what you have achieved as proof that you are these things.

10. Tailor Your CV to Every Job You Apply For- study the job advert to understand the sought-after crucial skills and ensure those are closest to the top (Core Skills or Profile) and in plain sight.

Not everyone is designed to live and work in one place for the majority of their lives. There are those that want the freedom to roam the world and enjoy a versatile lifestyle and work environment. One way to do this is by having a job that supports Freelancing. You can even have a combination of Freelancing skills to make yourself even more marketable.

1. Writing, of any kind, is a great freelance career as it can completely web based. This could be writing business blogs, articles, social media posts, magazines or pretty much any facet of writing you can imagine.

2. E-Commerce is another great option. There are several online store owner options that could be operated from wherever it is you want to be, such as an Etsy shop owner or Amazon retailer.

3. Photography offers excellent freelancing opportunities, especially since you can sell to travel websites, online magazines, new publications and so much more!

4. Teaching is a great option as online learning continues to expand and if you earn a TEFL certificate you can market yourself almost anywhere as an English teacher/tutor.

The decision to take a gap year is a bold one, so you may want to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages before you come to a decision. One of the biggest concerns is whether or not a gap year can have a negative effect on your CV, but that depends on what you do with your time while you’re away.

If you learn a new language, volunteer, teach English or develop your photography portfolio, you may be adding skills and experience, but if you don’t actively take part in anything while you’re away, potential employers may well be put-off when they see a big gap on your CV.

Every individual is different, and so too are their experiences on their gap year, so whatever you do, make sure you return home without any regrets. If you’re seriously contemplating a gap year, remember the option is always there to raise your cultural awareness, hone your existing skills and become more independent, so you could actually boost your job prospects when you return.

When you’re writing out a cover letter to go alongside your CV in a job application, you need to make sure you consider the employer’s requirements. If you haven’t read the job brief in detail, then you need to, because this is essentially your guideline when it comes to applying for a position.

If you can tick all of the employer’s boxes then you’re going to be in with a good chance, and you should always avoid creating a template cover letter that you send out to multiple employers. Remember, no two jobs are the same, and neither are the job descriptions, so your cover letter should be tailored for specific positions.

A good cover letter will not just repeat the facts that you have included in your CV, it should give them an insight into your personality, your aims, your relevant skills and your ambition. The cover letter is often the first part of the application that a recruiter will look at, so it has to well-thought out if you really want a good chance of landing that dream job.

Your CV is essentially your own personal profile, but it has to include content that’s going to make you stand out from the crowd, yet is clear and concise. If your CV isn’t leading to many enquiries or responses, you may need to make a few adjustments and we’re going to talk you through a couple of options.

Qualifications

One of the first items prospective employers look at is qualifications and these should always be clear from the start. You should make sure your school and university qualifications are listed clearly, because most employers want to see the subjects and the grades before they proceed to take more interest in your application.

Colour

Nobody says a CV has to be in black and white, and you can always add splashed of colours to make it a little more pleasing on the eye. Text box outlines, social media icons, profile photos and other small features can add a burst of colour to your document.