In today's competitive job market, the one tool that will make you stand out from other jobseekers is your CV.
It is the most important document you can have. It is your sales tool. It should include your employment history, work experience and qualifications. Therefore, it is crucial you get it right.
Together with a good reference by a recruitment consultant, your CV will help open doors for you and ideally win you the interview that will set you on the way to your dream job.
The look and feel of a CV is important. Keep it simple - go for plain white or cream good quality paper in A4 size. Choose a clear typeface and don't be tempted to go for anything other than black ink.
Avoid spelling mistakes, alterations or changes. Never cross out a mistake. Always print out a clean copy.
The presentation of your CV is a reflection of yourself. Prospective employers are put off by poor presentation and incorrect spelling.
What makes a good CV? It is one that gets you an interview for the job you want. Your aim is to look like you can do the job. You need to know what to include in a CV, what to leave out and how to highlight your skills, experience and education to your best advantage.
Put yourself in the employer's shoes. What will make the employer choose your CV out of hundreds on his desk? Can the employer see the key points at first glance or does he/she have to search for the relevant information? Is the document free of words such as fairly, usually and hopefully? Is your CV well presented, smart and professional looking?
As an applicant your CV should demonstrate: Specific skills needed for the job; the right experience and personal qualities; and an understanding of specific requirements.
You must also keep your CV simple, short and concise; ideally no longer than two A4 pages. It should be clear, typwritten and laid out with wide margins, section headings and information in logical order. It should be relevant, addressing the employer's main question - can you do the job?
Choosing words is also important. You must take care with the language you use because words sometimes convey more than their literal meaning. This is easy when describing yourself but harder when describing your achievements.
With personal characteristics that are generally seen as positive and useful at the workplace, words like adaptable, efficient, motivated, responsible, trustworthy, accurate, confident, decisive, hardworking and innovative can be used. You should choose these words or similar ones that best describe your attributes.
Words such as achieved, broadened, demonstrated, generated, negotiated, shaped, planned, managed and represented can be used to describe responsibilities and achievements. When it comes to describing strengths, instead of saying 'I am good at', you could say 'skilled at' or 'with the ability' to or 'an expert in'.
Common problems
My CV is too long: Highlight the skills most relevant to the job you are applying for. Detail your most recent experience and summarise everything else. Your recent activities are more interesting to an employer than what you did years ago.
Gaps between jobs: If the gaps include voluntary work, training or relevant experience, such as travel, put these down as part of your skills, qualifications and experience.
Lack of qualifications: Concentrate on what you have. Emphasise your practical skills and experience. These are often as valuable to an employer as theoretical experience.
I am overqualified for the job I want: Emphasise the relevant practical skills and experience. Focus your attention on the Key Skills section and choose skills that fit the job for which you are applying.
Source: Reed Personnel Services Malta Ltd (franchise of Reed UK). For more information, call 2132 2314 or 2132 2315, visit www.reedjobs.com.mt or e-mail David.Cutajar@reedjobs.com.mt.