The aim of a CV is to differentiate yourself from the crowd by making the very best of your experience and achievements.
Why a good CV makes a difference?
The professional job market is highly competitive. Our clients will normally pre-select candidates for interview and a well presented CV that captures candidate skills, achievements and attributes can make the difference between securing an interview and being declined at an early stage.
In this section our aim is to give you advice, tips and guidance on how to construct a CV that best sells yourself as an individual.
At Foyne Jones we value the importance of making a good first impression so here is some advice on how you should structure and present your CV.
Update your CV
Keeping your CV up to date is one of the best ways to be prepared for a career opportunity, planned or otherwise and also helps you work towards your professional goals.
For some, it is easy to talk about their qualities in lengthy detail but the majority of us are stumped when it comes to describing ourselves confidently. In today’s competitive job market, a little confidence goes a long way to projecting the right impression of your background and skills.
Do your research
Writing your CV can be daunting if you don’t know what prospective employers are looking for and especially if you haven’t been on the lookout for some time. A good idea is to read through job pages and scan the internet for the kinds of skills organisations are looking for in your specific role. If you have been in the same position for a long time and are thinking about a change, you might be surprised by what they are expecting.
Tailor your CV
When you have found a job you want to apply for, it is important to tailor your CV to fit the role. You should always be honest about your experience, but you will appeal to employers more if you use their terminology and can demonstrate the relevance of your skills. For example, manufacturers and suppliers of construction materials often look for specification experience.
Similarly, they could want someone with very specific experience. If your background is more varied than this, you should ‘streamline’ your CV accordingly by explaining how you gained the required skills in other roles.
Include the basics
All the information on your CV must be relevant and always include the basics such as name, location, contact details, availability or notice period, whether you have a clean driving licence and your nationality.
Structure your CV
A good solid educational background, relevant qualifications or chartered memberships are desirable to new employers. Provide details of the previous companies you have worked for and a brief description of the duties carried out for each of them. Elaborate on your most recent roles, by describing the types of projects you carried out. List each position in reverse order, so that the most recent appears first.
About you
At the end, provide a brief flavour of your interests and hobbies. In all, your CV should be no longer than two pages and should be made up of key, concise bullet points. Do not leave any employment gaps. Even if you took a year out, carried out an interim assignment or travelled for six months, say so, otherwise potential employers could suspect the worst. It’s not necessary to include references in an application, but let them know you can provide them upon request.
Finally…
Don’t forget to check your spelling and punctuation. Remember, first impressions are key, so take the time to get it just right and your CV is bound to stand out from the multitudes.
Recommended CV Structure by Foyne Jones
Personal Details
• Full Name
• Address
• Contact Telephone Numbers
• E-mail Address
• Drivers Licence
Profile
• You get one chance to make a first impression – this is it!!
• This is your opportunity to sell yourself to a potential employer
• Keep it short and concise and limit to one paragraph
Work Experience
• List your work experience working backwards from your most recent role
• Include the start and finish dates for each job
• Remember to include the job title, name of company, responsibilities and achievements
Qualifications
• List qualifications starting with most recent (professional, university, school)
• Include full details of your degree if applicable
• Remember to include professional qualifications gained whilst in employment
Training
• Provide details of training you have received first aid, health and safety, sales, IT etc
References
• Provide details of at least two people who could be contacted for references if required
For any further assistance with your CV you can speak directly to one of our consultants on 0207 223 1999.
Alternatively register with us and Foyne Jones can produce a professionally presented CV on your behalf.
