Your CV - How To Build a CV
Your CV is a powerful sales tool – especially when it comes to seeking a graduate career. It needs to create an immediate impression, and convince a potential employer that you're the best person for the job. Most importantly, it needs to get you an interview.
Take a look at these quick tips for writing an effective CV for graduate jobs.
Keep it short and snappy
Think of your CV like a magazine article or a good movie. Employers hiring graduates want to read something interesting. (After all, they'll most likely have a pile to sift through!) If yours doesn't make an impact in the first few moments, chances are they won't read on. So your CVIt needs to be short and snappy. You want the employer to think, "Wow, this one looks interesting!"
So:
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Keep your entire CV to three pages or less. If in doubt, cut it out.
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Put all the important information about yourself, including your graduate career goals, personal details and any impressive achievements, on the front page where they'll get noticed.
Get the formatting right
Picture this: your potential employer is sitting at a desk with a pile of CVs to review. He or she is flicking through them, deciding which ones tickle their fancy. Obviously, the ones that look the best will get the best result. That said, you don't want to overdo it, or look like you're trying too hard.
Try out these simple tips:
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Be consistent with your fonts. Just use one – don't mix it up or things will start to look messy.
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Go for a font size that's easy to read when printed, such as 11pt or 12pt.
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Space your content neatly , and use headings and sub-headings. This makes it easy for your potential employer to read quickly and get the information they need.
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Also, check your formatting is consistent, as well as the bullet points and underlines used.
Don't forget your vital details
Surprisingly, a lot of people forget to put their basic information on their CV!
So, double-check your CV includes the following details, preferably on the front cover and at the top page:
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First name
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Last name
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Address
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Phone number
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Mobile number
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Email
Another great idea is to put your name, phone number and email on every page of your CV, just in case the pages are separated.
And, unless your age is going to be particularly advantageous in getting you a position (for instance, if your employer is seeking someone with a specific length of experience), there's no need to include your age. There's also no need to specify your marital status – unless you feel it's important.
Set up a professional email
Show your employer that you're serious about the job by setting up a professional email account. Don't include an email address like "dave_hornbag@hotmail.com", no matter how often you use it. Set up a new account with your full name, or something else that sounds professional like davesmith@hotmail.com. If your last name actually is Hornbag, be sure to explain that quickly or try something simpler to avoid misconception.
Summarise your strengths
On the first page of your CV, it's good practice to summarise your strengths. This creates an immediate impression about the type of employee you're likely to be. It's also a great idea to match these strengths to the qualities that the job needs. Plus, it's important to be specific, not vague, about your skills.
For instance:
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Capable of leading and motivating a team – having tutored at University and led several group assignments.
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Excellent computer skills – including Microsoft Office, Photoshop, InDesign and Flash.
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Experienced in providing customer service – having worked in retail for three years during University.
Another way of summarising your strengths is to write a compelling career profile at the top of your CV. For instance:
I am an enthusiastic employee capable of leading and motivating a team – having tutored at University and led several group assignments. I am experienced in providing customer service, having worked in a retail environment for three years while at University. I also contribute excellent computer skills – including Microsoft Office, Photoshop, InDesign and Flash.
Make your career history interesting
When it comes to highlighting any jobs you've held in the past, there are a few tricks:
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Structure your jobs in reverse chronological order, with the most recent first.
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Use bullet points as much as possible.
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For each position, indicate your:
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Job title
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Employer (Only provide a description if it's for an employer who isn't well known, or for an overseas business. It might also be handy to include a link to the company's website.)
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Dates
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Responsibilities (Be brief! Employers will be looking for a short summary of what your role involved, not exactly what you did on a day to day basis.).
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Achievements (List about three or four but no more. This could include when you went above and beyond what you needed to do, recognition you received, any promotions, or a new technique you put into action to help the business gain clients or save money.)
For example:
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Awarded Employee of the Year, 2009.
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Promoted from Account Coordinator to Account Executive in just 6 months after starting with the agency.
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Investigated and identified new project management software, which was subsequently implemented across the agency.
Outline your training
Training and education are really important – especially for graduate positions. So be sure you list all significant training that you've completed, including:
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University courses
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TAFE training
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Industry courses
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In-house courses (such as Human Resources training)
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Secondary education
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Any other professional qualifications you may have received.
Note any professional memberships
List any memberships you have that are relevant to the position you're applying for. Only include the ones you believe will interest the potential employer.
Include referees
Provide details of referees so that your potential employer can quickly and easily ask about you. Include their names and phone numbers. If you can secure written references, it can help to write: "Written references available upon request" at the bottom of your CV.