Glenda Nelson of Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH) in Northern Ireland offers advice on how to
fix those simple mistakes in your CV
Rejection
letters on job applications are obviously disappointing – but if the reasons
provided in any feedback are valid then it makes that rejection a little easier
to accept.
One
thing you most certainly don’t want to do is provide a potential employer with
a good reason not to give you the job.
With
the current job market being so competitive, having a CV that sells you
perfectly is crucial. Online site, CV and Interview Advisors, recently
highlighted that a staggering 92% of shortlisting decisions are made solely on
the contents of your CV,. With such a high percentage you can’t just hope to
get through to interview stage and ‘wow’ potential employers with your skills.
Fitting
your entire career and achievements on to one piece of paper seems a lot easier
than it actually is. Many still make serious mistakes that are costing them
jobs before they’ve even reached the interview stage.
Something
as simple as re-reading your CV before you send it could highlight an array of
typos and grammar mistakes. You would be surprised what your computer won’t
pick up that your eye might. Print a copy and ask someone to proof read before
you even consider sending it to potential employers.
A
‘one size fits all’ CV just won’t cut it for every job you go for - you will
need to tailor it for specific roles and perhaps alter it completely if you are
looking to change careers. An employer will notice when you have applied your
skills to suit the role advertised. Create a goal in your mind, depending on
the role you are applying for, and tailor how you write your CV to highlight the
qualities necessary to take on the role.
Most
people are familiar with the rule of adhering to one page and definitely not
running over two - try and abide by this when you can. Your CV should have a
beginning, middle and end, an overview of yourself and proof of your relevant
qualifications. If you don’t focus it towards proving that you deserve an
interview, the reader will just be reading through a list of things you have
done in your life and this won’t read well.
Ensure
your writing is professional and make sure anything you include will be
relevant to the company you are applying to. This includes the formatting. Keep
it formal and don’t use distracting fonts or colours to
‘stand out’ as this will highlight you
for the wrong reasons.
Take
care with your CV and make sure it does all it can to help you get to the next
stage of the application process.
For
more information on how you can avail of our outplacement services personally
or on behalf of your employees, please contact us on: 0845 456 2269
