Things to know before you start writing your CV in 2019
New Year, New Start? For those seeking a new job or career in 2019, the first mistake they often make is to use an OLD CV! After all, this is all about wiping the slate clean and starting again! Here we will detail some tips on how to revamp your CV ready for the job hunting market 2019 has to offer.
1. Out with the Old….
Companies can often change their name, branding or address. It is always wise to ensure that anything listed on your CV is relevant should a potential employer wish to contact that Ex Employer. Scan your CV and ensure that all the employers names are correct and up to date (in the case of takeovers or mergers), and if the company name has changed, change the name on your CV and add ‘Formerly XXX’ in brackets following the new name. Likewise, if a company has moved addresses since your employment, it is wise to ensure that you have updated that in case the new employer might wish to take up a reference from them.
2. Try something new!
SHAKE up that CV! There are a few new trends in the CV market these days, from pictorials, to Info graphics. One of the best examples of the info graphic CV can be found on our site at the CV templates category and they will show you how creative you can be with your CV. You are bound to stand out from the rest of the crowd with such an individual CV and also, if you are going for a statistical or graphical job, it’s a great way of showing off your skills on paper!
3. Tidy for the New Year.
At the very least, you should give your CV a ‘Spring Clean’. Scan it over for any errors, and then think about reshuffling the content around to give it a fresh look. Maybe change the font and formatting a little, or add a splash of colour.
4. Rethink your personal statement.
The personal statement on your CV is one of the things an employer will use to build a picture of you as a person, and so it should be just as important as your skills! Have a really good think about the kind of person you ARE NOW, and the kind of person you ASPIRE TO BE, and put this down. Make sure to put yourself across honestly, in a way that will entice potential bosses to want to meet you!
5. Use natural persuasion .
In your New Year covering letter, be sure to wish the potential employer a successful New Year and hint that you will be part of that, by ending the covering letter with “I wish your company success and prosperity in 2019, and hope I will be with you to celebrate the success.” This offhand greeting will instil in the prospective employer that you have their best interests at heart and would be a good team player.
So what are you waiting for? Go and freshen that CV and get job hunting!
And some more advice for writing a CV:
When applying for jobs, a CV will be a like a window to see through the applicant’s qualifications, qualities, skills and experience in very little time. That means that a well written CV can help one enhance chances of landing a job while a poorly written and structured will put off potential employers. Here are some writing tips to come up with a great resume for your job applications.
1- Structure
Structure it in a way to attract the attention of the reader. There are many structures that you can use to make the structure look neat, well detailed and yet attractive. As you do this, be sure to include all relevant information including your skills, experience and qualifications in a clear and straightforward manner. It is very important to note that, the application may attract numerous applications and therefore, the employer will have little time to go through the resume. Unless otherwise stipulated, a standard resume should be about 2 pages.
2- CV Format
To make it more appealing, you can format with all the key points made clear to spot. The sentences should be short and you can use bullets or numbering to highlight the hot points. Be sure to include facts as in many cases you will be required to support the details in the resume with certificates and other testimonials.
3- Ordering
Use the right order of items in writing. Start with the most recent occupation, job, position or even achievements. Only include relevant details and leave out the not so important information. Be sure to include your duties and responsibilities in the job positions you will have mentioned in the resume and take note or any achievements in them line of your duty.
4- Personal Skills
Include other personal skills and qualities that may not necessarily be part of your job but which can help in enhancing your productivity like punctuality, your modifications and your moral values. Remember that your resume is meant to sell you and thus it should include more positive values about you.
5- Proof Reading
Once done, be sure to proof read it to check for any mistakes and correct the mistakes before sending. Sending a resume full of mistakes may deny you the opportunity to be selected for job interviews. Depending on the job you will be applying for, you can tailor it a little to suit that specific post to enhance chances of getting selected for an interview. However, remember not to go too far in tailoring the CV to make it look unrealistic.
