CV Help!

[doublecheeseburgermediumfries]

I've seen a job I would like to apply for!

However, my CV really needs a make over and I suppose you could say this is my first "professional" CV. I'm really stumped as to what to include and how to make myself stand out.

Does anyone have any advice?

Canva.com have beautiful templates.

Name is the headline.
Newest to oldest, list experience. Then education.
You may like to include points under each job with responsibilities or achievments. Start with active verbs.

What does the job spec say?

Keep it to 2 sides of A4 max. Include your name & contact details, a para about you then list your work experience first - include dates from and to, a list of your responsibilities and notable successes. Start with your current job and work backwards. Then any professional training and your educational history. End with a few personal interests and the 2 referees ( preferably professional), with their contact details and stating how they know you (don't forget to contact them first!)

I read online that you should only include work experience relevant to the role. My only relevant work experience is my current role however I'm worried it might make them question the gap between leaving university and my current job, or do you think that will be ok?

Educational history query; do you include GCSEs and A levels or shall I only include higher education?

Keep it to a sensible format - don't go for one with flowers on or whatever. Personally I prefer a traditional layout...

Name as headline
Personal profile
Contact details just phone and email
Then into work experience
Then qualifications. I would
Put degree and A levels then for example 10 X GCSEs but no need to list individually.
I would include all your work experience and try and tailor it to fit somehow eg if it included writing skills or attention to detail etc. Only exclude something if it looks really bad eg you only stayed a week! Good luck!

Degree is fine. No need to list GCSEs and a levels in my opinion. Make sure you make skills as transferable as possible.

Include all your jobs (within reason, no need to go back to a weekend job at school) and highlight the parts of the job and skills you used there that were transferable too 😀

I spent £50 getting my cv professionally written from an online company. I have such a chequered work history and wasn't sure what to include or how to keep it to two sides. They did a great job, sent me a first draft really quickly and then I let them know what changes I wanted to make. They ask if you're applying for a particular position so they can tailor it and provide a cover letter if you'd like them too. I felt it was £50 well spent, and when I uploaded it to indeed etc I got a lot of interest from agencies in my field.

Hi all! Thank you for your advice.

I've worked in my CV for a few days; kept going back to it until I was happy with it.

Sent my CV off tonight so fingers crossed! Whatever happens happens!

@doublecheeseburgermediumfries did you hear back from them?

@nonamemummy unfortunately no I didn't hear anything back! Which is a big shame.

Turns out someone in my team also applied for it and got the interview AND the job! Which I was a bit gutted about as it isn't really their "thing", if that makes sense? Funnily enough, they are going to decline the position!

Dying to ask more questions about it but don't feel it is appropriate.

Thank you for coming to check in!