Employers, what do you look for in a cv?

[Flamingofeathers]

I graduated last june and have not worked since due to helping care for my grandmother. However i am now keen to get into work, and am applying for all ranges of jobs from admin, to retail, to ones that require a degree.

But my question is what do you look for in a Cv? What do i need to include and not include? Do you like a CV with a skills section? Best way to break it up?

I really am clueless so any help would be really appreciated

I like a CV that answers the requirements of the Job Description but I rarely get what I want - second best would be that the covering letter addressed the requirements of the job. If I've asked for skills - please let me know you have them or what you are doing to obtain them...even that you are interested in acquiring them - shows you at least read the job description and made an effort. And I would also like to know that you have spent your time since graduating caring for a vulnerable relative - even though it has nothing to with the job it's better than doing nothing. And I like to feel that you understand that you are applying to our company and you appreciate at least the very basics of who we are - you have read the about section on our website - or at least the whole job description.. For example we are a small and highly specialised company - so telling us that we have impressive global reach or that we like you are generalists who like to wing it, or that you have been following our progress for years...as flattering as it may sound - doesn't impress us much.
Don't waffle to extend your CV. Be yourself - good luck! 😁

For the skills section : I like to see evidence - so i tend not to beleive a list of skills, unless i see you describe how you used those skills in a real professional environment, or failing that, in a final-year project etc.

Now there is no harm in having a seprate skills section, but definitely try and "prove" that you've used those skills too