Often, your CV is the first thing a prospective employer will see from you, and first impressions count. We would always advise you to keep your CV up to date, regardless of your current employment status, as it’s much easier to polish it when the need arises, as opposed to starting from scratch! However, the “rules” for CV’s are ever changing and often conflicting. Here’s our advice for those looking to improve their CV.

1)      Keep it brief

The consensus is generally 2 pages per CV. At Consult Search, we don’t advise candidates to look at this as a strict rule, but more a guideline. However, remember the more relevant the information on your CV is, the easier it is for prospective employers to see the reasons they should interview you! For example, if you are applying for a Field Sales role, employers wont necessarily be interested in your previous experience in catering. Keep less relevant job descriptions brief, expanding on roles which are more pertinent to the role you are applying for.

2)      Proof Read, and Proof Read Again

I can guarantee you, nothing turns a hiring manager off faster than spelling errors. Typos, grammatical errors, poor English… all things to avoid! You might have the best CV for the role, but a poorly written CV will undo all the positive and can result in you being overlooked for the position.

3)      What are your USPs?

Think about what will differentiate you from the competition, and include this in a short summary at the beginning of your CV. What are your major successes? What added value can you bring? Why do people love working with you? You want to stand out amongst the competition, and sometimes you need more than work experience to do this.

4)      Scrap the photo

Unless you are applying for a modelling or image related job, remove the photo. Let’s be honest – any hiring manager worth their salt will screen candidates on social media before shortlisting for interview, so adding a photo to the CV is unnecessary at best. Save it for Facebook, and keep your CV professional.

5)      Think of it as a work in progress

Think about what hiring managers have focused on during interviews – do you have areas on your CV which are often overlooked, but in fact are key to your value as a candidate? Or perhaps you are often asked the same questions which aren’t covered on your CV. By continuously evaluating and tailoring your CV for each opportunity, you can ensure you are always presenting your best self.

At Consult Search & Selection, we’ll happily help our candidates out when it comes to presenting their best CV, but by following these key steps, you’ll be 99% of the way there without needing any help.

Consult Search & Selection Ltd are a specialist recruitment consultancy with dedicated divisions placing senior professionals within Animal Health, Dental, Audiology, Medical, Scientific and Healthcare clients both in the UK and overseas. Our consultants have specialist, detailed knowledge of their individual market sectors and offer an objective, honest and pragmatic service to both clients and candidates alike.

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