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How to Write a Winning CV

Jonathan Shepherd-Stubbs • 24 October 2022

Your CV is one of the most important documents you are likely to own and will let any future employers know why YOU are just the right person for the job. With this in mind, here are our top tips on how to write a winning one.


Remain Relevant

You only have a short time to impress a potential employer as they scan your CV to see if you are a great fit for them; approximately 5-7 seconds in fact. Make sure the information you provide in your profile and your specific experience and skills match those of the industry you are applying for to avoid going to the bottom of the pile of candidates.


Stay Clear and Concise

It’s important to remain clear and concise as you create your CV and don’t add any unnecessary ‘filler’ content as this will look messy and overcomplicated to any future employer. State your education, experience, skills in a no nonsense way to cut through the noise and try to keep the overall page count at 3 or below to keep your next employer interested and engaged in what you have to say.


Display Your Current Contact Details

It sounds an obvious one but it’s easy to get caught out! Before you apply and send your CV for consideration, run your eyes over your contact details one last time to ensure they are correct and aren’t out of date. There would be nothing worse than your potential employer or recruitment consultant wanting to offer you the job or an interview and they can’t get through on the contact details you have provided.


Spelling and Grammar

Our last point is to make sure your spelling and grammar is on point! If your hiring manager is a stickler for it, bad spelling and grammar could get you a hard pass even with the right skills and experience. Check your CV for any spelling errors or get a friend or family member to do it for you as they will be able to look at it with a fresh pair of eyes.

 

On a side note, make sure you spell Curriculum Vitae correctly. Quite often we see this spelt incorrectly!!


That’s it. Here’s our 4 top tips to writing a winning CV.

 

We wish you every success in your job search and we hope you have found this blog useful. For more tips on how to ace your job interview, or begin looking for a new career, browse other articles in our blog.

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Key Indicators of a Successful Interview

by Jonathan Shepherd-Stubbs • 29 November 2024
Interviews are often the most nerve wracking part of the job seeking process and whilst you might be happy that you got the interview, you might wonder if it went as well as you’d hoped. This is a natural reaction to something as important as your career but there are several key signs that suggest your interview was a success, let’s take a look at them. Positive Body Language and Engagement We can usually tell when we get on well with someone and you can also read subtle signs in the interviewers body language which could mean that you left a good impression. Were they leaning forward, engaging with you and seeming interested in what you had to say? Did they respond enthusiastically to your answers? These are all good signs. The Interview Takes Longer Than Expected Interviews are typically structured to a strict timeframe to allow the interviewer to see multiple people and find the best candidate for the job. If your interview has gone over the allotted time but it doesn’t feel rushed, this is a really good sign and means that the company is open to learning more about you and sees potential. Natural Conversations If you have built up a natural rapport with your interviewer and the interview doesn’t seem like a basic question and answer session, this bodes well. If the interviewer also shares information about the company culture, team and future plans with you at this stage, it’s a sign they see you becoming part of their company. Next Steps Discussion If the employer takes the time to explain what the next steps of the process are going to be during your interview, asks about your availability for further stages or lets you know about their onboarding process, these are all good indicators that you are being strongly considered for the role. Introduction and Highlighting the Benefits Another sign that your interview has gone well is if your interviewer introduces you to other team members or key decision makers during the course of your interview. This shows that they personally have deemed you a good fit for the role and could be looking for a second opinion before they make a hiring decision. The interviewer could also begin to highlight the benefits of you working for their organisation, they might mention the ‘perks’ of working for the company, any career progression opportunities or just that it’s a great place to work. They could be trying to sell you the role within the company which often means they think you are a strong candidate.  Whilst the above points aren’t a guaranteed measure of success, they are really encouraging signs that your interview has gone well and that you have made a good impression on the company. If you are currently navigating the job market and need some professional support and guidance, we can help, contact us for advice and information on our current vacancies today.

LinkedIn Poll Results - November 2024

by Simon Clark • 19 November 2024
In our November LinkedIn poll, we explored what factors are most valued by employees for their company’s year-end celebrations. As we wrap up another year, understanding these preferences can help organisations plan events that genuinely resonate with their teams and enhance company morale. The results clearly highlight 'Recognition / Awards' as the leading priority, with 44% of respondents indicating that acknowledging individual and team achievements is the most important aspect of year-end celebrations. This underscores a significant trend: employees value recognition of their hard work and contributions over the course of the year, seeing it not just as a reward but as essential to their satisfaction and motivation. ‘Food’ emerged as the second most crucial element, garnering 33% of the vote. Good food can turn any gathering into a memorable event, suggesting that catering choices play a pivotal role in the overall enjoyment and atmosphere of corporate events. ‘Venue’ was also a notable factor, with 22% of participants considering it important. The setting of a celebration can deeply influence the event’s ambiance and how the festivities are perceived and enjoyed by the staff. Interestingly, 'Entertainment' received no votes, indicating that while enjoyable, entertainment might not be a priority for employees when compared to other aspects like recognition, food, and venue. This could suggest a shift in what employees consider valuable at corporate events, with a stronger emphasis on elements that reflect direct appreciation and tangible rewards. These insights are invaluable for any company looking to boost employee morale and retention through meaningful end-of-year celebrations. By focusing more on recognition and awards, companies can not only make these events more impactful but also reinforce a culture of appreciation that resonates throughout the year.
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