Top tips for a great CV
If you apply for a role with Sovereign, you’ll complete a short application form and we’ll ask you to upload your CV.
Here’s some good advice from Hayley Jordan, our Training Opportunities Officer, on what makes a great CV…
Gone are the days of writing and handing out a generic CV (which stands for ‘curriculum vitae’) - a document which lets you summarise your education, skills and experience so you can really highlight your abilities to potential employers.
Now there is more demand than ever for jobs and landing an interview relies heavily on a carefully constructed CV.
Your CV will normally be your first point of contact between you and your next prospective employer, so you want to make it count.
Read our tips
Most of your CV will stay the same each time – personal details, education and work experience. You should update your personal statement, skills and more recent training as and when relevant.
A personal statement is your marketing tool and is what will make you stand out from the rest of the crowd. It should show why you would be ideal for the role you are applying for.
Take the time to understand what the employer is looking for, then write a paragraph (or 100-200 words) about how your experience and personality would fit the role.
Try to tailor your CV to each role you apply for. The key experiences or capabilities in the advert or job description show you what the recruiter is looking for.
Also include key words related to the role you are hoping to apply for and list key achievements in your CV, either at the bottom or after you list each role. This will help to show the progress you made within that role.
Employers often review multiple CVs and yours will need to stand out and catch their attention. Here are my top tips to construct yours in a way to help you land that interview.
- Be sure to highlight all your relevant experience.
- Use some of the key words from the job description in your personal statement. This will attract the recruiter to read further.
- Use a font that is basic and clear such as Arial, Times New Roman or Red Hat Display. And make the style and size consistent.
- Don’t include acronyms or organisation-related terminology.
- Include two forms of contact: email and mobile.
- Always check your CV thoroughly for any spelling and grammar errors - consider having a friend or family member check it over for you as well.
- Keep your CV to two sides of A4.
- While a covering letter isn't needed, a short summary on the application form around motivations for the role is welcome.
If you are a Sovereign customer, don’t forget that our Employment and Skills team can also help you with your career: from more information on CV writing to accessing training contact the Employment and Skills team.