CV and covering letter
A guide to CV preparation
Today's highly competitive job market means that you need to make the most of every opportunity that presents itself, and a well-presented, well-written CV is a crucially important way of doing just that. It can mean the difference between a polite "thanks but no thanks" or an invitation for an interview.
So where do you start?
There is no better place to start than with the employers themselves, so we surveyed some 200 personnel professionals and asked them what they liked and disliked in a CV.
The quotes below come from that survey. They provide a valuable guide as to how to make sure you present potential employers with the kind of CV that could mean the difference between success and failure.
The covering letter
According to 90% of those surveyed, your covering letter should include the reasons you have applied to the company. Half preferred a hand-written approach in order to assess your handwriting, and 41% preferred a typed letter that has been "topped and tailed" by hand. Here are some of the things they said:
"The covering letter is as important as the CV. I am most impressed by applications which are obviously geared towards our organisation and the position we are recruiting for."
"Make the covering letter is short and to the point. There is less chance of saying the wrong thing!"
"A CV arrived with a covering letter: "Dear Sir, CV says all." My reply: "Dear Sir, I regret......."
The CV itself
70% of our respondents felt that all qualifications should be included, although as your career progresses just your highest academic qualification or professional membership is required. 91% preferred employment history to be presented in reverse chronological order mentioning your main projects and achievements. Employers also need to know details such as your nationality, marital status and whether you have children or not.
As with any form of writing, put yourself in the shoes of the intended recipient. Think about the information you would need if you were the employer, and about what is relevant and what is not. Here are some more valuable quotes from the survey:
"The CV should be written to reflect the position applied for, identifying the skills and experience appropriate to the post."
"Identify under "Outline of Responsibilities" those job elements which you believe to be relevant. Be ruthless about trimming out other information."
"Always stress the positive aspects of your qualifications and experience and seek to relate those to the job and organisation in question. A CV tailored to a specific vacancy is more likely to be successful than a "stock CV" used for mail-shots."
"Achievements are the most important area. What applicants have done and what they have changed."
"It should be tailored to reflect the strengths, experience and knowledge relevant to the post for which you are applying - but be truthful."
"Do not try to include too much information. A CV should provide the employer with a snapshot of the individual with enough relevant information to make him or her want to learn more."
Layout and style
According to our respondents, the three most common mistakes were spelling, grammar and poor layout. Take the time to get these things right. Here are some more important pieces of advice from the survey:
"Keep the layout simple and use side headings in bold to enable information to be readily located."
"An easily readable typeface and well-written format are key."
"Always get someone to double-check your CV - there is nothing worse than a CV with glaring typing mistakes and errors."
"Today, getting an interview is the hardest part of finding a new job. Improve your chances by spending time on the style of your CV. Make sure it is clear, concise and objective."
And finally ...
Remember that your potential employer will have many CVs to read, and those that get to the point with clarity are those that will be selected for interview. Make it as easy as you possibly can for the reader and demonstrate that you know how to get your point across without preparing an essay.
Lastly – don't forget to check your spelling one more time!
