How to write a good cv (or resume) and how to look good on paper

Career adviser Liz Leavy gives some handy tips on making your CV stand out from the crowd:

It is important for any job seeker to remember that your CV is a sales document and needs to give the relevant information to the prospective employer in the best possible way. Career adviser Liz Leavy outlines the main things to remember.

Your CV needs to be visually clear – a maximum of two pages, using bullet points to outline the most important and necessary information.

Remember that if you are one of 100 CVs received for a job vacancy, you have to ensure that the employer can, at a glance, find the information that is relevant to the role.

Firstly, consider the role you are applying for. If you are answering a job advertisement looking for a Marketing Executive for example, there is no point sending a CV showing your current role as a Marketing Manager because you will be considered too senior for the role and your CV will be passed over. Ensure that you are applying for a position that suits your experience and make sure your CV clearly expresses this.

If you have had three jobs over ten years, spend the most time and CV space on your most recent job – this is what the employer will be most interested in. For example, do not take half a page to detail your experience working a summer job in McDonald’s ten years ago, and then only give three lines to your most recent role, which you have
held for five years.

Many people write a CV when they leave their first job and then over the years just keep adding bits to it – don’t do this! Create a new, fresh look for your CV, tailored to the job you are applying for.

Finally, always list your achievements. Employers are always interested in these.

Equally, think about what hobbies you are listing, making sure that they are relevant to the job you are applying for.

For more information or a one-to-one consultation, contact Liz Leavy at (01) 863 6901 and invest in yourself. www.thecareerclinic.ie

Vitae statistics: Make sure to put relevant information on your CV