Get Your CV In Order
Your CV is your shop window - not your attic. Only include the things that make someone stop and think, “This person’s worth talking to.” First impressions count You can spend hours crafting your CV, but a recruiter or potential employer may spend 3 - 5 seconds deciding whether to keep reading. That first page is prime real estate - treat it like a Michelin-starred appetizer: make them want the main course. Keep it clean: simple layout, clear headings, professional font (Calibri, Arial, Verdana), and spell check everything - twice. Even the most “detail-oriented” person occasionally misses a rogue apostrophe. Profile / Summary: Say something interesting This is your personal trailer - 3 - 4 lines that tell the reader who you are, what you do, and why you’re worth a conversation. Skip the clichés: “hard - working team player” is beige and forgettable. “Project Manager with 10+ years delivering £5m+ commercial builds across London. Calm under pressure, allergic to delays, and happiest with a programme spreadsheet and a coffee.” Your opening paragraph should hook them - the rest of the CV is there to back it up. Layout & Chronology We all love a clear structure: · Name & contact details at the top · Profile / summary · Experience in reverse chronological order · Education, training, key skills Your CV should be easy to scan, not a PowerPoint poster. | | Content: Focus on what matters Give space to the last 5 - 10 years; older roles summarised in one line. Your cycling proficiency from 1984? Unless it somehow built £5m worth of fit - out, leave it in a dusty shoebox. Use bullet points for achievements:
· No to “Managed budgets.” · Yes to “Delivered £2.3m retail fit-out on budget and ahead of schedule.” Numbers jump off the page - they show scale, value, and competence.
Length: Two to four pages is fine Two to four pages is perfectly acceptable if every line earns its place. No one wants War & Peace, but a one - page CV rarely tells the full story.
Cover notes Cover notes are your handshake before the handshake. Avoid copy-paste templates. Make it human: “Having delivered several commercial refurb projects across the South East, this role with [Company] really caught my eye - particularly your focus on sustainability.” Five minutes of effort goes a long way.
Final Touches Read it aloud. Check formatting. Delete fluff. Ask: Would I hire me based on this? If not, tweak it - and maybe get a second opinion (just not from your mum). |