Applying for a new job can be a daunting task, so taking manageable bitesize steps can be a really helpful way forward. One of the first tasks is to create a CV that will help you stand out from the candidate competition. A CV is the first point of communication between you and your next potential employer, so you’ll want to make sure that you hit the balance between including all the interesting and relevant information, without it becoming an overly long read.
We’ve put together some handy tips for preparing a CV that will get you noticed so that you can start building your career.
Name and contact details
One of the most prominent details in your CV, right at the top, should be your name, phone number, and an email address that you can be easily contacted on. A useful tip is to add a link to your LinkedIn profile in this section – but make sure it’s up to date before you do!
Traditionally, candidates have also included their home address, but this isn’t as common anymore, so simply including the town or county might be enough, for example, Watford, or Hertfordshire.
A strong headline
The first thing that a recruiter or hiring manager should read under your name and contact details is a strong headline. By including a powerful introduction to yourself, you’ll capture the reader’s attention and encourage them to continue reviewing your CV.
Avoid overused or generic terminology, such as ‘hard working’ and ‘enthusiastic’. Your CV is essentially a chance to sell yourself and show the employer why you are what the company needs, so instead, consider a short, simple, and punchy headline – just like the advert captions you see on social media that make you click and read more!
Emphasise skills and successes
A common mistake that candidates make with their CVs is to list the duties they carry out in their day jobs. In its place, consider adding a summary of your skills that show how you’ve made a difference in the past, ensuring they are relevant to the job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying to a role as a Customer Assistant, perhaps mention how you’ve instigated a new idea that has improved customer experiences, or how you’ve helped foster a more positive and inclusive culture within the team.
Brief bullet points in this section should suffice, you’ll be able to build out more detailed responses about your skills if you’re taken through to the interview stage.
Past working experience
Next, you’ll want to add some information about your past working experience, but again try not to simply list where you’ve worked. As an alternative, include how responsibilities in your previous roles make your experience relevant to the prospective job and perhaps highlight how you may have overcome any challenges that have helped you grow.
Write this section in reverse chronological order with your most recent experience at the top, including any gaps. You might also want to include any volunteer work, apprenticeships, or work experience you’ve completed that have contributed to your personal and professional development to date.
Tailor your CV to the job description
You only have a short window to impress a hiring manager or recruiter with your CV (on average around 10 seconds), so answering the questions they are looking for with persuasive and confident language is key. Even if you are applying for a role that you’ve never done before, tailor your CV to the job description by incorporating transferable experience, skills, and achievements to demonstrate you’d be a good fit and make a positive difference to the organisation.
By explaining how your experience relates to a role, it demonstrates that you are connected, engaged and genuinely passionate about the position you are applying for.
Clearly format your CV
Something that should never be overlooked is clearly formatting your CV. Lots of hiring managers now use applicant tracking systems (ATS), which essentially scans a CV and pulls out keywords and information. If your CV is excessively long and formatted poorly, you’ll immediately lose out. The best solution is to optimise your CV with keywords, use bullet points to list relevant information, and avoid elaborate fonts, designs and adding details to the header and footer.
Have you considered a career at Wickes?
Wickes is growing. If you’re looking for a role where you can have fun, work hard, and build your career, we’ll offer you just that. Find out more about life with Wickes, or browse our available Head Office jobs or Store Operations roles today.
