Spring Clean Your CV | Hiring Strategies Limited

Spring Clean Your CV

Spring is in the air and if you’re bored at work, then why not spring clean your CV and start looking for a new job? We share our top tips to help you refresh your CV…

• Declutter!
  Decluttering your CV will help you focus on those points which are both relevant and important for finding a new job. Aim for two pages max. If you’ve had lots of jobs, you could streamline your CV by grouping similar experiences together. If you write a list on page 1 detailing your achievements, potential employers can instantly see your job history without viewing repetitive roles.
  
  

• Don’t waste space

  This includes writing ‘CV’ at the top of the page! As any space on a CV is precious, just use this area for your contact details. You do not need to include a photo on your CV or your date of birth or your full address (if you lack room, just include your village, town or city). But remember to include your contact telephone number and email address. Make it as easy as possible for recruiters to contact you.
  
  

• Focus on your skills and experience

  Write a high-level summary of everything you have to offer in relation to the job you’re applying for. This is called a personal statement or summary, and this should sit just below your contact details. This is your chance to sell ‘you’, so keep it short and snappy. If you’re applying for a variety of jobs, create different versions of your CV focused on any skills and experience relevant to each role.

• Previous jobs and experience

  List your job roles in date order with the most recent first. Make sure you include the company name, employment dates, and a sentence or two that sums up each role. Add a few bullets under every job that highlight your responsibilities and achievements. If you’re a school leaver, include any work experience and volunteer placements.

• Education and professional qualifications

  Similar to the above point, start with your most recent qualifications and work backwards. If you’re a school leaver, list subjects and grades either in grade order (A-F), or in the order most relevant to the role you’re applying for. If you’re a graduate or college leaver, you could include any relevant modules, projects or assignments.

• Hobbies and references
  By this point, you might be struggling for space, so prioritise the relevance of any information you add to this section. If you lack space, choose a reference over hobbies, unless these are relevant to the job you are applying for. If you’re a motorbike enthusiast, for example, and you’re looking for roles in the automotive industry, this would be relevant. You could add ‘References are available on request’.

If you need help spring cleaning your CV, speak to us. Hiring Strategies Ltd is a professional recruitment agency. We source jobs for major employers across the Midlands.

Looking for a new job? Send us your CV today or book a call with one of our friendly consultants today. Email: enquiries@hsl1uk.com to arrange a date and time.