The main purpose of your CV is to get you an interview. You need to attract the reader’s attention, and get them to read further.
The recruiter will have an idea of the profile they want, and your job is to make it obvious that person is you. Think of it from their side: there may be dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of applications for a job. Most of these will not be a good match, and they don’t have time to read every single detail of every CV. So they will skim through them, looking for the things that are essential. So your CV needs to be well formatted and easy to read.
Once you’ve grabbed their attention, they will read on; so you need to make sure It also covers all the relevant information about you, and why you are a good fit. Or your CV is probably going in the “no” pile.
I’ve worked in recruitment for years; reviewed more CVs than I can count, placed thousands of people in jobs. I know what works, and what doesn’t.
Here are some quick, practical tips to help you build a CV that will get noticed.
FORMATTING AND LAYOUT
- First impressions count, so make sure you are happy with how the CV will represent you. This is one of the most important documents that you will ever prepare. If there are errors then it can give the impression of carelessness / lack of attention. Not good at spelling? Use spellcheck or a programme such as Grammarly. Or ask someone to check it for you.
- I often hear from graduates that they have been advised by someone that the CV should only be one page. I would strongly disagree. Two pages is ideal. Whenever I see a one page CV I can’t help but feel that something is missing. And often when I speak with the graduate I find that they took something useful out to make sure it stayed at one page (I know of some who missed out on interviews as a result). If a CV is on one page, then that in itself is not a problem- but don’t leave off important things to avoid going to 2 pages.
- Anything 3 or more pages is usually too much. Often when a CV is too lengthy, the reason is wasted space. It can look very sloppy, especially if there is an administrative aspect to the job you are applying for. For example: massive margins, or too large font sizes. Also using too much space between sections; or listing the degree date, course, and university in 3 lines. And listing multiple modules (often with single word titles) in bullet points: they may be; better; listed; like this – so it’s across the page.
- Or it may be that you have too many bullet points for jobs that are not directly relevant. For example, if you worked on a till in a supermarket a lot can be implied. So if you are struggling for space, and you have many bullet points listing what you did, then keep the job on there, but trim the number of bullet points. Maybe leave 2-3. Or even just one with a summary of what you did.
- There are many CV templates available, and most are not designed by someone who review CVs for a living. Stick to something simple, avoid things like boxes and columns.
- Write in the first person, not the third person (so you are referring to yourself, not as if someone else has written it for you). I know a lot of other recruiters, and all of them agree with me on this.
- For your font size, I would say that 10 or 11 is ideal. Use a straightforward, easy to read typeface such as Calibri or Arial. Avoid fonts with serifs (the sticky out bits on the edges of the letter).
- For the wording write in upper and lower case. Sometimes I am sent CVs written entirely in block capitals and it doesn’t look good. Writing in capitals is seen as the equivalent of shouting.
- Unless you are going for creative design type positions you will almost certainly not be judged on how artistic your CV is. The most important thing is to get across the information that is relevant to the recruiter in a clear way so they can easily read it.
- I don’t see any need for columns, boxes, headers / footers, or page numbers etc– particularly as they can take up valuable space (and make it hard to update the CV if you need to add something). And there is no need to write CV or Curriculum Vitae on it.
- I would recommend setting it out simply, with each section coming in turn, below each other and spread across the page. Not, for example, education on the left of the page, and jobs on the right. Or even worse, blank on one side then one column of information.
- If you are going for a creative type role (for example Graphic Design) then you need to make sure the CV is well designed; and for extra points, if a specific design package is used in the role (InDesign for example) then use it to do your CV.
- There can also be some variations on layout etc according to industry, for example IT. Your careers advisor can help with this.
- Some CVs have a ‘hobbies and interests’ section’ and there is debate about whether this should be on there. I would say yes: it adds something a bit different and can sometimes help to open conversations with the recruiter. If your hobby is something that is related to the job then even better. If you don’t want to have this section then it is not a problem. But if you do add this, don’t go overboard – a brief summary is ok (though if there is some relevance then add a bit more).
- When saving and sending a CV I would always recommend using the ‘save as’ feature and naming the file, something like this: ‘Matthew Parry CV’, with maybe also ‘application for Marketing Assistant’ if you like. rather than using the default saving title. It may seem a little thing, but it looks a lot better when it arrives as an attachment; and it also makes it easier for the recruiter to find your details amongst all the other applications.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK EXPERIENCE
I can’t stress enough how important work experience is. It really can make the difference between getting a job or not. And the experience doesn’t need to be related to the job you are going for (though if you have got some related experience then that is particularly powerful). Read this blog for more of my thoughts.
- Some students and graduates have left work experience off their CV, either because they felt it wasn’t relevant, or as it was not directly relevant to the job they were applying for. Please believe me that this is one of the worst things that you can do; you should add all of your work experience, and be proud of it.
- All experience is valuable; whether it be a part-time Saturday job, newspaper delivery, voluntary work, university society work, cleaning, catering. Or anything else you have done. And if a job is not on the CV, it can’t really be used to support competency based answers to interview questions; and many of these are best answered with work-related examples, not education. It can also create suspicion if it emerges that you have left something off, as there are many negative reasons for doing this too.
- If you’re thinking of leaving it off due to space, then you can cut it down to just 2 lines: one with the job title, employer, and dates worked; then the 2nd with a brief summary of what you did.
- Add your most recent job first and work backwards. Make sure you put both month and year that you started and finished (or ‘to present if you’re still there).
- If you had loads of part-time jobs while studying (particularly if they were one-off assignments for an agency), they can be grouped together. For example: September 2021-June 2022 Various assignments related to bar-work, customer service, and waitressing on behalf of recruitment agencies (a bit more detail than that, but you get the picture).
- If you do have any directly relevant work experience, including internships and placements, then it is a huge advantage. Make sure this is particularly prominent. This includes things you have done in your own time, or as a hobby. For example, if you are in Marketing and spent some time creating social media accounts for a society or sports club; you can show successes like increases in followers, etc.
- If someone leaves a permanent job after a few months, it can raise questions. Especially if it happens more than once (this is known as ‘job hopping’). There are sometimes valid reasons for leaving, but other times someone was let go by the business, or chose to leave for another opportunity. It can be seen as a negative by some recruiters. So if it was only a short-term job, you need to make it clear; it will look so much better on your cv (and LinkedIn), and will avoid potential suspicion. After the job title, write the status in brackets; for example (fixed-term contract), (internship), or (placement). But don’t be tempted to use this to describe a permanent job that you left after a few months; it’s likely that you will be found out when being asked about your job, or at the referencing stage if you get an offer.
- I would advise against leaving jobs off your CV if they didn’t go well; it could cause you problems, even if it is further down the line. You will have lied about your work experience and pretended that something didn’t happen, and that is never a good idea. Best to address it head on; yes it may be a problem for some employers, but for many it will not, especially if the job was a stop-gap and not in your chosen field.
- Don’t be tempted to lie or distort the truth; there is a big chance you will be found out. It’s not worth the risk.
- If you have a side-hustle, this should be on your CV. Be careful not to overplay it though, as if the employer thinks that it will take most of your time (and may even progress to the stage that you leave your ‘day job’) then it can give a concern about long-term commitment.
- And try not to give yourself too grand a title, calling yourself ‘CEO’ (or saying that you were working with, or advising, the CEO) of a small side-hustle, or university project, can be very misleading, and could potentially cause embarrassment if you are asked about it in an interview. There is also a chance that someone may take it literally when skim reading, which would make you way over-qualified for any graduate job. It may be the working title that was given, but you would be better thinking of something more appropriate.
DON’T LEAVE OFF IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- If there is a potential issue make sure you address it. For example if you got a 2:2 and there were extenuating circumstances. Or if you went travelling after studying (meaning you weren’t able to work). Or if there was another reason you were not able to work, leaving a gap in employment. These things will be noticed, and it’s best to address them up front. If not, you risk being rejected before you can explain.
- Make sure you add the year that you finished (or are due to finish) your degree. Put the month you finish your studies and are available for work as the end date, not when you graduate. For example if you finish in June, but graduate in September then put June as the end date. If you put September then the employer will think you are not available until then.
- Add school results (GCSE and A levels) with grades. It is often asked for by employers (especially Maths and English) and may need to be added if missing. If you didn’t do so well, you can address this in the summary on your CV. For example, if something happened that affected your grades; or even if you weren’t as committed at school as you are now, and you turned it around by getting a degree.
- There is no need to put national insurance number, or your photograph. Nor do you need to write details of referees (or even say ‘references are available on request’); these will be needed when you (hopefully) get an offer, but they shouldn’t be needed at this stage. Also no need to write ‘Curriculum Vitae’ ‘CV’ or ‘resume; it’s obvious what the document is.
- Put your location (including area if you’re in a big city like London or Birmingham) but there is no need for your full address. And if you have your own transport then mention it.
- I would advise against using your university email address for contact, as at some point you may no longer have access to it. It’s easy to set up your own email account, and will look more professional.
- But make sure it’s a professional looking email address – so nothing daft, jokey, or crude / rude.
- Make sure you update your CV when anything changes (and remember to do it if you have your CV on any job boards like Reed etc). I often receive CVs where it says something like ‘current final year student’ and they graduated months before (or in some cases a year or two). Or a previous job is described in the present tense. It takes seconds to update, so there is no excuse. It looks very sloppy not to, and I know of many employers where this would result in an automatic rejection.
BRING YOUR EXPERIENCE TO LIFE
- Employment related bullet points of key achievements are always powerful. Perhaps showing something you did that had a positive effect on the business. And if these can be shown in measurable terms (for example % increase) all the better. If you do have some relevant experience then prioritise this, with as many bullet points as you can; and maybe not as many on non-relevant jobs (you want the related experience to stand out).
- And bring the bullet points to life. Many CVs have copy and pasted duties from the job description, and this will not do you justice. Often it’s not apparent what they actually refer to. Instead of doing this, write out the bullet points yourself. Think of if as if someone is asking you what you did; you wouldn’t quote duties from the job description, you would explain it in more depth. And give examples of what you did, including achievements. For example, if you worked in a burger bar, instead of writing:
- Customer service
- Taking orders
- Working under pressure
Write:
I worked in a high-street fast food outlet, where there was a constant foot-flow, with very busy peak times. Using a till, I would take customer orders and give them their food when it was ready. I developed good customer service skills, including handling difficult situations, and dealing with complaints. I always did my best to make sure that customers had a great experience.
- If you are looking for a work where you design or create things, make sure you put a link to any examples of work you have done. For example, GitHub, or Behance; or just a portfolio. Evidence of what you have done can be very powerful.
- It’s a good idea to update your CV as you are going, or at least make a note of any key achievements / projects so they can be added later. Otherwise you will be trying to remember everything that you did – believe me, I have been there myself, and it’s not easy!
TAILOR YOUR CV TO THE JOB
- Be specific about knowledge you have. A lot of graduates will write vague things like ‘Good IT skills’. Instead, write what things you can use, for example Microsoft Office. And especially if it’s something that is going to be useful in the jobs you are going for. And ideally put what level you are at. It’s not always easy to judge this, but you should have an idea of if you’re a basic user, or more advanced.
- If something is mentioned as being necessary, expand on your knowledge of it. For example, if you will be using Excel as a big part of the job. Most people can use Excel to some extent. but not everyone is skilled in it. So, don’t just say that you can use it; give examples of where you have done things that are relevant to what you will be using it for (for example analysing data).
- Make sure that you cover the key parts of your education; particularly if it’s something that is relevant to that employer. Write about modules, or projects; focus on the bits that may be most relevant to the job you are applying for (rather than listing everything). This could perhaps be done under your degree details- and also in the statement tying everything together.
- It’s vital to add a summary that ties everything together, find out more here.
There is a CV template below that you can download, and fill in your own details. Or you may prefer this one
Remember, your university careers service offers valuable help and advice on applications and interviews. I would also recommend making an appointment with them if you are looking for help.
Please note: the advice is based on applying to small to medium sized businesses as this is my area of expertise. . If you are applying to the big graduate schemes I would recommend asking your university careers team for advice on CV formatting, as a different approach may be needed.
Matthew Parry,
Director. SME Graduate Employment
Email: matthew@sme-graduates.co.uk Telephone: 0370 774 9500
This blog is also covered on:
TikTok CV advice for students and graduates https://www.tiktok.com/@smegraduateemployment/video/7169555261529541893?is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=7169555261529541893
YouTube CV advice for students and graduates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDh7fyjJHeA
SME Graduate Employment is a specialist student and graduate recruitment agency covering permanent jobs, placements, and internships across the UK. Most job types and business sectors are covered.
You can see student and graduate jobs advertised here Student and Graduate job vacancies (sme-graduates.co.uk) and read more blogs and advice to help develop your employability skills here University student and graduate employability advice and tips (sme-graduates.co.uk)
Follow on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sme_graduate_employment/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smegraduateemployment
Facebook: https://bit.ly/48t8GVW
Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/SMEgraduates