The job hunt is more competitive than ever and everyone searching for an internship or job these days knows what it’s like to put together a detailed CV, click send and hope that yours stands out amongst many other applicants.
Some companies receive hundreds of applications per position and so it’s vital you make your CV stand out. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of tips and suggestions that will help you!
Template, Style & Font
Custom editing your CV for the position you are applying for is a fantastic way to personalise it. But poring over whether or not to remove your grade 10 writing certificate or your summer camp leader of the year award will not make you stand out.
Social media sites such as X, LinkedIn and Facebook has made people accustomed to receiving information in smaller sizes. People no longer read six page CV’s; they skip to essential, relevant information and exclude all else.
Most hiring managers will say that it takes them thirty seconds to evaluate a candidate’s CV – talk about making a good first impression!
In this market, creativity and experience are the key elements to include on your CV. Presenting concise information in a clear, accessible way is a skill that is in high demand.
Pinterest and Imgur show us how to use images instead of words to bring across our message and the increase in infographics as as a medium for presenting information shows us that design and layout help people remember information better.
There are many templates online for stylish CVs. We recommend using these templates but make sure you make your CV your own.
Use a clean, clear font that is different from the one on the template. Split your information into categories. Include a short professional bio so that employers think of you as a person, and not just words on a piece of paper!
Essential Things to Include and Exclude
Here are some do’s and dont’s to help you create the perfect CV:
- Do tailor your cover letter and CV to the role by removing irrelevant experiences
- Do use a little colour
- Do include all your contact information
- Do discuss your tasks and not just your roles
- Do keep your CV short
- Do not make your CV text heavy – choose bullet points over paragraphs
- Do not leave out important information
- Do not include salary expectations (unless specifically asked)
- Do not include non-contactable references
- Although temping, do not lie
How to Boost Your CV
The internet is a wonderful resource. In addition to our tips and suggestions, there are some great websites which have valuable CV advice and also templates you can get inspiration from.
An internship abroad or gap year volunteer program can really help you to strengthen your skills and experience which will improve your chances of entering and growing in the job market.
Since we recognise our role in guiding young careers we also extended an offer to assist with CV construction and editing if you need help. Possible you are not sure how to use a gap year break to impress future employers, well we can certainly help.
We love to share advice and offer tips on how to improve CVs to help. Contact us today to find out how you can improve your CV and improve your chances of landing that perfect job!
Or if you are not quite ready for that 9-5, view our guide to the best gap year jobs you can get paid to do around the globe.