Are you hitting the basics with your CV?

Your CV is a crucial step in the job search process, yet it is often overlooked. Many individuals are unsure where to begin, especially if they haven't applied for a role for years. Updating your CV can seem challenging, and some may rely on AI for assistance.

Submitting a generic or AI-generated CV suggests a lack of genuine interest in the position, as it shows you haven't invested time in researching the role and the organisation - not the best way to make a strong first impression.

With application software often conducting the initial review of candidates, it's essential to clearly illustrate how you meet the key requirements of the role. Only then will your CV likely reach a human reviewer.

Careful attention needs to be given to all elements of a CV, including: its overall presentation and layout, grammar, spelling, and, most importantly, content. Even if the content is top quality, most employers won’t get round to reading it if they are put off by any of the other, more basic elements.

If you’re starting from the beginning, not ready to apply for vacancies yet and want to create a draft CV, search for jobs that you might apply for and use the information in those to help you work through each of the sections below.

So, to help you stand out, here’s some general guidelines based on my experience of viewing hundreds of CVs over the years:

• Presentation and layout Your CV must look clean and well structured, with enough white space to enhance readability. It should be approximately two pages long unless your industry has its own standards; for instance, if you are expected to include your publications or details of projects. Use a simple font like Arial, 10-12pt, and keep formatting like italics and underlining to a minimum. Bullet points are extremely useful as they allow you to highlight key points succinctly and keep the document looking tidy.

• Start each point with an action verb if you can (‘created’, ‘managed’, ‘increased’, ‘improved’ etc.), rather than ‘I’.

• Spelling and punctuation - after you have proofread and spell-checked it, give it to a friend to do the same. Hiring organisations are inundated with so many applications. Unnecessary mistakes can mean yours ends up in the reject pile.

And here are my 8 tips to get the Basic structure right:

1. Name, address and contact details Use the phone number and email address that you use most often. You don’t want to disappoint an employer by failing to respond to their invitation to an interview in a timely fashion. Include the link to your LinkedIn profile too.

2. Personal profile Take this as a good opportunity to highlight in a few sentences what you hope to achieve in your next position, what you feel you can offer to the employer and your "why this job?" answer. In marketing terms, this is the place for your ‘USP’, or unique sales proposition. Tailor this section to each job position that you’re applying to.

3. Skills summary The application software/reader of your CV may not have more than a few seconds to spend scanning applications, so including a skills section can capture attention by making it immediately clear what you can offer. Compile a brief bulleted list of the skills and experience that you possess that are relevant to the role. Wherever possible, use the same adjectives as those used in the advertisement. This is particularly important as larger organisations may use computer software to scan documents for the keywords they are looking for in terms of skills etc., For instance, if the ad specifies someone who has ‘excellent interpersonal skills’, these should be addressed under your skills section with brief evidence of how you have used those skills. Tailor your skills and expertise to the individual position you are applying for, always.

4. Relevant experience This is your work history and includes paid work and any relevant volunteer or work experience placements. Work backwards from your most recent job and don’t leave any gaps; you don’t want to give potential employers any reason to suspect the worst. If you took a year out, carried out an interim assignment or travelled for six months, say so – just make sure you illustrate whatever the experience was in a positive way, focusing on the fact that it gave you some great skills and knowledge.

5. Achievements All achievements should be quantified, for example if you over-achieved on your sales targets, you need to say by what percentage and over what period. Implemented and managed a project? What were the measurables? How did you do? A future employer will also be interested in where you went above and beyond the job that you were paid to do and achieved something great. So if you’ve received an award, been “Employee of the Month” for 3 months running, or been recognised in some other way, say so.

6. Education and training Use your common sense here. If you have an advanced degree, few people are going to be concerned about the exams you took when you were 16 years old. Also include any professional qualifications or training courses that you have done that are relevant to the job that you are applying for.

7. Interests These are optional, but should you choose to include a section on hobbies and interests, keep it very brief. Avoid saying anything that could be contentious (e.g. political or religious affiliations), and wherever possible, use the space to show how your personality is suited to that of the business for which you’re applying.

8. References Actual referees are rarely included on CVs. Unless the advert specifically asks for the information, simply say ‘References are available on request’. The employer will then make later arrangements to contact the referees.

If you get the basics right then you increase your chances of success significantly. Remember to keep it structured, relevant and interesting. Good luck!

Creating your winning CV and LinkedIn Profile are part of my "Savvy Job Applicant" programme.

Savvy Job Applicant - Job Application Success Factors

​We'll create your coaching programme based on

which of the following topics you would like help with:

• Know how to create your winning CV and complete on-line application forms

• Nail your LinkedIn Profile so Headhunters and Recruiters come to you

• Know where and how to look for new opportunities

• Improve your skills and build interview confidence

• Perfect Interview Presentations and other Assessment Centre Activities

• Develop strategies to handle set-backs, make the most of your time and ensure you keep family/friends on side too

• Know how to negotiate a job offer

• Start your new job with plans to help you "hit the ground running"  and make a positive impact quickly

If it's an internal job application or support to apply for promotion, again we can totally tailor the programme to suit

This is how the Savvy Job Applicant help works:

• We'll create your plan taking into account the timeframe you have, the topics that will help you most and agree the number and frequency of coaching sessions you need to achieve your goals 

• As we work through your programme, we'll agree the actions you will take before our next session to ensure we keep you on track.

• The minimum booking is for 3 x 1 hour coaching sessions priced at £297.  Additional sessions are £95 each 

Savvy Job Applicant Programme:  from £297

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