What should be in your CV?

Posted by Andrew on September 5, 2016

This weeks blog comes courtesy of our Waikato Recruitment Consultant, Gemma Pritchard. Often candidates are unsure what they should put in their CV and what they should leave out. So here are Gemma's suggestions.

DO

• Create a great first impression by ensuring your CV looks organized and well laid out
• Use a simple file format – Word or PDF
• Remember to include your full contact details
• Include a brief personal statement. A paragraph at the beginning of your CV with a little about yourself and your current situation
• List your employment history starting with your most recent position working backwards, and be sure to include start and end dates for each role 
• Include a cover letter that is customised to the specific role - not just a generic one

DON’T

• Use long sentences, keep it to bullet points and key phrases. Keep it concise.
• Forget to spell check! Have someone read over it also to check for any errors you may have missed
• Feel obliged to include a photo, it is unnecessary
• Forget to customize the CV to the role you are applying for and ensure it is up to date
• Use random fonts or several different fonts. Keep it to one and keep it simple
• Lie about your skills, abilities or achievements

If you need some help getting that CV "work ready", then give us a call.