We’ve all been there where we hit the send button and suddenly our heart sinks as we realise we have made an epic mistake in our CV. Does this sound familiar? Maybe you forgot to update your email address from hotlipsxxx@msn.com, or you accidentally attached a letter from your ex in haste of applying to your new dream job.
Space on your CV is valuable real estate. Don’t get your application thrown in the bin at first glance for silly mistakes that could easily be avoided. Stand out from the crowd and consider the following things before pressing send.
1. Ditch the weird formatting and design.
A classic font goes a long way. You aren’t in school anymore, so Comic Sans or an equally playful font will not cut it. You want your CV to stand out for the right reasons. Keep the style consistent – don’t mix up numbers with bullet points as this will just look messy. Stick to black font only and avoid colours at all costs. If the hiring manager needs to print off your CV, colours may get lost, plus it just looks a bit naff. Basically, unless you are applying to be a designer, keep it simple and stylish – less is more.
2. Cut your CV down to one or two pages.
The hiring manager does not want your life story. They don’t need to know where you went to playgroup or what medals you won at your school sports day in 2012. Recruiters don’t have the time to sieve through pages of irrelevant information when they have multiple applications to go through. Too long and they will just get bored – not the lasting impression you want! Keep things concise and to the point. Tailor your CV to each job and put the key skills they desire at the top. Recruiters want to see at a glance you are the right person for the job – so show them!
3. Sorry, hotlipsxxx@msn.com has to go!
If you don’t want to be laughed out of the room with the embarrassing email address you created when you were 16, we suggest you change it pronto. You also risk looking out of touch if your email provider hasn’t been a popular choice in the past few years. A bad email address screams unprofessional – do you really want your future boss to know you as ‘Hotlips’ going forward?!
4. Check, check and check again.
One of the biggest reg flags are spelling mistakes (yes, we did do that on purpose!). This really is a sin which no one has time for. Thinking ‘I speak fluent French and Spanish’ but typing ‘I speak fluent French and Spinach’ may make the recruiter giggle, but sorry Popeye, you are going straight in the bin! Get someone else to proofread your CV before you send it – two eyes are always better than one.
5. Don’t fall at the last hurdle.
You would be surprised how many times we have received the wrong document in place of a CV or covering letter. You’ve done all the hard work perfecting and tailoring your CV and followed the above tips – but now you’ve attached the wrong document. Doh. Epic fail. Make sure your latest documents are clearly and appropriately titled and check before you click send!
Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to your new job! If you have any questions on CV writing, feel free to get in touch with one of our team at info@selective-group.com who will be able to assist you.
