Employers sifting through applications is likened to swiping through Tinder as research shows people spend 8.8 seconds looking at a CV. So how do you ensure your CV grabs an employers attention?
- Get the look right: choose the right font and make sure it is the right size! Use 14 font for your name and 11 font for the rest of your CV. Use Ariel or another clear font style (Times New Roman works) – most importantly, remember your CV needs to be accessible to the reader.
- Use visual aids: bullet points, line breaks, bold formatting and tabs. These are all simple tools you use to make an impact.
- Avoid ready made templates: CV's are an opportunity for you to demonstrate your personality and individuality to an employer. Where possible add a personal touch to your CV so you stand out from the competition. Please note, some employers specify specific templates, if this is the case then do as the employer asks!
- Length matters: an employer potentially has another 99 CV's to look through. If your CV is too long, you'll loose the employer - the general rule is no more than two pages. However in some sectors such as Banking and Management Consulting, recruiters expect a 1-page CV. Remember, a CV that is too short immediately suggests that you don't have enough experience, which could potentially put you out of the race.
- Its all about consistency: make sure you are consistent in the use of bullet points, the font size and spacing on your CV. This projects professionalism and conveys strong attention to detail skills.
Make sure your CV doesn't end up in the reject pile, book a quick query with one of our careers advisers for constructive feedback. We are open throughout the summer holidays.
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