Get your CV in order before Jobs Expo. Jobs Expo offers you the opportunity to meet with your potential employers face to face. This allows you to get a feel for the company and to make the first impression that online applications lack. It would be a great shame however, if the employer is greatly impressed by you only to be disappointed by a lacklustre CV.
We’ve compiled a list of three basic tips to help make sure that your CV stands out from the crowd this September.
While a CV can vary greatly from person to person most will contain a section on your previous experience and a section on your education. Bearing in mind the quantity of applications that an employer must read for a role, which of these sections do you think should come first?
While your education is no doubt relevant and should be included a good CV will immediately show the employer that you have the working knowledge necessary to do the job well by highlighting your relevant experience and responsibilities.
There are exceptions to every rule of course - for example if you are applying for a graduate position and your experience is limited to your education then you should list your education first. The main thing to bear in mind is that the information that the employer is looking for is the easiest for them to find.
It may seem like an obvious notion but when you are applying for a position in a company, it should highlight that not only are you qualified to work there but that you want to work there. Generic CV's are very easy for employers to pick up on and tailoring your CV to the company and job role is one of the simplest but often overlooked ways of making a favourable impression.
Take the time to research the companies exhibiting and edit your CV accordingly. This does mean that you will have to rewrite your entire CV for each role that you wish to apply for, but it might mean moving some things around so that the most relevant information is the first thing the employer sees. If the role involves people management skills then any responsibilities you had that highlights your experience in this area should appear first e.g. training new staff members. If however, the role is IT based then training new staff members will not be as relevant as the technical skills necessary for the job.
Compiling a CV can be a tedious task and errors can often slip through but when dealing with dozens if not hundreds of CV's for any given role employers can have little patience for such unnecessary mistakes. This is particularly relevant for any job role that requires ‘attention to detail’!
While some mistakes will escape the notice of spell check, taking the time to ask a friend to proof read your CV can help ensure that your CV is accurate and presentable.
And don’t forget, if you feel like your CV could use some sprucing up before visiting the employers at Jobs Expo then you can always visit the free Career Clinic first!
