CV Tips
- Summarise your background, skills and any work experience into short bullet points which outline your main responsibilities and achievements - this makes it easier for employers to pick out what they need.
- Keep to no more than 2 pages - less is definitely more when it comes to CV's. It you have written your 1 or 2 pages well, this will be ample.
- A CV should not be a static document. Tailor your experiences to match the requirements of the job - it'll be far easier for employers to shortlist you if your skills and background match up with the job that you are applying for.
- Stick to clean white paper - coloured paper may stand out but white is more professional. A well written CV on white paper will carry more impact that a poorly written one that has been prepared on coloured paper.
- If you decide to use a summary paragraph at the beginning of your CV to outline your ambitions, make sure it counts. There is little point in putting bland mission statements down on paper such as "I am looking for a career in the investment industry" that much is already evident from your application!
- You need to clearly articulate your "soft" skills. Even if you have no work experience, employers will still want to know that you possess the basic skills that are required for the job. Those skills may include communicating effectively, accuracy and numeracy, time management and more. If you need to, draw on other experiences (university, school, part-time work, social organisations etc.) to get these points across.