Our Top Tips for CV Writing.

…..the dreaded JOB HUNT!!! 

Hello fellow job seekers, graduates and current students,

Are you looking for your next volunteer role or are you graduating and need to update your CV?

We have put together a few Top Tips that we think would help you hone your CV writing ability

When it comes to a CV there are no real rules and no such thing as a perfect CV, so don’t panic!

But if you want to make your CV stand out to employers follow these tips below…..

TOP CV TIPS

Your CV will be the first impression that the recruiter will have of you, so make it count.

• Be different, some employers read hundreds of CVs a week. Make sure yours is the one they remember! Put in that event you helped out at, add in your paper round, or when you helped out at a charity fundraiser. This all helps the employer to paint a picture of you. They will be looking for your character and working out if you would be the right fit.
• Target your CV to a particular employer. If it’s a volunteering organisation make sure you put any past experience of volunteering towards the top of your CV. If it’s an office based role, make sure you show off your time management skills and give examples. Saying you were a waitress at your local pub, though an important skill not relevant to that employer, unless you show how this improved your communication skills. always link back to a skill.
• Allocate more space to issues that matter; your skills, your work experience, your degree. Drop out the irrelevant stuff.
• Keep to 2 sides of A4 paper (unless instructed otherwise).
• Spell check!! Ask someone to proof read it, and then proof it again. Ask your friends and family to help you, ask your career department, and lecturers to cast their eyes over it.
• Use short phrases; bullet points might help. Use clear examples. Simplify. Most employers are going through a large amount of CVs and they are looking for key skills and examples that match what they are looking for.
• Use action verbs to make a positive impression. Such as, ADAPTED, ENHANCED, NEGOTIATED, SOLVED, UTILISED. These will convey a positive attitude and highlight your achievements.
• Be careful not to waffle!! Get to the point. you CV is a summary of facts, the cover letter is the magic.
• Make sure you have all the relevant information on your CV. Make sure you add your address and your phone number! Only add driving license if you are applying for a driving job. Chuck all irrelevant info out of your CV.

How volunteering abroad can feed into your career development, by offering practical examples and showing your commitment and dedication to your university subject. Watch below. 

Lot’s of employers like to see your KEY SKILLS highlighted on your CV.

But don’t follow the crowd. Skills such as ‘good communication‘ and ‘organised’ can be quite boring for a recruiter to read. Try narrowing that skill, so instead of communication, you could be a ‘good public speaker‘. Or instead of ‘organised’ you can be an ‘active planner’.

It’s also a great idea to show these skills further with a quick example of how you are good at public speaking. Such as, “I have given a couple of talks on sexual health in a school in South Africa with children aged 11-14. It was important I captured their attention and provided them with accurate information on keeping themselves healthy”.

Here at Vocational Impact we work with thousands of university students to offer practical and career relevant work-experience.

We advise and offer guidance on getting career ready, and help you tailor your work-experience to your dream job.

Take a look at our placements;

South Africa; Johannesburg here

South Africa; Durban here