CV Tips

Presenting your CV in the right way can give you a much better chance of getting an interview, here’s some simple tips and downloads that could improve your CV.

  • Keep it real. Usually a CV should be no more than two pages – and that’s two pages of A4 paper! Employers spend, an average, just 8 seconds looking at any one CV.
  • Tailor it. Take the time to change your CV for each role that you apply for. Research the company and use the job advert to work out EXACTLY what skills you should point out to them.
  • Include a personal statement. Use a short personal statement to explain why you are the best person for the job.
  • Don’t leave gaps. This makes employers suspicious - and they won’t give you the benefit of the doubt.
  • Keep it current. You should keep your CV up-to-date whether you’re looking for a job or not.
  • The error of your ways. Employers DO look for mistakes on CVs and if they find them, it makes you look really bad.
  • Tell the truth. The last thing you want is to start work and then lose your new job for lying.
  • Make it look good. Use bullet points and keep sentences short.

Downloads

 

Application Form Tips

Top tips for filling in the NLW application form.

Although these tips have been created with the NLW recruitment portal in mind they are valid for most other types of application form.

  • Include all the training courses you’ve done.Especially if you have certificates; add them after any school/college qualifications you have gained. Mention that you have a driving license if you have it.
  • Take time completing your application.Explain the tasks you had to perform in previous jobs. Make sure you give details and don’t just write ‘general admin tasks’ or ‘keeping the workspace tidy’. You could use your old job description as a guide.
  • Make sure your dates of education and employment make sense. State the month you started and ended. You should start with your most recent job and work backwards.
  • Include positive comments you may have received in your workplace. If you’ve been voted best employee or had a positive appraisal include this in your application explaining what you did to achieve it.
  • Think about the reason you include for leaving a position. Saying that you were sacked will make your application stand, but not for the right reasons.
  • This is your opportunity to explain why you are the right person for the job.Make the most of it; be specific about skills and experience that you’d bring to the role.
  • Explain why you’re suited for a particular job.Make sure you include any volunteering experience or relevant casual work. Any workplace training or hobbies that are relevant to the job would be useful to include as well.
  • Choose suitable references.Approach people and ask them if they will give you a reference, it isn’t appropriate to use a member of your family.

Click here for more general information on applying for jobs

“My key worker gave me invaluable advice about how I could use my CV to emphasise the qualities I already had, and encouraged me to visit the places where I wanted to work and drop off my applications personally.”

Joe Howley, New Stevenson