HOW TO PREPARE A PERFECT RESUME FOR JOB INTERVIEW

The Perfect CV:

THE CV IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT selling tool for any prospective employee. Most employers and recruiters will require your CV in order to gauge what experience, skills and talents you might bring to a company. A well written CV should provide evidence that you are the best person for the position on offer and properly tailored to the advertised job, it can considerably boost your chances of getting an interview. Therefore, the importance of the CV should not be underestimated.

Most recruiters and HR executives will spend no more than a minute looking at each CV they encounter so it is crucial that yours makes an immediate impact (You may need to put together more than one CV if you intend to apply for different types of jobs across different sectors). Consider what skills, abilities and experience the employer requires in an ideal candidate and then craft your CV to suit. It is usually possible to tell what an employer is looking for from the job advertisement or job description. However, you may need to carry out your own research on both the company and the advertised position. But whatever way you get your information, once you are sure of what is required by the company, focus your CV appropriately.

The main areas of your CV
1. Name and contact details - include your name, address, phone numbers and e-mail address. You may wish to add details of your nationality, date of birth and driving licence but this is not obligatory.

2. Profile - compile a brief summary about yourself but make sure that any grand statements can be backed up by facts.

3. Work experience - start with your current or most recent position and work backwards. Describe your work experience in short sentences using straightforward and positive language. List your achievements under each job description e.g. increased the sales of Product X from £12,000 to £26,000. Simply describing a job gives no indication of your talents and success in carrying out your duties so also highlight the job requirements such as the ability to manage staff or work to tight deadlines.

4. Education/qualifications and skills - list brief details of qualifications - GCSE’s, A-levels, degree - along with grades attained. Applicants looking for their first job since leaving school, college or university can include their educational attainments before noting their work experience. Ensure you include any IT skills and additional languages spoken and also include the names of professional bodies of which you are a member.

5. Hobbies and interests - including details of your interests away from the workplace is optional. However, by adding brief details of your activities and hobbies you are giving an employer a more rounded picture of you as a person.

6. Referees - It is usual to provide the names and contact details of two referees, one of which should preferably be your most recent employer. However, graduates with limited work experience can nominate university lecturers or their work experience managers. But whoever you nominate as your referees, be sure to ask their permission in advance.

7. Presentation - It is crucial that your CV is well presented and preferably it should take up just two sides of A4 paper. Do not bind or insert it in a folder as it may be difficult to scan or fit in a company’s filing system. Most people follow a historical CV format with employment history placed in chronological order because it is relatively easy to compose and the structure is familiar to employers. However, if your career history is fragmented perhaps you should consider a skills-based CV which talks up your abilities rather than revealing your erratic employment record. Highlight your work experience and education in bold and ensure that the dates are on the left hand side. Also, indent the information so that the prospective employer finds it easy to pick out. In addition, check the fonts are consistent, alignment is appropriate and most of all make sure that your spelling and grammar is impeccable. Nothing is more off-putting to an employer than glaring spelling mistakes in a CV - this can mean the difference between getting an interview or not!

More CV tips. 
- Use a confident tone and positive language
- Concentrate on your achievements rather than responsibilities
- Get a second opinion from someone you trust
- Use good quality paper
- white is usually best
- E-mail your prospective employer a copy of your CV as well as sending a hard copy

What not to do in a CV.
- Don’t leave any gaps in your work record
- employers will always think the worse
- Don’t tell lies
- you may be found out!
- Don’t include a photograph unless requested
- Don’t use elaborate fonts or colours
- keep it simple

Covering letters.
Most employers will expect a cover letter with your CV. This is an important part of your job application and you should use it to both show your interest in the position and underline your suitability.

Tips for covering letters.
- Address your letter to a specific person whenever possible
- Keep your letter brief and to the point
- Make the reader easily see how your skills and experience are relevant
- As with your CV, use good quality paper and envelopes

Obviously each new position applied for should entail compiling a relevant CV and fresh cover letter. However, regardless of how many jobs you apply for, your CV should be updated on an annual basis. If you neglect to update regularly then there could be a string of achievements which will get lost in history!