The pandas love CVs! What we love even more, is seeing a CV where the best care was taken to make it a perfect picture of what the candidate has done, and what they are looking to do next.
With ongoing CV tips, we hope you can enter your next job application with a CV so fierce you’ll have interviews lined up in no time. Some of the pandas had some pointers to offer, so here’s a quick guide on what to do, and what to avoid!
On your CV, do...
- Tailor the CV into something the employer wants to read. Study the job you’re applying to, and decide what amazing achievements you can promote in the opening statement.
- Include relevant proof or examples of these achievements. Using measurable successes in your CV allows the employer to see exactly what you can bring to their team.
- Keep it concise. Use bullet points over long paragraphs, to keep attention on the important aspects of your career. Concise does not mean just a word or two. For example, name the programs or skills you used, and how you used them. Ultimately, the employer want to know what you achieved with the resources you had.
- Format it perfectly. Keep font sizes consistent, and any tables or designs placed in a relevant place.
- Place your educational achievements AFTER your work history. Unless you are a recent graduate, your work history is what the employers will really want to see. Make sure they will see what they want to see!
- We can’t sing about this one enough…PROOFREAD!
On your CV, don't...
- Attach a picture to the CV. It won’t really add any weight to the real meat of the content. (Unless you’re applying for Next Top Model, or something!)
- Be too informal. Showing personality is not to be frowned upon, but you should know how to approach the employer if you have done the research! No puns, that’s a definite pandon’t…sorry!
- Get carried away with graphic design on your CV. Creativity is no doubt sought after, but so is a readable CV! So, try to keep the balance of graphics and text so that the employer isn’t looking at a page of graphs and nothing else.
- Leave gaps in your career. If you were on a career break, state that so the employers do not make their own assumptions!
- Use different font colours! It will lower readability massively!
- Send your CV if it’s not completely relevant to your history, or you don’t feel 100% passionfor the role. That time can be better spent for everyone involved.
Have a look over your CV, and have a think about what you really need to blow the competition away!
Discover more career advice & tips on The Panda Express.