We are sure you all know how imperative it is to have the ideal CV, it is, after all, a potential employer's first introduction to you but how do you go about writing it? What details should you put in and what should you leave out? We at AllMaidstoneJobs want to assist you in improving your chances of getting that perfect job you {are after so here are hints for making the right first impression.

The Basics

We are sure you all know it's clear but a Curriculum Vitae (CV) should always be typed to give it the best ease of read possible. It should also be excellently presented. Consider how it looks on the page. There should be apparent headings and breaks between details. A prospective employer will probably look through lots of CVs for a job so they should be able to read the significant information immediately before short listing it for a more thorough read through. A shoddily laid out CV which is complicated to read will probably end up in the bin.

Personal Statement

Lots of employers want a CV to commence with a personal statement as it permits them to see straightaway what you are about. What should this contain?

• Who are you and what have you been doing in your working life? What have you found most rewarding about previous jobs?


• What do you want to do? Outline your goals?


• How are you going to go about achieving these goals?


• What are your key skills? What can you bring to a prospective employer?

Ensure you give these questions real thought before you answer them as they should be expected to be questioned at interview. Here's an example of the type of thing could say:

' I am clever, a conscientious worker and determined about any challenges I take on. My workto date has all been very customerfocused and I have found this to be very enjoyable. I have spent the last several years in a sales environment and I find enjoyable the interaction with different sorts of people this brings. I feel I am intelligent and would like the opportunity to exploit. During my time at G K Estate Agents I very much enjoyed learning as much as possible about the technical and legal aspects of the conveyancing process and think that I took to it quickly. I am very much keen to take on a challenging position with the opportunity to progress and train where possible. I am also extremely IT literate and thoroughly like using computers as part of my working life.'

Education

The next section should be your education if it is especially relevant to the job for which you are applying. For example, if you have a degree in Marketing and you are applying for a marketing position then it is useful to state this first. However, if you think that your education is not particularly relevant and you are applying on the importance of your experience then it is worth possibly putting your work history first.

Your education should be put in reverse order with the most recent education done at the beginning. There is no need to go into lots detail here, simply state where you studied and what grades you achieved. It is not vital to put the dates of study if you do not want to as, under the Age Discrimination Law, you are not required to make any reference to your age and including dates from which your age may be obvious. Remember to include information of any extra certificates you may have received which may be important to the position.

Work History

Like education, it is important that this is laid out in reverse order, the most recent or current employment at the beginning. You should state the name of the company and the period of time you were employed (this does not have to be dates but you should indicate for how much time you were employed in that position). It is also important to indicate where the employer was based, e.g. Maidstone. You should also clearly indicate what your job title was. Underneath explain briefly what your job role was and your main tasks. This should help a perspective employer decide whether your experience makes you suitable for their position. Try to be succinct and keep it to only relevant information.

It is not advisable to put your salary for each position undertaken on your CV as this can make an employer to make assumptions about your suitability for a role and make negotiating your salary, where applicable, harder. The same can also be said for putting your salary expectation on your CV.

Other Information

It is usual for job seekers to put a small amount of personal information, such as hobbies, on their CV. You should keep this to a minimum. You should, however, state whether you have a driving licence and whether you own your own car etc.

Employers do not necessarily want to see photos on a CV. For most vacancies it is not necessary to include a photo but if you wish to it should be passport photo sized and professional looking.

Spelling and Punctuation

It is highly important that you ensure all spelling and punctuation are right. Literacy is often highly important to employers so use the 'Spell Check' facility on your computer.

Second Opinion

Ask someone to read through your CV. Ask them to double check that it looks presentable and easy to read. You should also ask them to check your spelling and grammar.

Covering Letter

When applying for a role you should include a covering letter. This should indicate why you are applying for this job in particular and a small amount about the experience and/or skills you have which would be of value to them (avoid repeating too much from the CV itself).

Each Job is Different

Remember that it is not necessarily 'one CV fits all', it's important spending a few minutes checking your CV before each time you send it to ensure it makes the biggest impact for each particular role. You may want to consider changing some information, particularly your personal statement, to suit the job description.