Financial planning for an uncertain job market - part 4: How to give your CV the edge

As well as what (and what not) to include, we’ll get down to the nitty-gritty of how to order the information, the ideal length, and even which font works best. The result won’t just be a fresher CV, but one which should hopefully put you first in line for an interview.

It’s all part of our ongoing mission to support jobseekers during these uncertain times. We’re running through the whole journey, from how to rally financially following redundancy, where to start looking for new employment, and how to get a part-time job. Along the way we’ve also been highlighting how to stay on top of family finances.

• What is a CV?
• Why do I need a stand-out CV?
• What information should I include?
• How should it be presented?
• How else can I enhance my CV?
• What should I avoid on my CV?
• How do I write a good cover letter?
• What happens after I’ve sent my CV?

What is a CV?

Also known as a resume (in the States), CV is an abbreviation of the Latin words Curriculum Vitae. It is a detailed document showcasing your professional and academic history, and typically includes information about previous jobs or work experience, qualifications (including school or uni grades), hobbies and interests and some personal details, including how a recruiter can contact you.

What it isn't is a cover letter, which is a chance to show a bit more personality than you can on your CV. You can also address specific items listed in the job description and point out how your skills and experience match what they’re looking for. 

Why do I need a stand-out CV?

We all understand the importance of creating a good first impression – but not everyone has twigged that the process starts even before you meet someone face-to-face. Your CV is an opportunity to give potential employers a feel of who you are, why you’re suited to the role, and how you expect to be an asset to the company. Getting this right will considerably boost your chance of securing an interview, so it’s worth the time and effort.

The present, dire state of the UK jobs market means employers will be churning through even more applications than usual. We’ve already mentioned the paralegal position, but CV-Library, who originally broke that story, have countless other examples of just how ridiculously competitive things are out there. According to their research, some 3,333 people applied for a job as a human resources assistant and 3,272 for a trainee accountancy job. An advert for a job as a warehouse worker in Northumberland received 2,932 applications, while 2,653 applied for a factory job in Sunderland.

Still not convinced your CV has to be above average to catch a recruiter’s eye? Then bear in mind how quickly a potential employer might scan it to sift out a pile of good candidates from the weaker ones: 6 seconds! You read that right. You have very little time to plead your case, so it’s key you don’t inadvertently include any bloopers to make it easy for them to discard your application. A neat, engaging, properly organised document will convince them to spend more time reading on.

What information should I include?

The short answer is:

• your contact information
• a short profile statement
• your work experience
• education details
• other skills
• and, lastly, any additional information.

Usually, the ordering is as described above, but if you’re fresh out of school or uni put your education details above work information, on the assumption you’ve not had much professional experience yet.

In terms of contact details, you’ll need to include your name, a phone number (preferably mobile), a professional email address (so, not [email protected]) and a partial postal address. You should avoid detailing your whole address for security reasons. However, if you suspect the employer might prefer local candidates, and you’re currently outside the catchment area, you might consider leaving your address out completely, lest it gives them an easy excuse to discard your application without getting to know you or hear that you’re prepared to move closer if you get the job. Including your LinkedIn URL is also recommended these days.

Your profile statement comes next and is your chance to tell the recruiter why you’re the best candidate for the job. It’s basically a trailer for the rest of your CV. But be short and sweet about it – no more than 100 words. If you’ve got relatively little work experience to date, concentrate on the skills you’ve mastered and how you’ll be a good fit for the firm. If you’ve been working for a while, use this section to highlight your career progress. 

Listing your relevant work experience (most recent job first) comes next, and it’s easily the most important part of your CV. Write down your position, key responsibilities and the dates you worked at each firm. You should also describe how you performed in that role, wherever possible relating it directly to the duties listed in the job spec.

Education history is one of the easiest sections to complete on your CV, but only mention your high school if it’s the highest degree of education you’ve got. Otherwise, the standard format is graduation year (or expected graduation date), your qualification or degree, which institution you got it from, and honours (although only if they’re 2:1 or higher for undergrad degrees, and ‘merit’ or ‘distinction’ for postgrads).

If you’ve just graduated and don’t have much under the ‘work experience’ header, you can elaborate more in the ‘education’ section, including relevant coursework and extra-curricular academic activities.

When it comes to the next section, listing skills, relevance is key. Only include ones which chime with the job description, and include a mix of soft and hard skills. The difference? Hard skills show what you can do, while soft skills indicate how you’ll perform your duties. Good examples of the latter are problem-solving, written communication and leadership. Hard skills might include things like data entry, contract negotiation, web development or financial modelling. As a general rule of thumb, provide no more than 10 skills in total and present them as a bulleted list. The rest of your CV should provide the evidence that you actually have them.

How should it be presented?

Clarity and simplicity are key here, so go for a standard easy-to-read font (especially Arial, Helvetica or Times New Roman) and stick to an 11 or 12pt size, with single spacing. Your name and section titles, however, should be slightly bigger (14 to 16pt) to make them stand out.

Remember that less is more, so don’t be tempted to include fancy graphics and try to keep your CV to one page if possible (two max). Make sure all the headings are uniform and avoid unnecessary italics and underlining. 

A well-organised layout will give your CV a good chance of passing Applicant Tracking Software (used by a growing number of employers to sort and filter candidates in order of suitability), so be clear and consistent in presentation, set one-inch margins on all sides and use 1.0 or 1.5 line spacing. If in doubt, use one of the many, many templates on offer online. 

Finally, to make sure your layout stays intact, save your CV as a PDF unless the job ad specifically states that you should send a Word doc.

How else can I enhance my CV?

• It’s common to add social media accounts like a Facebook or Twitter to your contact details these days, especially if they’re relevant to the job you're applying for. Make sure you’ve cleaned up your online presence first though!
• In the profile statement, make a point of dropping in the company’s name. It shows you’re not spamming loads of recruiters with an identikit CV and will catch their eye.
• When it comes to your work experience, tailor your CV to the job description. If you’ve done any of the tasks listed before, even if they weren’t the main part of your previous job, the recruiter will be interested.
• Use action verbs to describe your previous roles, like ‘I created’ or ‘I analysed’ – it will make the CV, and by inference you, sound much more dynamic.
• Customise the skills list on every resume you send to match the requirements of the job on offer. You can also indicate how advanced your abilities are using words such as ‘advanced’, ‘Intermediate’, or ‘basic’.
• Finally, consider adding a section at the end of your CV to show off any industry awards, volunteer experience, professional certifications, publications, professional affiliations or additional training. It’s a real chance to stand out from the crowd.

What should I avoid on my CV?

• Don’t add a photo unless you’re applying for an acting or modelling job. Including your date of birth is also a bad idea unless you need to prove your age to legally do that job (i.e. serving alcohol in a bar).
• Avoid fonts such as Comic Sans. Choose something professional, clear and easy to read instead. And make sure there are no typos! A good CV doesn't have any spelling or grammar mistakes so use a spell checker and get a friend or family member to read over it as well.
• Try not to resort to clichés like 'team player', 'hardworking' and ‘multi-tasker'. If you’re any of those people, provide real-life examples that demonstrate this instead.
• If you're posting your CV, print it on white A4 paper, on one side only, and don't fold it. A creased CV immediately sets a bad tone.
• Lastly, don’t put the term 'curriculum vitae' at the top of the page! It’s not necessary.

How do I write a good cover letter?

A well-written cover letter could double your chances of getting hired so send one even if you’re not explicitly told to do so in the job ad. It’s basically a one-page document to introduce yourself, give an overview of your professional achievements, and explain why you want the job.

The letter header should include your contact details and the date, followed by the name of the hiring manager, their professional title, and the name and address of the company you’re applying to.

Using a ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ salutation is old-fashioned. If you’re applying for a job in a fairly relaxed company, use the hiring manager’s first name (a great way to find this out is via LinkedIn). For corporate cover letters, stick with Mr or Ms and the addressee's last name.

Then it’s straight in with a catchy opening paragraph introducing yourself and identifying the job you’re applying for, plus mentioning any relevant experience that makes you a good candidate. It helps if you can express how enthusiastic you are about the opening, but don’t overdo it. Sincerity is key, as is being direct, so don’t waffle just for the sake of filling up page space.

Next comes details about how all your previous experiences will be an asset to your future employer. But also be clear about what you’ll get out of it – i.e. why you want this job, not just any other.

And then it’s time to close off. Avoid sounding too needy here (repeating how much you want the job) or resorting to clichés (“Thank you for your time and consideration…”). Instead, tell the hiring manager that you’re looking forward to meeting in person so you can discuss what you can offer the company in more detail.

A standard sign-off (‘Sincerely’ or ‘Best regards’) wraps it all up perfectly, although some CV experts suggest you can help yourself stand out further with a ‘PS’ including one more achievement.

What happens after I’ve sent my CV?

You wait! The employer will need some time to review your application, after all, but if it gets to two weeks past closing date and you’ve still not had a response, consider sending a follow-up email, politely saying that you’re still interested and reiterating why you’re the perfect fit.

Meanwhile, keep applying for other jobs that catch your eye. You may find our article ‘How to find a new job’ helpful here.

You should also use the time to get on top of your finances. If you are currently unemployed, you might be finding it tough without a salary. One tip is to review all your monthly costs and then eliminate or reduce unnecessary spending and bills wherever possible.

Avoid unnecessary debt too, including taking out loans you know you won’t be able to pay back on time or afford. This may get you into even more financial difficulties and cause added stress. Remember, a loan is a big financial commitment and will necessitate meeting the monthly repayments. Without a wage or a monthly income, this will likely be unrealistic. 

However, if you’re employed or have a regular stable income, but are searching for a job that pays more, a personal loan could be an option in the meantime. Especially if you need to fork out on an expensive item – replacing a broken-down car, for example. But as with all types of loans, before applying you must be confident you can comfortably afford the repayments.

When looking for a personal loan, you could start by compiling a list of potential providers, and then check the terms, costs and repayment amounts of each to see which one best suits your needs and means. You could use a comparison site, such as the MustCompare personal loans comparison page to help make your choice. Finally, always ensure you have all the information you need before applying for any type of loan. If in doubt, seek impartial professional advice.

In our next post, we’ll be looking at how to impress if you’re offered an interview, as well as tips on how to keep tabs on your bank account while you're job-hunting. Difficult as this period is, our advice is aimed at keeping you – and your finances – afloat until your career is back on track. And that day will come soon, so stay positive.