CV Blog Articles and Tips

Case Study 1 - Writing a CV

Updated - 4th July 2024

Writing a CV? here are few free CV writing tips and advice.

1. You have made a start; if you are reading this, you have taken a good step towards improving the impact your CV will have.

2. Vision, hold an idea and the true purpose of your CV. To progress through the selection process and receive an invite to an interview.

3. Professional format, looking great, well set out, first impressions last. Your CV is your shop window and a chance to show off the best version of you. Evidence suggests that when a CV has a human interface, it takes 7 seconds to decide if a candidate should progress to the next selection phase. Top Tip! use the space on your CV very carefully.

4. Excellent impact summary, keeping the reader engaged and interested in your CV from start to finish.

5. Results show what you have contributed, the results achieved, and your impact on a position or situation. Delve into your career history and track out those achievements.

6. Grammar, make sure your spelling, punctuation and grammar are correct and read well throughout the CV.

7. Focus on your key marketing points, do not mistake overselling your strengths and missing an essential detail that recruiters are looking for during the application process. That process could be automated through algorithms with no human interface.

8. Contact details may be obvious, but make sure your email address and telephone numbers are correct. Always use a professional reading email address. Limit your address to a location to protect your identity.

9. Tailor, ensure your CV is tailored to the position you are applying for. Marketing a general CV will not have the same result as a CV tailored to a specific role.

10. Pages and words, ranging between 400 and 800 words, no more than two pages unless there is a very special case.

11. Font and pitch are essential; our preferred font is Calibri and varies in size between 11 and 14. This enables clarity throughout your CV and provides good readability. Choose a clear font that compliments your CV and be consistent.

12. Photographs, proceed with caution in this area; people can unknowingly (unconscious bias) make assumptions from a photo on your CV. There are only a few specific reasons you would include an image on your CV. The general rule is not to have a photograph.

13. Negativity, avoid using negative language at any stage within your CV.

14. ATS or Applicant Tracking System, your CV must pass basic algorithm testing. Most businesses will use a form of ATS to select the top % of candidates.

TOP TIP, We only know what we know. Sometimes a CV Template encourages you to record your past CV in a different form; therefore, nothing changes.

Case Study 3 - Chasing a Promotion

Updated - 25th June 2024

Take things seriously.

When you have identified a promotional move, it is worth considering a few areas.

1. Being Honest - During your appraisal or Line Manager Performance Review, it can present an excellent opportunity to explain how keen you are to progress your career. A lot will depend on your relationship with your Line Manager and how mature that manager is in developing their people and you in the business.

2. Role Profile - Track down a copy of the role profile or job description for the position you seek. Have a read through the qualifications, skills and experience required for the role.

3. Research - Knowing as much about the role as possible, internal company sites, and speaking to people are just a few methods to understand the position.

4. CV - is your CV up to date and focused on the position you are applying for? Please don't leave it until the last minute to create a CV; it will place unnecessary pressure on you. If you seek a professional CV Writer, take the time to engage a reputable Writer and allow time for the work to be undertaken.

5. Application Process - Clearly understand the application process. Research and understanding the process is excellent preparation. Work to understand the timescales you will be working towards.

TOP TIP: If you are chasing a position in your career, do it as if you are training for and running an Olympic race. Good planning, a great CV, interview preparation and research will all add value.

Case Study 5 - Applicant Tracking Systems

What is ATS Testing?

Updated - 21st May 2024

Large recruitment websites and businesses may not use a human interface to review the volume of CVs submitted. There can be hundreds of applicants for a particular position.

Businesses have learnt to speed up the shortlisting process with computer Algorithms to select the top candidates, sometimes called ATS.

Your CV must pass basic ATS pressure testing. If you are not passing through to interview selection, failing ATS could be one reason.

There are too many potential algorithms to detail; the list of metrics is extensive depending on the ATS system used.

A few areas to consider.

• Format of the CV, is your CV ATS friendly?

• Complex graphics on the CV.

• Action verbs.

• Results-driven.

• Bullet points.

• Buzzwords and clichés.

• Are the critical skills required for the role missing?

• Spelling, typos and grammar.

• Word count, too few or too many.

• Missing qualifications.

• Experience required.

Case Study 7 - School leavers and Students

Updated - 4th May 2023

Preparing a young adult for leaving school is probably one of the most critical phases of parental coaching.

We have a few tips on preparing a young adult for leaving school and moving into the hectic life of job seeking.

PLANNING - The date for leaving school is a precise date to plan towards; we know it's coming and when. There is plenty of time to talk through and discuss career ambitions years ahead of that date. Experience is built over time; think ahead and use that time wisely.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING? - Understanding a career ambition as early as possible will help to think through relevant education and experience goals an individual needs to achieve.

CV - You can begin to build a professional CV with a young adult in secondary education years ahead of the final days in school—time to gain work experience, charity and volunteering days to build a great CV. Begin to understand the gaps a person has and how to bridge those. It is that competition time again; how do you push yourself ahead of the thousands of young adults moving into the work environment simultaneously.

WORK EXPERIENCE OR VOLUNTARY WORK - This area presents an excellent opportunity to get ahead of the rest. Work Experience and or Voluntary Work is a perfect addition to a CV. It demonstrates to a potential employer the drive and ambition of an individual.

Top Tip - Supporting your children to have a CV packed with education and work experience relevant to the careers they aspire to have when leaving school. That will come with planning and thinking ahead.