Expert advice: Standout CVs

We see masses of CVs and we always work with our candidates to make sure they create an employment and skills summary that is going to make the best impression.

By Mark Wiggan, managing director, M65 Recruitment.

Here are our top ten tips to creating a standout CV:

1. First of all, it’s really worth putting as much effort as you can into preparing a CV. Employers need to have the right information about you – it’s not a guessing game.

2. Make sure your CV includes skills/words relevant to the job you’re applying for, even if that means you have to modify each one.

3. Include details of your key skills, your outstanding achievements and a personal profile.

4. Keep personal information brief, perhaps an e-mail and contact number.

5. Your CV is the first thing a potential employer will see about you, so presentation is really important. Keep the same layout for each job detail, be consistent with line spacing and use the same font through-out.

6. Use subheadings (in bold) to split up the different sections.

7. Don’t use too much colour on your CV; keep it easy on the eye.

8. Keep your CV to one or two sides of A4 at the most.

9. Don’t include a picture of yourself. It can create the wrong impression.

10. Finally, always use a covering letter, addressed to a named person if possible, which outlines why you’re applying.