A great CV is your pathway to landing a job interview! Get it right and you’re on the interview shortlist, get it wrong then your application will likely be overlooked. When applying through a recruitment agency, such as SFR Recruitment Solutions, your credentials and CV will be discussed with the recruiting hiring manager; therefore, it’s important that your CV is up-to-date and presents your skills and experience clearly so it’s easy to read and convey.
Approximately 60% of job applicants through SFR are passive candidates, meaning they are not actively looking for another job until the perfect role is waved under their noses by a recruitment consultant. In this situation, passive candidates CVs mostly always require updating, and sometimes might not even exist if they’ve been in their current jobs a long time. LinkedIn is a good start to keep your job history in one place, however LinkedIn profiles can also be forgotten about while happy and content in a job, it’s only when ‘back in the race’ for a new job that the updating happens.
So, when putting together a CV where do you start? Think of the first half of page one of your CV as your elevator pitch, containing all the most important information as a summary of your experience, skills and credentials for the job. Consider the role you are applying for and shape your CV accordingly.
Personal Statement
Begin with a short personal statement tailored to the role you’re applying for. Just a few sentences or bullet points of information that is extremely focused will do.
In terms of structure, consciously try and answer the following questions:
Who are you? What do you have to offer? What are you aiming for in your career? If you were the recruiting manager, what things would attract you in the personal statement?
It’s also a good idea to avoid clichés, and quantify your attributes with specific examples from previous positions/education. These will add value and also enhance your credibility. ie “An experienced BDM with 15 years’ experience in winning and developing customer accounts in the door fabrication industry”.
Employment History
When it comes to your employment history – write in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent experience at the top.
Then, use your work experience to demonstrate your relevant skills and abilities. But don’t just focus on your daily duties; you should also talk about the accomplishments and achievements you gained from each role.
If you’ve no employment history as yet, it’s fine to leave this section out.
Consider if your lack of experience is holding you back from the job you want and be proactive. If you want to gain experience in the hardware, ironmongery, access control or door hardware sector, consider volunteering yourself for a few weeks work experience. Speak to SFR Recruitment we can help you with contacts, advise you on how to gain experience and also look out for the right role for you.
Education
Include your highest qualification first ie Postgraduate, Degree, Diploma or Gai Qualifications. Your education should be in reverse chronological order with the most recent achievements first, and GCSEs last. State the number of qualifications achieved and the general grades you achieve in relevant subjects such as maths and English. If you’re awaiting results, state your predicted/expected grades where possible or just put ‘results pending’.
Note any particular course modules you’ve undertaken that are relevant to the role. ie access control in public buildings, or an element of Gai qualifications that are relevant to the role, or what you’ve studied that show your wider knowledge of the subject.
Hobbies
This is not an essential part of the CV, but it’s an opportunity to show your personality.
Don’t feel you have to include hobbies if you don’t really have any and avoid cliches like ‘socialising with friends.’
Focus on hobbies that are unique (you may be asked to expand on these during the interview) that are great talking points, prove your skills and back-up your motives for applying for the role. ie competitiveness is a good trait for a sales role, so therefore if you’re into competitive sport it would be good to mention this.
Ask yourself if the hobby will help you get the job? If not, then leave it out.
References
Unless asked directly in the job posting, stating that references are available on request is fine. Make sure your references are credible and ask permission of them to be noted down as a referee so it’s not a surprise.
CV Format
Here is an example CV template for you to download. Remember it’s not a ready-made CV and you will need to put in the hard work. Before you get started take some time to research the company and the role, think about how your skills and experience relate, and what makes you a good fit.
Every time you apply for a job make small changes to your CV that tailor it to the job – this is essential and it will get easier.
Whatever your situation, whether you’ve recently graduated, or you’re coming back from a career break, or have been settled in a job for quite some time, or made redundant, your CV will reflect this – always be honest and positive.
Got an interview?
See our Top 10 Tips for Job Interview Success
Need more CV advice?
Remember, it takes an employer just seven seconds to shortlist or reject a job applicant’s CV. This means creating a concise CV is absolutely vital if you want to land that all-important interview.
SFR Recruitment is a dedicated recruiter and specialist operating in the ironmongery, door hardware and access control sectors. If you need advice on updating your CV, support with your job hunt or just a chat about your career aspirations, get in-touch with us at SFR Recruitment Solutions we would be happy to help you.
