Top CV Tips from Platinum Recruitment
Let’s face it, applying for a job can be really competitive (& daunting). So it’s essential your CV is easy to navigate & looks its best to impress your potential new employers (& of course recruiters).
Platinum have been supporting candidates in their job search for over 15 years and we’ve learned a thing or two about what makes a good CV during this time. Everything from how it should be laid out to what you should and shouldn’t include – we’ve been there and done it when it comes to making a good CV great and we want to share some hints and tips with you.
With that in mind we’ve asked some our most experienced team members to share their top advice for anyone wanting to perfect their CV ahead of applying for roles in finance, admin & business & contact centre jobs.
CV Tips from Sam: Business Manager
Samantha is both the first & longest standing Platinum employee, having worked through multiple roles across various desks her experience in recruitment is rarely matched. Now operating as our Business Manager, Samantha has provided her top CV tips which can be applied to all CV’s:
• Name & contact details:
– Make sure they are clear at the top of your CV, including phone number, email & location. If an employer can’t find you how can they invite you for interview.
• Education to be an overview with clear grades:
– Academics are key for a lot of shortlisting processes so make sure your most recent studies are at the top & listed in reverse order to GCSE level.
• Employment dates in bold highlighting the month & year you started & finished:
– e.g. JAN 2015 – MAR 2017. Make it easy to see when you moved jobs & remember to always list employment history with the most recent first.
• Company name & job title:
– Ensure this is in bold as it helps the employer to easily navigate your CV especially if there’s lots of content.
• All duties to be bullet pointed:
– This makes it easier to see exactly what you do & helps to match your skills to any job specifications.
• Split duties / responsibilities of separate roles within 1 employer:
– If you have progressed / been promoted within the same company then split the roles (with dates in each). Bullet point the duties for each role separately to reflect the progression – it helps show your career journey & development.
CV Tips from Duncan: Director
Duncan has been recruiting in the finance sector for over 20 years & his knowledge in this market is unrivalled. If you’re looking to update your CV for a new finance role then consider applying his tips to improve your CV:
• Highlight if your exams are passed first time or achieved high grades:
– If you’re studying professional qualifications such as ACCA / ACA / CIMA it’s worth highlighting first time passes.
– For people earlier in their career strong grades in GCSE’s & A-Levels should be highlighted. It all helps you stand out from the crowd.
• For junior / entry level roles – include hobbies / interests outside of work:
– When you don’t have much practical experience to look at on your CV, hobbies & interests give an insight into you & your personality.
• For senior roles provide details on what their duties are:
– Don’t assume the person reading your CV knows what you do day to day – provide a comprehensive list of your daily, weekly & monthly tasks – if you don’t you are selling yourself short.
• Ensure your most recent role is listed at the top of your CV:
– This is likely to be the most relevant to what you’re applying for. Show employers you have what they are looking for early.
• Make sure your CV mirrors the job specification:
– If you’re applying to a specific role – read through the requirements & make sure you have listed them in your CV (providing you have done them).
• Where possible try & explain gaps in employment:
– i.e. Maternity / raising kids / travelling – it’s easy to dismiss a CV otherwise.
CV Tips from Erin: Senior Consultant
Erin is one of our senior consultants & specialises in admin & office support recruitment. With over 10 years experience at Platinum she has some great advice when applying for office support roles which will help your application:
• Outline your systems skills:
– You want to show you are confident with systems & software so don’t sell yourself short by not highlighting them on your CV – e.g Excel or any specialist software for your industry.
• Concise & clear bullet points:
– If you are using bullet points keep things short & snappy – avoid paragraphs otherwise the CV becomes tricky to read.
• Include a personal profile:
– Explain what you can bring to an administration / office support role, detail your skills base & what makes you stand out from the rest.
• Be certain your English & written skills are showcased:
– You’re applying to an administration role so good English & written skills are very important (double check your spelling, grammar & punctuation).
• Ensure the administration duties within your role are at the top:
– The duties that match the role you’re applying for should be the first bullet points you see. If you’re in a varied role make sure you adjust the order so it’s tailored to what the business is looking for.
• Make sure your job title(s) are relevant to the role you’re applying to:
– e.g. If your job title is a niche area of administration other companies might not recognise; amend your title on the CV to “Administrator” so it’s relevant.
We hope these tips help when updating your CV & applying for a new job.
Once you’ve updated your CV use our search engine & apply to any jobs relevant to you across Greater Manchester:
Platinum Recruitment Job Search
For support from our specialist recruitment team visit our team page & contact the relevant consultant based on the industry you work in:
Team Platinum
