There are 4 key points to keep in mind when writing a good CV (or making a job application). These are the 4Ps:

  • Prepare
  • Personalise
  • Perfect
  • Proof

Prepare

  • Do your research about the company and the role
  • Think how your skills and experience match the role description. Don’t get distracted by the brand or company name
  • Did you know it’s no longer legally required to include your date of birth, gender or marital status on your CV?
  • Be honest with yourself – would you give yourself the job?

Personalise

  • Make your CV stand out for the right reasons
  • Tailor your CV to match the role
  • Spend time on an eye-catching, professional personal statement that ‘sells’ you
  • When writing about your experience, highlight what you personally learned or contributed?
  • Make your career progression clear to the recruiter reading the CV

Perfect

  • Perfect your CV/application – get others to read your CV/application. Do they agree with your description of you?
  • Be concise. Maximise word count
  • After spellchecking, check again – grammar, spelling and punctuation
  • Check the content. For example, use a thesaurus and avoid repeating words

Proof

  • What is the proof to support your application?
  • Mirror the language from the advertisement in CV/application eg formal/informal
  • If in doubt, be more formal
  • Check everything again!