Quick and simple tips to make your CV stand out!

With the pressure to make your CV stand out, it can be tempting to overcomplicate and add unnecessary features and details. But we’re here to tell you to save your time and keep it simple with these three tips.

1. Don’t over-complicate the formatting

While you want to make specific details stand out, font type and size are not the best way to do it. The most effective CVs use a well-known font and keep the size and formatting consistent. This helps the flow, makes your CV easy to follow and ensures that time-stretched employers can find everything they need quickly.

 

2. Clearly show your experience.

Experience is a pertinent part of any CV – it’s your chance to show what you can do. Therefore, keep the layout logical and the information relevant. Here is a guide to help:

Job title, Company, and date of employment

Not everyone will be familiar with your previous companies, particularly if they are small start-ups. So, use these three to four sentences to explain what the company does, what your role was, and lastly, what areas you worked in or what customer groups you worked with. It will set the scene for new employers and allow them to ascertain how you may fit within their organisation.

Responsibilities

· List your key responsibilities here and use bullet points to make it clear and easy to read.

· Keep the bullet points relevant to the job you are applying for, with the most significant at the top.

Results and achievements

This is the section to show off how great you are at your job. If possible, include numbers and metrics as evidence of your successes and ability to work to different KPIs.

 

3. Keep it relevant.

Before writing anything on your CV, ask yourself: is this relevant? If not, think twice before including it. Padding out your CV with unnecessary details only works to hide vital information; it doesn’t add value. Instead, make the focus your most relevant education and experience and reduce other areas right down - you don’t need ten lines about your part-time university job; one will do.

 

4. Ask the experts for a free review

It can be hard to look objectively at work you are so close to. If you would like a second opinion and some useful tips, email your CV to us at hello@talent-frame.co.uk and we’ll happily review it for you, for free! No obligations.