Is Your CV Your Weakest Link?

It’s a new year, and many candidates are looking for a new job, but are you not receiving the invitations to interview that you would expect? Maybe it is time to review your CV. At AutoSkills UK, we take pride in helping all candidates refresh their CV and start their new job hunt. Take a look at the questions below. Are you making any of these mistakes?

Is your full employment history included?

It has been known for people to leave the paper round they did at 15 on their CV. Is this really necessary when applying for a technical job? Review your list of past roles - which ones are telling the employer details that are relevant to the work you are applying for? Build on these and eject, or reduce the roles with less importance. Recruiters often skim read hundreds of CV’s and simply do not have time to read through lots of detailed explanations about roles, so focus on the bits you really want them to know. We would recommend you leave the detail for your most recent roles.

Does it look professional?

Take time to make sure your CV looks good and is easy to read. Use headings to break up sections and pick a font that is easy to read and professional. Highlight the key areas of experience that you want the reader to focus on.

Are there any silly mistakes?

Spelling and grammar give a good indication to the level of care and attention that has gone into applying for a role. Regardless of whether these skills are essential for the role you are applying for, it is important to get them right. A good way to eliminate errors is to have a fresh pair of eyes look over your CV, they can highlight any areas that are confusing or incorrect. If you do not have somebody to do this, then make sure you save your document and they revisit at a later date, as you will often spot mistakes much easier. Here at AutoSkills UK, we can help not only construct your CV, but we go through for any error or areas of improvement with you.

Did you include a photo?

Photos are often an unnecessary part of a CV. Think about what it tells an employer. It rarely gives any indication about your ability to perform a job. Your appearance is not important here – it is your skills and your experience. Adding your picture to the process has the potential to influence the reader without intention. A CV doesn’t need to contain any personal details - such as age or marital status - that leaves you open to unfair judgement.

Does it tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

Ensure everything on your CV is correct and not misleading. Your claims may be referred to in your interview, and you could be asked to draw upon any comments. If those comments are misleading you could end up in a tight spot. Often recruiters can spot inconsistencies a mile off and one misleading comment could undermine your whole CV.