Want to know what really grinds an employer's gears? FreeMyCV.com has been asking employers to name their biggest job application no-nos. Here are the top 5:

 

1.  Lengthy Covering Letters.

What we say: You're writing a covering letter, not the sequel to War and Peace, so our advice is keep it short and relevant to the job you are applying for.

 

What employers say: "Relevance is key when it comes to a covering letter, and a good application will closely reference details from the job advertised. Even a well written covering letter can be ruined by its length, so aim for no more than half a page of focused writing." 

 

2. 'Over-styling' a CV.

What we say: Nothing can irritate an employer more than over ambitious use of fonts and styling on a CV. It is important to relay the right message; adopt a sensible tone for your CV by choosing standard fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman and simple layouts. In the same way that you wouldn't write a work email in pink using Comic Sans, think about how your CV will be perceived when the employer receives it.

 

What employers say: "I once received a CV which was mounted on cardboard, it was cumbersome, completely irrelevant and just put me off before I'd read a word. There are far better ways to stand out than through unusual presentation gimmicks."

 

3.  Annotating a CV.

What we say: This is an oddly common occurrence for employers receiving CVs. Crossing out old mobile numbers or addresses and scrawling new ones will make a candidate look rushed or just plain lazy. If your details have changed, take the time to change them on screen and print a fresh copy. Your handwritten notes won't impress an employer.

 

What employers say: "One CV I was sent recently didn't have handwriting but it did use two styles of font; one standard and one that was meant to look like handwritten text. One example of this was next to the candidate's mobile number- the handwritten-style text read:  'If you like what you read, give me a call!'  Not only did it not add anything to the CV, but it actually took my attention away from the skills and experience on the page and gave me a bad feeling about the candidate."

 

4.  Keeping your CV too Brief.

What we say: Keeping your CV concise is something that is often advised when CV writing; anything longer than two pages could highlight that a CV has not been tailored to the job, and may mean the employer has to work hard to find the candidate's relevant experience. On the flip side, a CV with no elaboration, unexplained job roles and a lack of insight into a candidate's achievements will make it difficult for an employer to know whether the candidate is worth interviewing.

 

What employers say: "If a candidate doesn't want to tell me what I need to know, then it makes the decision really easy. A pile of CVs with clear, carefully eloborated points will always win over ones that leave me with a lot of questions. There is a fine line between being concise and too brief; make sure you say enough."

 

5. Irrelevant Hobbies.

What we say: A hobbies and interests section on your CV is not required, but if done correctly, may add value; especially if you haven't had much work experience. If you are going to include hobbies, keep them as relevant as you can, avoiding information like "I enjoy going clubbing with friends."

 

 What employers say: "An employer will never make a judgement based primarily on your hobbies, but it doesn't hurt to be selective. Think about the things you like to do and what impression that might give, if you can see any negative connotations surrounding your hobby of choice; leave it out."

  

Image: jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If you are a jobseeker, are you:

-Connecting with people with social media tools (Twitter, Linked In)
-Actively searching and applying for jobs on and off line?
-Making sure your CV is up to date and in shape?
-Brushing up on interview techniques and ironing your shirts?

If you are doing these things and need some help, or if you haven't got to grips with some of these, then you are in luck!

The lovely people at Jobsite are offering a completely free Job seeking Unconference, to help jobseekers make the most out of their job hunt, with a shed load of information for jobseekers and opportunities to meet other jobseekers and recruiters who will be able to share their experiences and expert knowledge with you.

What is an Unconference? I hear you cry...

An Unconference, is a completely unique concept; the exact opposite of a conference, it allows people to interact with one another, have conversations and discussions about topics, and is much more concerned with a two way conversation between the 'track leaders' and the attendees. Instead of sitting in a large conference hall listening to people drone on and point at PowerPoint slides; an unconference gives participants the opportunity to ask questions, suggest topics for discussion and receive expert advice in a more personal and relaxed way.

As well as the tracks, which will cover topics such as Interviews, your CV and how to use Linked in and other social media in your job hunt, there will also be workshops where you can have one to one video interview coaching and a personal CV review, so you can gain valuable information that is relevant to your job search.

The event takes place on Thurday 29th April from 11am- 7pm in Central London, and it is completely free. Places are limited, so make sure you RSVP today.

Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You've probably spent quite a bit of time figuring out exactly what content to put in your CV, but how long have you spent thinking about word choice? It seems like a minor detail, and is probably something you haven't given much prior thought to, so is it really necessary?

According to recruiters, it is. Finding a candidate that truly stands out in the current jobs market is getting tough as the standard of CVs has increased. Many jobseekers still choose to list their skills and experience, but fail to identify their achievements in the workplace; and by failing to do this, a candidate is missing the perfect opportunity to stand out. Look at the following two sentences:

-Filing company reports.

-Implemented a new filing system that was adopted throughout the office, replacing the old measures to improve the efficiency of filing company reports. 

Out of the top two examples, which stands out? The active verb 'implemented' in the second sentence allows you to assert ownership of the task, and show what you achieved. The first sentence gives the employer nothing- just saying that filing was part of your job is about as useful as copying and pasting your previous job description on your CV- it shows what you did, but not what you achieved. Using action verbs allows you to give an example of how you helped the company to change its way of working to accommodate your ideas. This is a far more useful way to convey your skills as it allows the employer to see the value of adding you to the workforce.


Action words speak louder than, err regular words!

Here are some examples of active, positive verbs that can be used to help describe your experience on your CV. Instead of focusing purely on the tasks you carried out in your role, try and relate these to what you've achieved. Think about projects or presentations you contributed to, ideas you had that were implemented, things you have accomplished etc, and truly sell yourself to your prospective employer.

-Introduced
-Implemented
-Developed
-Created
-Pioneered
-Increased
-Saved
-Supervised
-Achieved
-Evaluated
-Managed
-Completed
-Delivered
-Researched
-Co-ordinated

Your CV is your personal sales tool, so make sure it's working for you!

Carrying on from yesterday, here are some more top tips to stop your CV from heading straight for the office bin:

Don’t oversell yourself to the point of absurdity: There is nothing wrong with the assumption that your CV is your chance to shine, but the last thing an employer wants to read is a 2 page monologue highlighting how super-fantastic you are. Of course this is probably true, but make sure you keep the self promotion under control. Highlight your qualities and make reference to skills that match the criteria of the job you are going for. This will make the employer aware that you are focused and understand the skills needed for the job in question.

CV presentation: Yes we’ve all seen Legally Blonde, but the reality of walking into an interview with a pink, scented CV written in glittery biros and the employer not thinking you’re a lunatic, is slim to none! Ok so perhaps that’s an extreme case, but the presentation of your CV is important. Pick a font that is clear and readable, unlike my title! Both Arial and Times New Roman are good examples of clear fonts you could use. Also ensure to pick a suitable size for your text, size 18 might fill up the page, but it won’t look good!

Review your content: Often people write about themselves in a personal capacity on their CV. However things like: ‘In my spare time I love going out with my friends’ is not useful. It is not a skill and it is the kind of generic phrase that suggests you are lacking real things to write down. If you want to give the employer an insight into your personality; try and match it to the job. If it is for a sales position it might be important to highlight your outgoing, approachable nature, but you must tackle this in a way that is more suitable to the job at hand.

Although some of the information above may seem obvious, it is surprising how many of these issues crop up time and time again in CV writing. So take a good look at your CV. If this is the only thing an employer has to truly get an insight into whether you would make a good employee, does it make you look good?

 

Make sure to avoid the telltale signs of a bad CV and ensure that your CV gets the attention it deserves:

Bad Spelling: If you’ve seen my CV tips, you’ll already know I’m not a fan of spelling mistakes, and I can guarantee that potential employers aren’t either. Spelling mistakes are vastly obvious and are so easily avoided! Use a dictionary, use the spell checker on your computer and ask someone to check it. Don’t let something this easy be the reason not to get your dream job.

Lying: You might think that by showering your CV with A grades and made up skills will make you stand out from the crowd, but it is not worth the consequences. The main thing to realise is that you will always be found out, one way or another. Employers can check anything you write on your CV and even if you do secure that job, don’t expect to stay in it for long! If you have to lie, perhaps it’s worth asking yourself why, and doing something about it. If you feel let down by your grades, why not take a course? Remember there are always options without the need to be dishonest.

False References: Don’t pad out your CV with fake jobs with your friends acting as the management team. This is again something employers will check out, as referees can play a big role in the employment process. Companies asking for references will most likely expect a reply on headed paper or with a company stamp, so don’t make up your referees!

Review your contact details: What email address have you given as a contact? It may seem like a small thing but if you submit your CV, and ask to be contacted at lazyboy15@hotmail.com it doesn’t exactly give the right impression, does it?! If you don’t have an address without some embarrassing revelation about your personal life, then it will take you five minutes to create a new, free account with one of the web based clients.

Check out tomorrow's blog for the conclusion to my list of things to avoid on your CV.