What not to Write on your CV (Part 2)

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?