The old ‘new year, new me’ adage will see millions of people make a new year’s resolution as we aim to make the most of the next twelve months. For many, that could mean a career change.

If you are looking to start a new job in 2018, building a CV that best represents you as a potential candidate could be key to standing out from the crowd. Here at Recruitment Solutions Wales we offer tips on how best to present your CV.

Contact Details (name, address/location, contact number, email address)

It may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many job-seekers fail to disclose key contact information on their CV. If you don’t disclose your contact details then inevitably everything else is irrelevant. From phone numbers and email addresses to social media links, the more contact channels you feature, the more eager you look to be recruited.

Key Skills

Ensure you add a short, sharp list of skills you could bring to the position. But; make them relevant! Crucially, this list could be the difference between you and another candidate.

Employment History

List your employment history in chronological order (most recent position first). Include a short description of your role and the duties required of you. It may also be a good idea to include achievements within each role – displaying what you can bring to a new position.

Education

Like your employment history, this should be listed in chronological order. Include the names of places you have studied, dates attended and qualifications earned.

Length

Whilst not critical, a CV will ideally be 2/3 pages long. Too many pages suggests your key information has been diluted somewhat whilst a single page is unlikely to include enough information to help you stand out. With digital CVs now being the norm, you will want to present a PDF or even a short video that is short, snappy and concise.

Font

There is no industry standard font to use but always ensure your CV is both clear and professional. If you are applying for a high-end role, you may wish to rope in the help of a designer, ensuring your CV is aesthetically pleasing.

What we have found is that between 10 and 12 is a fair size with Arial, Calibri and Times New Roman being the most common fonts. This is due to the fact that they appear professional (unlike Comic Sans!)

Covering Letter

Finally, a covering letter can be a useful way of selling yourself to prospective employers. Any information that may aide your ability to best fulfil the job requirements can be included on this.

For more help on creating the perfect CV or for details of current vacancies in your area, be sure to contact the Recruitment Solutions Wales team.