Many hiring managers will spend less than a minute reading a CV. A well-structured and easy to read CV can give a great first impression and improve your employment prospects. Here are 8 ways to format your CV to help improve your employability!
1. Avoid using text boxes
Lots of people make the mistake of using text boxes in their CV document. Although it may help to make your CV look great on your PC, the format may not be compatible on other devices and can end up making your CV look like a jumbled mess when opened on a different computer.
2. Prominently place your contact details
Always put your name and contact details at the top of your CV! This makes it much easier for employers to find the information; if it is hard to find your contact details a hiring manager may give up or assume it has not been provided and you could end up missing out on a job opportunity.
3. Use bullet points
Bullet points will help you to keep your CV short and sweet, while still providing all the necessary information. Bullet points are also a lot easier to read than big paragraphs and will allow an employer to identify your skills and suitability for a role more efficiently and effectively.
4. Order your CV logically
Order your skills and experience in relation to how important they are to the role you’re applying for. Putting the most relevant information first can help to make you appear more suitable for a position.
5. Ensure you use an appropriate font!
Although you want your CV to stand out, using large or bulky fonts can make your CV appear unprofessional and will harm your employability. Stick to more traditional fonts such as Ariel and Times New Roman to ensure your CV looks professional and is easy to read.
6. Fill space because it’s needed not just because it looks better!
Just because you have space on your CV doesn’t mean you need to fill it with shapes or more text. As long as your CV is to the point and covers everything you think is necessary, then there is no need to fill blank spaces. Cluttering your CV with unnecessary content to make it appear longer can make it harder for an employer to find the relevant information and will harm your chances of progressing in the recruitment process.
7. Use varied font sizes
Using different sizes of font can help make your CV easier to read. Try user bigger font sizes for titles to highlight important sections of your CV and help the hiring manager navigate your CV.
8. Less is more!
In the case of CVs sometimes less is more! Using lots of different shapes, colours and boxes can make your CV look cluttered and makes it harder to read. When a hiring manager is skimming over your CV it may be difficult for them to pick out important bits of information and can put you out of the running for a job.
Register your CV with us today at: /register.aspx to be considered for our upcoming vacancies!