CV Writing Tips
Give yourself a better chance – improve your CV
“I can’t emphasise enough the importance of an applicant’s CV. If it has poor spelling and grammar or unnecessary abbreviations in it, it is highly unlikely that I would progress that individual. If they do not make an effort with one of the most critical documents of their professional career, how reliable will they be in their work for FDM?”
Catherine Cheek, Global Services Recruitment Manager
We receive thousands of CV’s every year. The first decision we make regarding your application will be based on your CV; content and presentation are critical.
Content
The most common headings you should consider are: personal details, job history, education, achievements and skills. Some individuals include other sections such as languages or hobbies/interests. A CV should have a minimum of two pages and a maximum of five. This rule may vary depending on the amount of experience you have acquired.
When preparing your CV, take the following points into consideration:
Presentation
Make sure your CV is presented neatly, and is easy to read and well structured. Processing CV’s can be an extremely tedious task, which is why presentation is critical. The structure enables us to scan through the document with ease, and also using bold headings draws attention to key sections.
Sentence structure & written style
Avoid long sentences and include key words such as communication and teamwork to support your examples. Providing examples will enable us to see what you have learned from your experience and will give you the chance to show you have the competencies we are looking for.
Work experience section
Demonstrating a variety of roles and responsibilities will impress employers. The use of key words such as people skills, time management and technical ability will automatically stand out when this section is being scanned. If this is the strongest area of your CV, place it on the first page just after your personal details. If you haven’t got lots of work experience, don’t worry – FDM is interested in anyone who is passionate about IT and eager to learn.
Achievements/skills
Other skills and achievements, work related or not, are always important. Use this section to include your interests and hobbies as well as any awards you may have won. Languages are highly sought after and an interest to travel tells us that you are open-minded and enjoy a challenge.
Last but not least, don’t forget to proof read your CV before sending it off and always run the spell checker!
