Looking for a new job is a thrilling proposition for anyone. When you’re searching, it can feel like there are so many exciting opportunities to grasp. However, to take advantage of these opportunities, you need to have a high-class CV. If your CV doesn’t stand out, it’ll be challenging for you to land the position.
One of the most common mistakes Building Services Engineers make while trying to build a CV is overcomplicating things. Creating a CV isn’t difficult. Here’s how you can build an awesome CV and increase your chances of landing your dream job!
Pick The Correct Format
When you apply for a job, you can expect to be competing with a variety of other applicants. That’s daunting for any potential applicant. However, in the eyes of the hiring manager going through multiple applications is no easy task. They only have enough time to skim through every CV they get.
That’s why job seekers must pick a proper CV format. It should be neat and organised, which will give hiring managers more reason to spend time reading your application. CVs without proper formatting are likely to be immediately discarded.
Here’s the basic CV format that all resumes should incorporate:
- Header that contains contact information
- Personal profile: CV summary
- Work Experience
- Education
- Skills
- Additional Sections
By following this order, you can ensure that no matter where you apply, the CV is in proper format and won’t be discarded immediately.
Choose A Precise and Professional Font
It’s okay to want to add a bit of a personal touch to your CV and switch up the font, but job seekers often make the mistake of picking one that doesn’t look professional. Not only does your font need to look professional, but it needs to be a font that’s easy to read as well.
No matter how good your CV, if reading it annoys the recruiters, then your application will not stand much of a chance.
Here are a few fonts that will never go wrong;
- Arial
- Tahoma
- Helvetica
- Sans-Serif
- Times New Roman
- Bookman Old Style
When it comes to font size, the golden rule is to go with either 11 pt or 12 pt font size. Make sure you also remember to go with single spacing. For all headings, anywhere between 14 to 16 pt font size will work.
Consistency is Key
To ensure that your CV document looks as neat as possible in its final print, maintaining consistency across the document is vital. That means ensuring that the margins of the page are equal on all four sides.
Another common mistake that causes CVs to look untidy is non-uniform headings. It’s crucial to ensure that whatever style you pick for one heading matches with all the others.
Ensuring uniformity is critical towards making the CV as neat as possible. With your headings, pick one particular font size and decide between making the text bold or not.
It’s also important to keep an eye on all the dates that you add. Maintaining a consistent style for every single date is essential.
Don’t Go Overboard with Graphics and Images
Graphics can help a resume stand out in comparison to others. However, it’s essential to maintain a balance and simultaneously provide meaningful information with the graphics on your CV. If there are too many graphics, the CV will start to look gimmicky.
Usually, the final print for CVs and resumes is also black and white. Often this can cause graphics to become ineligible. Always remember that the hiring managers need to breathe. White space is your friend!
Make Everything Brief and Relevant
Photo by Scott Blake on Unsplash
Fluff is one of the worst things you can include on a CV. You might be bigging yourself up, but to the employers, it’s just needless information. The information that you include in the CV must be brief and relevant. There’s no need to mention every single detail about your life in the CV however, a little bit about your activities outside of work will show your personality.
Don’t Include Any Photos
If the job posting doesn’t ask for it, then there’s no reason to attach a photo with your CV. Even when the job posting asks for it, be careful when selecting what picture you’re going to use. Pick a picture that ensures that you look professional and doesn’t feature any other objects in the background.
By following these golden rules, everyone can ensure that they build the most professional-looking CV possible!
Author: Danny Main is a co-owner & Director at Responsum Global. He has over 15 years’ experience matching the top building services engineering talent with the best employers. He has over 100 written success stories. He’s active on LinkedIn, is a host on The Building Services Podcast, and a regular writer on The Building Services Blog. He loves football, talking properties and owns a cat that is bigger than his dog.
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