Being a recruitment business, we see hundreds of CVs every week, from well laid out and well written CVs to not so easy to read CVs. Your CV is a key tool in finding a new job, so it is essential that you get it right, giving you the best opportunity to show what you have achieved, your experience, your knowledge and ultimately helping to secure that all important interview.
In this article we wanted to highlight the three absolute must haves on any CV to ensure you aren’t overlooked when applying for a new job. These three things are the most basic pieces of information; however, we still see candidates missing them out and it really does impact your application.
Contact information
Arguably the most basic piece of information to include, however it’s surprising how many candidates miss this out. This should be at the top of your CV along with your name and address. If you want to be contacted about your application, you’re going to need some information to allow this to happen.
Yes, there is LinkedIn, but having a LinkedIn profile doesn’t mean the person wanting to contact you about your application will be able to easily find you or reach out to you.
Your location
Knowing where in the world you are makes it far easier to determine a good fit in terms of commuting. Plus, if the role you applied for isn’t quite the perfect fit but there are other opportunities available, we can easily find roles that are near you and where you live. If you are uncomfortable about putting your full address on your CV, then just add the town you live in or the first half of your postcode.
Clear formatting
Your CV is an overview of you and your professional experience. For some this could be a lot of information due to a long and successful career. This is why it’s really important to make your CV easy to read and easy to find the important bits of information.
Using a clear and well-structured format plus consistent sub headers throughout your CV is the best way to make it easy to read and help the reader understand who you are and what you have done.
Looking for more CV advice?
We have written a number of helpful articles to help you write a CV that will improve your chances when applying for jobs, including the power of numbers on your CV and Why accomplishments on your CV matter.
Time to look for a new job?
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Get in touch
If you are keen to discuss your current situation and want to find out how we can help you make your next career step, then get in touch with our team of recruitment experts. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you and your career progress.
