How to Make Your CV Experience Stronger
When it comes to experience on your CV, it is one of the biggest selling points of yourself. Which is why it’s crucial that it is strong and clearly listed to make first impressions count and showcase what you can bring to the company.
Build your experience:
It’s a necessity with most jobs unless jobs specify they don’t need experience. However, it is always preferred. Whether it’s your first job or a job you need exposure to, the best place to start is by volunteering. This will allow you to get your foot in the door of many companies as it shows your dedication and interest towards the job role. You can volunteer at however many companies you wish, but a week or two will be a good amount to have full exposure to the role.
Personalise your CV:
One of the most important factors when it comes to constructing your experience. There are many candidates that would simply press apply without tailoring the CV to the job they are applying for. Start off by putting the relevant information first and emphasising clearly the skills that suggest you can clearly to do the job along with the evidence you have to support this. For example, if you are working at a call centre you will want to show your ability o prioritise customer service and handle difficult situations which you may face.
Top Tip! use verbs to explain your skills, for example instead of saying organisation skills you can say I organised a large team
Don’t forget your accomplishments:
Employers value skills, however they value more what you have done with them skills which then lead on to accomplishments. For example, you can state that you have had amazing references from your boss or you have been promoted from a senior to an advanced role within the same company. Evidencing your hard work shows that you are true to your words.
Don’t lie about your experiences:
While this may seem obvious, there are many candidates that fall in the trap of lying., exaggerating or manufacturing information about a previous role or accomplishment. If you want the job, be honest: chances are they will run a check by your previous employer if you are offered the role and you don’t want to give off impressions of dishonesty. An employer may withdraw their offer as they may think you aren’t a suitable candidate for this reason.
Keep it clear and simple:
It’s tempting to overload the experience section with extra words. However, if this is you, cut it down and make it clear and concise. A recruiter and an employer find it more appealing than one that appears to contain unnecessary and excess information. Instead, by limiting the information but still adding value makes the employer want to know more so they will touch base with this in the interview where you will have room to elaborate.
Explain any gaps:
Whether you took time out of work for illness, doing temporary/filler work or even being made redundant then it’s best to explain this now. Employers and recruiters’ question when they see unexplained gaps on your CV as it may come across that you’re unreliable or you like job hopping which suggests you are not happy in one company for long. Which is why it’s best to explain it briefly at the bottom of your CV your circumstances so it’s not speculated leaving others to guess. A recruiter or employer may not even contact you for this reason, so a short sentence can be a deal breaker.
Avoid the irrelevant:
A CV does not need to involve every bit of work experience you have had. For example, if you are applying for a Marketing Manager role then the recruiter and employer doesn’t need to know about a Saturday job you had when you were still at school. Keeping your CV punchy and to the point throughout will leave the reader wanting to know more. Remember a CV is your time to shine, so showcase what you want to showcase and what you think is appropriate for the role.