CV Writing Hints & Tips In A Nutshell

#CV tips in a nutshell. I have been interviewing for a graduate programme last week and again this week. This led me to thinking about both CV writing and interviewing hints & tips. 

In this post we are going to explore CV writing hints & tips in a nutshell. More on interview hints & tips in later posts.  

CV Writing Hints & Tips In A Nutshell

CV writing tips - the absolute basics:

• Keep it brief - no more than 2 pages, 3 at an absolute push. The only exception are executive level CVs.
• If you are using a chronological format make sure you list your most recent job first, going back in time.
• Use the correct grammar and spell check. A good tip is to get someone to proof read the CV for you. Under no circumstances include any text speak such as lol or :)
• Watch the layout - don't make it too detailed, don't squash the content in an attempt to fit it on 2 pages. You may need to prioritise the content or group/discard older employment history
• Font size - no smaller than 10, ideally 11 or 12. Use a professional font such as Arial or Times New Roman rather than some of the more artistic fonts.
• Don't lie - you will only be found out. I loved this post "Is Your CV A Work of Fiction" from@AfterRedundancy, which made me smile.
• Make sure the CV is relevant to the role you are applying for. Look at the job description and the skills the employer is seeking and make sure you have these skills reflected in your CV.
• If you are applying for similar type roles it is fine to have a generic CV which you tweak slightly for each role. If you are applying for different types of roles or to different industry sectors then you will need to submit a different CV each time. All of this takes a lot of time and effort but it is the only way to gain invites to interview. Without this step your CV will not pass the screening stage.
• Consider how you use key words in your CV so that it can be screened easily or uploaded onto job sites.
• If you have employment gaps, include achievements or any voluntary work. Be prepared to discuss what you were doing during any employment breaks (tip: try and focus on any new skills acquired).
• Make sure you know your CV inside out prior to interview - you are only going to be asked questions on it! Make sure you have pre-prepared examples ready to back up your skills.

Good luck with the CV writing.

Graduate Programme Versus Apprenticeship - which is best?

 Which is better a graduate programme or an appprenticeship? I am often asked this question. Only yesterday I was recruiting for a blue-chip company graduate programme. This company is also recruiting for its apprenticeship programme at the same time.

Bottom line is that for big employers both forms of recruitment offer the much needed injection of talent into the organisation. Such intakes are required to create flow within the organisation, unlocking gridlock, enabling their more experienced staff to progress in the organisation. In a nutshell these roles create flow, enabling career progression to take place.

Is a graduate programme for you?

An apprenticeship could be a great option

Photo credit: ralph and jenny                                                    Photo credit:jovike

What is a graduate programme?

•  you go to university and study for a degree, which provides a great start to a professional career.
• during this time you are not earning any income and may incur university fees and debt.
• typically graduate programmes offer higher starting salaries.
• on graduation you join an employer who offers a structured learning and development programme, often with clear pay progression points.  
• prospects.ac.uk is a great career site for graduates. However you only need to google "graduate recruitment" to see the vast array of blue-chip (FTSE 100) companies offering graduate programmes.

What is an apprenticeship?

• for lots of different reasons university may not be for everyone.
• apprentices gain work experience on the job, working towards a recognised qualification.
• a good apprenticeship programme should also offer a structured learning and development programme, often with clear pay progression points.  
• apprenticeships are now available in a wide range of careers as can be seen on apprenticeships.org.uk . Blue-chip (FTSE 100) companies also offer some great schemes.

So what does this mean for the individual? Well in times of high student loans and university fees an apprenticeship can be a great option of ultimately reaching the same place or career goal. Sure graduate programmes have high kudos, but as many graduates will vouch for sometimes, even with a great degree, it can be difficult to get a job on graduation. Its a bit of a chicken and egg situation - employers often want to recruit graduates with some work experience, but they can't get that all important first role without the necessary experience.

Apprenticeships provide a way of gaining vocational on the job training, whilst also earning an income earlier than you would if you studied a degree. Any high quality apprenticeship programme should have a structured learning and development programme in place, which often also includes pay increases upon satisfactory performance against targets. It also provides a way of achieving a recognised qualification, such as HND, without incurring the debt many graduates encounter. 

However some employers are now launching longer degree apprenticeships, enabling  individuals to gain valuable vocational training and experience as well as working towards a degree.

So what about pay? Initially graduate programmes will provide higher earning potential. However don't rule out an apprenticeship on that basis. If the apprenticeship programme is a good one it will have factored in pay increases. So as you are working and earning from day one you may find that over time, say 5 years, the graduate programme and apprenticeship programme could converge in terms of earning power and career progression.

So in effect both could provide different solutions to reach the same place. Ultimately it just comes down to personal choice, as not all options will suit everyone.