When it comes to applying for a new job, your CV could be just the ticket to get you that initial foot in the door and secure an interview – but how do you ensure your CV is added to the interview pile rather than thrown straight in the bin?
Putting together a successful CV is easy once you know how. It's a case of taking all your skills and experience and tailoring them to the job you're applying for. But what if you don't meet the right criteria? Well, I've put together the following tips to help you get started in creating a successful CV and securing your first (or next) arts job.
1. Get the basics right
There is no right or wrong way to write a CV but there are some common sections you should cover. These include: personal and contact information; education and qualifications; work history and/or experience; relevant skills to the job in question; own interests, achievements or hobbies; and some references.
2. Presentation is key
A successful CV is always carefully and clearly presented, and printed on clean, crisp white paper. The layout should always be clean and well structured and CVs should never be crumpled or folded, so use an A4 envelope to post your applications.
Always remember the CV hotspot – the upper middle area of the first page is where the recruiter's eye will naturally fall, so make sure you include your most important information there.
3. Stick to no more than two pages of A4
A good CV is clear, concise and makes every point necessary without waffling. You don't need pages and pages of paper – you just keep things short and sweet. A CV is a reassurance to a potential employer, it's a chance to tick the right boxes. And if everything is satisfied, there's a better chance of a job interview. Also, employers receive dozens of CVs all the time so it's unlikely they'll read each one cover to cover. Most will make a judgment about a CV within sections, so stick to a maximum of two pages of A4 paper.
4. Understand the job description
The clues are in the job application, so read the details from start to finish. Take notes and create bullet points, highlighting everything you can satisfy and all the bits you can't. With the areas where you're lacking, fill in the blanks by adapting the skills you do have. For example, if the job in question requires someone with sales experience, there's nothing stopping you from using any retail work you've undertaken – even if it was something to help pay the bills through university. It will demonstrate the skills you do have and show how they're transferable.
5. Tailor the CV to the role
When you've established what the job entails and how you can match each requirement, create a CV specifically for that role. Remember, there is no such thing as a generic CV. Every CV you send to a potential employee should be tailored to that role so don't be lazy and hope that a general CV will work because it won't.
Create a unique CV for every job you apply for. You don't have to re-write the whole thing, just adapt the details so they're relevant.
6. Making the most of skills
Under the skills section of your CV don't forget to mention key skills that can help you to stand out from the crowd. These could include: communication skills; computer skills; team working; problem solving or even speaking a foreign language. Skills can come out of the most unlikely places, so really think about what you've done to grow your own skills, even if you take examples from being in a local sports team or joining a voluntary group – it's all relevant.
7. Making the most of interests
Under interests, highlight the things that show off skills you've gained and employers look for. Describe any examples of positions of responsibility, working in a team or anything that shows you can use your own initiative. For example, if you ran your university's newspaper or if you started a weekend league football team that became a success.
Include anything that shows how diverse, interested and skilled you are. Don't include passive interests like watching TV, solitary hobbies that can be perceived as you lacking in people skills. Make yourself sound really interesting.
8. Making the most of experience
Use assertive and positive language under the work history and experience sections, such as "developed", "organised" or "achieved". Try to relate the skills you have learned to the job role you're applying for. For example: "The work experience involved working in a team," or "This position involved planning, organisation and leadership as I was responsible for a team of people".
Really get to grips with the valuable skills and experience you have gained from past work positions, even if it was just working in a restaurant – every little helps.
9. Including references
References should be from someone who has employed you in the past and can vouch for your skills and experience. If you've never worked before you're OK to use a teacher or tutor as a referee. Try to include two if you can.
10. Keep your CV updated
It's crucial to review your CV on a regular basis and add any new skills or experience that's missing. For example, if you've just done some volunteering or worked on a new project, make sure they're on there – potential employers are always impressed with candidates who go the extra mile to boost their own skills and experience.
Download CV template
When you’re looking for a new job, your CV could be just what you need to get your foot in the door and get an interview. But how can you make sure your CV gets added to the pile of candidates for an interview instead of being thrown away?
Once you know how, it’s easy to put together a good CV. You need to make sure that all of your skills and experiences fit the job you’re applying for. What if you don’t meet the right requirements, though? Well, I’ve put together these tips to help you start making a good CV and getting your first (or next) job in the arts.
- Do the simple things right
There is no right or wrong way to write a CV, but there are some common parts you should include. These include personal and contact information, education and qualifications, work history and/or experience, skills that are relevant to the job in question, interests, accomplishments, or hobbies, and some references. - Presentation is important
A good CV is always printed on clean, crisp white paper and is put together carefully and clearly. The layout should always be clean and well-organized, and CVs should never be crumpled or folded, so send your applications in an A4 envelope.
Always remember the CV hotspot. The recruiter’s eye will naturally go to the upper middle of the first page, so make sure your most important information is there.
- Don’t go over two pages of A4.
A good CV is clear, to the point, and makes every important point without going on and on. You don’t need pages and pages of paper. Just keep things short and sweet. A CV gives a potential employer peace of mind and gives you the chance to check all the right boxes. And if everything checks out, the chances of getting a job interview go up. Also, employers get a lot of CVs, so it’s unlikely that they’ll read each one from front to back. Most people will judge a CV in a few short paragraphs, so keep it to no more than two pages of A4 paper. - Make sure you know what the job is.
There are hints in the job application, so read it from beginning to end. Take notes and make bullet points, pointing out what you can do and what you can’t do. Fill in the gaps where you don’t have enough skills by using the ones you do have. For example, if the job needs someone with sales experience, you can talk about any retail work you’ve done, even if it was just to help pay the bills while you were in college. It will show what skills you do have and how they can be used elsewhere. - Make the resume fit the job.
Once you know what the job involves and how you can meet each requirement, you can make a CV that is tailored to that role. Don’t forget that there is no such thing as a standard CV. Every CV you send to a potential employee should be tailored to that role. Don’t be lazy and hope that a general CV will work, because it won’t.
Make a different CV for each job you want. You don’t have to rewrite the whole thing; you just have to change the details to make them fit.
- Using skills to their fullest
Don’t forget to list key skills that will help you stand out in the skills section of your CV. These could be things like how to talk to people, use computers, work in a group, solve problems, or even speak a foreign language. Skills can come from the most unexpected places, so really think about what you’ve done to improve your own skills, even if it’s as simple as joining a local sports team or a volunteer group. It’s all relevant. - Getting the most out of hobbies
Under “Interests,” put in bold the things you do that show off skills you’ve learned and that employers want to see. Give an example of a time you took charge of something, worked as part of a team, or did something else that showed you could work on your own. For example, if you ran the newspaper at your college or if you started a football team that did well in a weekend league.
Include anything that shows you are interesting, skilled, and have a lot of different interests. Don’t list things like watching TV or other solitary hobbies that make you seem like you don’t know how to interact with other people. Make it sound like you are very interesting.
- Getting the most out of life
Use strong, positive words like “developed,” “organized,” and “achieved” in the work history and experience sections. Try to make a connection between the skills you’ve learned and the job you’re applying for. For example: “The work experience involved working in a team,” or “This position required planning, organization, and leadership because I was in charge of a group of people.”
Even if you’ve only worked in a restaurant, you should really think about the skills and experience you’ve gained there. Every little bit helps.
- Putting in the references
References should be from people who have worked with you before and can attest to your skills and experience. You can use a teacher or tutor as a reference if you’ve never worked before. If you can, try to add two. - Keep your resume current.
It’s important to look over your CV often and add any new skills or experience that’s not there. For example, if you just did some volunteer work or worked on a new project, make sure they’re on there. Potential employers are always impressed by candidates who go the extra mile to improve their own skills and experience.
