Getting your CV just right is worth it - the difference between getting an opportunity or not can be down to this one simple asset, so take the time to get it right for the industry that you are interested in

Our top tips for CVs that work in 2021 are:

Keep it short, relevant to the role you are applying for and easy to read

Include contact information, list your skills that are relevant to the role you are looking at, and don't go overboard explaining all of the experiences and skills you have just to "pad out" your CV. 

List your work experience backwards - in order from your most recent experience.

Focus on Skills

Notice the skill-set required from the advertisement for the opportunity and list which of those you have, plus any others that are relevant. Provide short examples of how you have used or developed each skill. You want this to form the top part of your CV so employers can quickly check that you are a worthy applicant and read further to discover your experience. 

Find a modern, professional format

There are free templates available to ensure your CV looks modern and appealing to employers. Take advantage of these, and make sure to include a photo if you have a nice professional one.

Check your online presence

There is a high chance that future employers will scope you out on social media, so before applying for any role ensure that your various online profiles are all completely private if necessary, and you have appropriate public faces images (such as your cover and profile images on Facebook)

If social media is something that might benefit the application, check that you have an appropriate and professional presence that will work for you rather than against you. If you are unsure, you are better locking your profiles down to private. 

Linkedin is a great way to demonstrate where you could fit into an industry, so if you have your eye on a particular employer or role you can set up your Linkedin to show you are interested in the industry. 

Ask someone to check your CV for errors

Typos and grammatical errors are commonly found in CVs and one of the reasons some do not even make it past the first round. Ask someone else to check it for you, and make sure they agree it is easy to read and follow.