CVs and cover letters
Follow our simple CV and writing guide.
CVs
CV lies
Surveys suggest as many as a quarter of job seekers deviate from the truth on their CV. The common distortions include bogus or exaggerated qualifications, changing the dates of employment to hide career gaps and exaggerating the pay received in a previous job, says Harriet Marsh.
Hot tips, cool CVs
Someone wise once said 'Do enough of the right things and success will follow'. Here we present the UK's top 75 job-hunting tips, as voted by ... er ... the Rise Extra editorial team. Do enough of these and a successful career will surely beckon, says Ian Wylie.
Multimedia CVs
In today's multimedia age, choosing the perfect format for your CV is no longer as simple as deciding between Helvetica or Palatino, double or single space type, or remembering to buy a stamp for the envelope, says Harriet Marsh.
Spell it out
Recruiters say applications stuffed full of grammatical errors are depressingly common. Make sure your CV isn't among them, says Emma-Jayne Jones and Robert Ashton.
Plugging CV gaps
Are you allowing the value of your CV to leak away? Take the following advice and you might be able to plug a few gaps, suggests Karen Hainsworth.
Interests & Hobbies on your CV
Detailing your interests and extra-curricular activities is always a bit embarrassing, like writing an ad for the lonely hearts page of the local paper.
References
Tucked away at the end of most application forms, it can be easy to overlook the importance of referees.
Cover letters
The basics
When it comes to writing a covering letter, you can probably learn more from the personal columns than you can from the jobs pages. Get it wrong and at best you'll condemn yourself to a miserable, unfulfilling 40-year relationship; at worst you'll end up, alone and unwanted, on the job scrap heap, says Hilary Freeman.
Three examples of cover letter
A covering letter isn't just a protective jacket for your CV: it's an advert for it, as well as for you. After all, if you can't sell yourself (the thinking goes), you won't be much good to a company competing in today's marketplace, says Hilary Freeman.
Covering letter no-nos
Covering letters are your first sales pitch to a potential employer. Employers receive hundreds of CVs and covering letters from people who are applying for the job you want. Your goal is to stand out from the other candidates.
The perfect…application form
Businesses are increasingly turning to online application forms, which is good news for timepressed job hunters. Just don't forget to learn the rules of engagement, says Catherine Quinn.
Online applications
Email is fast and informal, qualities not normally associated with the filling out of application forms. But recruiters report that job-hunters can easily slip into the sort of bad email habits that do not impress, says David Williams.
Successful applications
You've seen your ideal job and sent off for the application form only to find it leaves a big dent on your doorstep when it arrives. It's huge and you're having second thoughts about applying.
Handwritten evidence
Don't neglect your handwriting - it might just be what lands you your next job, says Catherine Quinn.