So the first thing companies will see of you is your CV (or Curriculum Vitae) and writing it can be a bit stressful. There are no strict rights or wrongs but you want it to be clear, to the point and present you in the best light! It is a unique opportunity to really sell yourself and your skills.
Give them what you want them to see!
Planning your CV is absolutely critical, so to help you through we’ve put together a few tips together to help give you the best chance of nailing that interview…
Personal Details
Treat your name as the title!
Don’t waste valuable space with CV, just brief contact details – name, number, address and email
Personal Statement
Ideally, you want a short statement that summarises who you are and what you bring to the table. Most people tend to waffle in this bit, but less is more…you should be aiming for 2/3 sentences. Try not to be too boring…everyone uses similar buzz-words so keep them short and sweet.
- Who you are
- What you can offer the company
- What your career goals are
For example:
“Reliable, personable and hardworking hairdressing college leaver who is passionate about hair care techniques and providing excellent customer service. Sociable and sparkling personality to ensure that every client feels special. Seeking an apprenticeship position where I can develop my strong sense of style and skills.”
Key Skills
Bullet point your key skills and achievements! This is a great way to break up your CV a bit and make it look more interesting. Again, it is concise and shows that – even though – you have less work experience – you know what you are doing!
Example:
- Trained in hairdressing products (Wella, Schwarzkopf)
- Excellent customer service
- Great communication skills to all levels
- Flexible and able to work any shift pattern
Work Experience
This section should include your work experience. Even if it’s limited it’s a good idea to put something there and highlight your responsibilities in that employment.
Please include your job title and name of the company and dates of your employment. Then bullet-point or write a short paragraph on what you did there.
For instance:
Hairdressing Assistant, at Hair Salon. Jan 2018 till Dec 2018
- Maintaining a clean and tidy salon
- Washing client hair
- Reception duties including booking appointments
- Stock ordering and supplies
Keep it positive! Do not include why you have left, if the employer wants to know they will ask! If you have breaks in your experience, maybe include ‘taken time out to travel’ or ‘childcare’ so it is obvious.
Education
You want to summarise your educational experience. Include where you studied, what you studied and the grade you achieved. Some people prefer to put this in a table format so it’s clear and easy to read. If you do not have your GCSEs yet then put in predicted grades, or what courses you have done i.e. Functional Skills Level 1
Hobbies and Interests
It is nice for the employer to get an idea of what you are interested in…you might have something in common? Whether you play for your local football team or write a blog…maybe you’re really interested in fashion and want to trend on social media? Try include something that’s original to you and avoid things like cooking, socialising with friends and going to the cinema. Opt for something like, I was involved in a drama group pantomime or I compete in athletics.
No References
It is no longer necessary to put references on your CV and can waste valuable space, you want to keep your CV between 1 and 2 pages! So there’s no need to include short term jobs you really hated or references as your employer will ask for them when you have got the job.
Finally
Enjoy writing, relax and it can actually be really fun to revisit your experiences. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether that’s from your recruiter who will assist with any questions, your parents or your friends.
Also, don’t forget to check your spelling and grammar carefully. You can do this online on websites like Grammarly for free. Be careful of American spellings as well as Microsoft Word will accept both.
Oh and good luck!