Other GB

How to create the perfect CV

By Airtasker

Updated: October 22nd, 2021

Looking for a new role? Here are five CV tips and rules to live by.

Looking for a new job but don’t know where to start with your CV? It’s a common problem and everyone seems to have a different opinion on exactly what elements make up the perfect CV. We see plenty of office admin tasks and other professional jobs posted on Airtasker – including those for CV writing – so we’ve pooled together the top five tips to create the ultimate resumé.

Format and design

Anyone in charge of recruiting for a role will know the sheer amount of CVs you have to trudge through to find those golden candidates. And with so much competition, your CV needs to stand out from the off. Before anyone gets to the content that you’ve included though, they’ll first make a snap judgement on the format and design you’ve chosen – so it’s important you get it right. When deciding on the style, first off, consider your industry. If you’re going for a corporate role or white collar position, structure is key; use the templates available in Word to make an easily-digestible and tidy CV that oozes professionalism. If you’re applying for a media or more creative role; design your own style, or if you’re after some inspiration and help, sites like Canva are a great tool for creating sleek, fresh and unique layouts without the hassle of designing it yourself.

Sell yourself (…succinctly)

Cut out the waffle and make sure you get to the point quickly; bullet points are a great way to call out specific wins or strengths. If you can include figures of how you performed in a previous role – great, or if you’re just starting out in your career – add a few top-level notes that detail why a company should be interested in you; remember, the aim of the game is to stand out from your competition. Whilst you’re writing also consider that CVs typically should be no longer than two pages – if it’s any longer than that it’s likely you’re including unnecessary information.

Accuracy and spelling

This might seem like an obvious one but it’s something a lot of people are careless with. On top of proofing, proofing and then proofing again for grammatical perfection, if you’re updating an old CV – make sure everything is still relevant. Change tenses where necessary, edit down previous role descriptions to make way for newer experiences – and overall make sure the whole document is consistent in style and form.

Make it bespoke

Most people assume that it’s just your cover letter you need to tailor to the role, but it actually pays off crafting your CV to fit the position you’re applying for too. If they note certain qualities or experience in the job spec – make them stand out in your CV too. If you’re applying for a varied amount of roles that cross industries or disciplines, it’s worth creating a few different versions of your CV that fit into each sub-category. Nothing puts a potential employer off more than generic or non-relevant info.

Cut out the clichés

Do you work well in a team but also work well alone? Maybe you like reading and socialising with your friends? That’s great, but to be blunt – no-one cares when they read this in a CV. (Sorry). It’s good to get across genuine personality qualities, but adding in these cliché statements is only ever a waste of valuable space on your CV – use it to sell yourself for all the wonderful qualities and experience you have instead. Have a read through your CV and if you spot anything that’s just in there for the sake of it, get rid.

1000s of people are turning to Airtasker for office admin, CV writing and plenty more – find a huge range of trusted professionals for whatever type of work you’re looking to get completed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Airtasker

Inspiring the world to get more done

Enjoyed reading this? Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *