Top 10 CV tips for students
Standout from the crowd with these CV tips for students
The world of work may seem a long way off, but having a hot CV can help you find an internship, work experience and even a part-time job. If you’re in your final year, you’ll also start noticing that job fairs and graduate recruitment events are beginning to spring up on campus.
Over 500,000 students joined university in 2015, a 3% rise against the year before. This makes the race to be the best even more tricky, as many other students will be clambering up the ladder to get that dream job. So, how do you stand out from the rest?
Having a good CV is the key to getting noticed, and these CV tips for students mean that it’s not as difficult as it may at first seem to create a document that will get you noticed.
Cover the basics
The first thing that should be on your CV is your name, address and contact information. If you have a website or online portfolio, include that too. How is the employer going to offer you the job if you don’t leave a phone number?
Think about what’s important
Your CV should be of a certain format, with the most important information towards the top. Include your personal profile first, are you hardworking? Experienced? Dedicated? Have about three to four sentences explaining what it is about the role you are passionate about and what makes you a great candidate. Next, include your professional skills, bullet points are fine for this.
Don’t forget the details, but don’t waffle!
The more specific your CV is, the more chance it has to stand out. Include certificates, achievements and awards and say how they are relevant to the role you are applying for. Only include information that is fairly recent, in the last few years or so (apart from education).
Your CV shouldn’t be any longer than two A4 pages; any longer and it may end up straight in the bin. Then include your previous work experience and the date, going from most recent to oldest. Explain each role, why you were important and what you learnt from the job. Even if you’re going for a job in law, but you worked in a supermarket in high school, you can include it and talk about your team-building and communication skills.
Vary your words
A thesaurus can be your friend! Make sure you don’t use generic words to describe yourself such as “reliable”, “honest” or “problem solver”. Think outside the box and mix up your vocabulary so you sound professional. You’re talking to a future boss, not your friend!
Tailor the CV to the job
Every time you apply for a job, tweak your CV to match the company’s values and what they are looking for. Use words and phrases that they have used in the job description and relate them back to yourself.
Back up what you say
If you do call yourself dedicated or passionate, prove it in your experience section. You don’t need to pen a novel about the time you saved the day at your part time job, but a summary about a unique experience that shows how professional you are is the step in the right direction.
Write a cover letter
Cover letters aren’t mandatory for all job applications, but they do help push your CV further. Think of it as a letter to the employer directly, giving a bit more information about why you’re the best person for the role. This is the chance for you to be a bit more specific about the company and its values in relation to you. You can also include things you may not have covered in your CV, but keep in mind the more you waffle, the less of a chance of someone reading your work.
Include your hobbies… Some of them
Your hobbies and interests should be at the end of your CV, giving the employer an insight into who you are. Forget generic hobbies such as “socialising” or “reading”. Think of things that you do that show you’re an active and lively member of society. Do you play any sports? Are you part of a society or club? Do you know a second language? An impressive hobby makes you seem like a well-rounded person, and gives you something to discuss in your job interview.
Don’t make up stuff though. It may seem like a stroke of genius when you write about your love of Expressionist painting, only to meet an interviewer who has a genuine interest and is keen to ask you about your favourite artist.
Getting caught making stuff up is humiliating and will undo all of the good impressions you spent so long cultivating. You’re amazing enough as you are!
LinkedIn is your friend
Once you’re confident with your CV, you can make a digital one on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a great way to connect with the world of work, show off your skills and hunt for that new dream job. Think of it as a professional Facebook, where you can Like (well, endorse) skills that other job hopefuls have and build a network of people you can turn to for advice and who just might know of an employment opportunity that is perfect for you.
When you’re making connections, your parents are a great place to start. In fact, this is probably the only social media site where it’s handy having your folks as friends!
Don’t be afraid to use a template
There are many templates available online to help you set out your CV to look as professional as possible. Don’t be afraid to ask a friend or family member to check your CV over, or compare it with theirs. One last thing, don’t forget to proof read!
Add some experience to your CV
A great way to really stand out, is to have lots of experience outside of a Saturday job. It shows you’re interested in the industry you want to enter and that you’re motivated enough to build some experience, while still at Uni. Read Sophie’s tips on finding work experience while you’re a student, in her latest blog!