By tailoring your CV to the specific industry to which you are applying, you can greatly increase your chances of securing an interview and hopefully, a graduate job. The qualities employers are looking for in an employee will vary greatly between industry sectors, therefore modifying your CV so that your application specifically meets the qualities demanded by a specific sector will be able to set you apart from the competition.
It is important to first create a core CV, which should include every significant qualification and position you have held - omit things only if they are out of date or completely irrelevant to your future. Save this CV and refer back to it as a template whenever you need to prepare a new job application. When applying for a particular job, think about which significant qualities the employers will be looking for, and the achievements you have that are most relevant to your desired new role.
Tailor the introduction of your CV by emphasising your key qualities that correspond to the specific industry to which you are applying, and remove aspects which seem irrelevant. Write a brief career aim in which you emphasise, (whether honestly or not) that the industry that you applying for is where you intend to take your career in the long term. Although you cannot dishonestly alter the facts about your previous employment, you can be selective in how you choose to write about the roles and responsibilities you have undertaken. Edit your CV so that you include attributes which demonstrate your suitability, for example if you are going for a managerial position, you should emphasise previous managerial job positions and examples of times when you held considerable responsibility and decision making duties and rose to the challenge. Remember to think about what the job you are applying for entails, and what the employer wants from the successful candidate of that job.
You can even include sections about your hobbies and interests to supplement your suitability for a job, for example if you are seeking a managerial position, mention your participation in a team sport, from which an employer will be able to infer your ability to work well in a group. If you are applying for a journalistic position, emphasise that you enjoy reading and give some examples of articles you have written, either for pleasure or professionally.
Finally make sure you thoroughly research the company your application is directed towards so you can make fine adjustments to your CV that will set you apart just that little bit more from your competition. Visit company websites to find out facts and specialities of their businesses; even if information you find does not affect how you will present your CV, it will still be good interview preparation. By following this advice and taking the time to tailor your CV to individual companies, your dedication and suitability towards the role you applying for will become apparent and help you stand out.
