1. How long is your CV?
(A) 3-4 pages(B) 2-3 pages
(C) 1-2 pages
2. How do you target your CV?
(A) I use a generic CV for all applications(B) I've mentioned the job specifics in my opening statement
(C) The opening statement and my personal interests include relevant aspects that are of interest to the role and the industry
3. What contact info do you have?
(A) My email address as I check it all the time(B) Both my email address and postal address because I like to get letters
(C) My email address, postal address, phone number and LinkedIn/Website URL - I want to be found!
4. What is the order of your CV?
(A) Personal interests, contact details, work experience and education(B) Contact details, work experience, personal interests and education
(C) Contact details, education, work experience, personal interests
5. How is your CV styled and formatted?
(A) Long introduction, large paragraphs of text detailing my course modules, work experience and personal interests. Important words bolded so they stand out.(B) A few sentences in my introduction, and just the names of the institutions I attended and places I've worked - no one can be bothered to read more than that.
(C) 100-150 word introduction, bullet pointed education, titled work experience with 2-3 bullet points for each covering the most important aspects of the role. Plus a short paragraph on my personal interests i.e. my love of culture, live music or sports
6. How does your CV express your personality?
(A) There's a picture of me and my name. What else do I need?(B) I use different coloured fonts, exclamation marks and scented paper
(C) I include a well thought-out introduction that expresses my passion for the industry I want to work in with examples and my personal interests are real and interesting
7. Does your CV mention the sector you'd like to work in?
(A) Oops ? it doesn't at all!(B) Maybe once in the introduction... I think?
(C) In the beginning, middle and end, obvs.
8. Are there any gaps in the dates of your education/work history?
(A) I need to put dates on my CV?(B) It's hard to tell, I've only put the years.
(C) Any gaps I have are clear and easy to explain as everything is in perfect chronological order.
Scores explained:
So now that you've answered the last 8 questions, tally up your scores.As we hope you might have guessed... if you scored mostly: (A)s then you need to do some more work on your CV
(B)s shows that you're half way there
(C)s proves that you're well on track for finding that perfect job
9. But one last thing? Is your CV easy to read?
Now, ask someone that doesn't know you that well and ask them to scan your CV in 15 seconds. Take away your CV and then ask them these 3 questions. (Obviously this is subject to the intelligence of the person you choose, but you get the idea). - What kind of job am I looking for?
- What degree did I do and at which University?
- What work experience do you remember? If they get them all right, your CV is on the right tracks, so well done.
