Whether you are looking for a promotion or your first job, having a compelling CV is essential if you want to impress a potential employer.  Having a Curriculum Vitae that really sells your skills and promotes you as a person can make a huge difference to your chances of getting a job.

You need to remember that any job that you find attractive enough to apply for will also attract the attention of other people.  Some of them, shock horror, might be better qualified, or have more experience than you – however this does not necessarily mean that they will get the job in front of you.  If they present a CV that does not emphasise how great they are compared to you, then they might not even get an interview.

Here we have 9 handy tips to help you improve your CV and boost your chances of getting a new job!

1 – Short is Sweet

Keep your CV to a maximum of two sheets of A4 – an employer wants to know enough, not everything.  Also, you might have used your IT and Microsoft Office Skills every day in each job, but you don’t need to list them every time.

2 – Keep it pretty

Take a good look at your CV – would you like to receive it.  There’s no need to get silly with rich backgrounds, and manic fonts.  Simple is best, but it needs to be well spaced, clean, and interesting to look at.

3 – Stick to the facts

Does the employer really care whether you loved your previous job?  No, they want to know what you did, and how you did it.  You can communicate your enthusiasm for filing and making cups of tea when you get the interview.

4 – Accuracy is Everything

Spell check, proof read, spell check again, and read it aloud.  Then get someone else to do the same.  Would you employ a person who can’t spell.

5 – So be Honest

Don’t forget, an employer isn’t going to give you a great job with fantastic pay without checking you out.  They will contact your referees, and if they can’t back up what you are claiming, then you are not going to get very far.

6 – Keep it Relevant

You might have plenty of experience looking after cats, but if you’re going for a web design job, then it isn’t going to impress the boss.  Keep your experience on topic, and adapt your CV for different opportunities.

7 – Sell Yourself

Put a bit of life into the CV.  Stick to the facts yes, but add a little bit of colour too – your statement should impress, and also give a little idea about who you are.

8 – Keep it in order

Put the most recent jobs and qualifications at the top. They are the ones that your potential employer wants to read first

9 – Remember the Covering Letter

You should always send a covering letter along with your CV.  This should always be unique to the job you are applying for, and include a few points from your CV.

Bonus Tip!

Whether you are actively looking for a job now, or simply want to keep your options open, don’t forget to add your new CV to jobatwit – upload your CV now, and promote it to thousands of employers via Twitter!