CVs 'get interviews, not jobs'

Jobseekers have been reminded that the purpose of a CV is to get them an interview, not the actual job.

Offering advice on the subject, The Write Stuff states that the '30 second test' is something which people looking for a job should adhere to when writing their CV.

This refers to the short amount of time in which a potential employer may look at an application and decide whether they are going to read the whole document.

Peter Panayotou, senior consultant for The Write Stuff, said: One of the ways you are going to make sure that it passes the 30 second test is if it looks attractive and people feel like reading it.

To do this, jobseekers should make use of bullet points instead of large blocks of text.

It's also worth remembering that CVs are mostly scanned by computers before employers get to them, so facts are more important than style, says a spokesperson for ClickAJob.

By all means look neat and tidy, but concentrate on being competitive - it's your one sure way of making it to the short list, he cautions.

When a computer makes a choice, achievements are way more significant than a simple employment record - point to your successes, back them up with proof, and you stand a better chance of being invited to interview, he stresses.

According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's Labour Market Outlook quarterly survey, 27 per cent of employers are planning to increase their staff levels, compared to 20 per cent last autumn.