Adecco tips for the soon to be ex-student

With the end of the educational year only three months away, now is the time for schools leavers and graduates to start putting together CVs and thinking about how they can present themselves to future employers.

But with many soon to be ex-students all looking to take their first step on the career ladder, how can new job seekers make sure the journey to become an employee is a success?

Claire Darley, Chief Marketing Officer for Adecco offers the following advice for those wanting to improve their CV and make the best impression:

ìDonít lie to me boy!î
The most important thing to remember when writing your CV is to be honest. It might seem like a good idea at the time to fabricate a few qualifications or exaggerate your experience but your prospective employer may have a higher expectation of your ability than you are capable of. If you are honest, but show you are willing to learn, it gives them an opportunity to train you.

ìWhat do you mean!?ÖSpit it out!î
Keep it short. A good CV should fit on one page, or two pages maximum, designed to whet the appetite of the employer enough to invite you for an interview. It can be hard to cut all of your information down to two pages so try to leave out any vague, non-specific details and only include the highlights that are relevant to your career development. There is no set format for a CV so lay it out to emphasise your best achievements, e.g. good grades or lengthy work experience.

ìHave you done your homework!?î
Always make sure that you have researched the company and the role that you are applying for. This should come across in your cover letter outlining why you are interested in the company. Tailor your CV for each job you apply for and remember that different information appeals to different companies.

ìStop copying!î
Always write your CV yourself. While itís fine to get help from others, an interviewer may ask you about specific parts of the CV, for example, why would you describe yourself as vivacious? If you have not thought this through or these are not your own words, it could create an embarrassing situation. If you have copied your CV from someone else it is unlikely to be correctly tailored to the job you are going for.

ìThatís NOT how you spell it!î
Make sure you spell-check your CV. There is nothing less encouraging for employers to read a CV full of wrong spellings and poor grammar. A staggering 40 ñ 50% of CVs have significant spelling or grammar mistakes. The best way to avoid this to ask someone else to check the CV, as a fresh set of eyes will be more likely to spot errors.

ìDo something with your life!î
If you have a particular career that you might like to pursue, try and get related work experience in the evenings, weekends or holidays whilst you are still in education. Being part of a voluntary work scheme or committee at your school or university shows you are willing to go the extra mile and offer your free time to others as well as showing passion for the industry you are applying for. It will also make your CV stand out from the crowd!

ìStraighten that tie up!î
It may sound clichd but, ëyou only get one chance to make a first impression,í and you need to make sure it is a positive one. If you have managed to sell yourself with your CV, make sure you are dressed smartly and appropriately for the interview.