This blog is dedicated to its author, Isla McMenemy, who sadly passed away on 24th October 2024.
Isla worked for Access Creative College for 19 years in our people services team, giving her everything to the role, the team, and the college itself. Her passion for the creativity the college produces, and her pleasant, positive attitude were a joy to behold. Isla’s loss has been felt enormously by all staff at the college, and she will be greatly missed.
Isla wrote this blog shortly before she passed, and she was incredibly excited for it to be published on the website. Rest in peace, Isla.
Creating your first CV can feel daunting, but think of it as an opportunity to showcase your talents and ambitions! Let’s walk through each step to help you create a CV that stands out in the competitive world of work.
Go Ego Surfing
Before you start typing, finding out what information about you is freely available online is essential. Employers often search for candidates online, and having a clean, professional digital presence is crucial.
Check your social media profiles and ensure they reflect the image you want to project. Keep your settings for Instagram, TikTok etc. private. Prospective employers don’t want to see that video of you dancing to Cha Cha Slide in a chicken costume or your blog full of terrible spelling and grammatical errors.
Employers want to see a professional online presence on LinkedIn with a good network relevant to the sector.
Google yourself and see what comes up – you might be surprised at what recruiters can find.
Choosing the Right CV Format
There are two main types to consider:
Chronological Format
This is the standard format requested by recruiters. This format lists your work experience and education in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.
Skills-Based Format
This format focuses on your skills rather than your work history, making it ideal if you don’t have much work experience. It allows you to highlight your abilities and how they relate to the job you’re applying for. If you’re crafting your first CV, this will likely be the format you’ll use. Consider using columns and colour to draw the reader’s attention to your qualifications and key skills.
A Note About Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Many companies use an ATS to screen applicant’s CVs before they reach a human. To ensure your CV passes this initial screening:
- Stick to Word or PDF: These formats are most compatible with ATS.
- Use Keywords: These can be found in the job advert and job description. Common keywords include; Word, English, Microsoft, Data, Management, Project, Leadership, and Analysis.
Design and Layout: Make your CV visually appealing
A well-designed CV can make a strong impression. Here are some tips:
- Clear Headings: Use headings to break up sections.
- Consistent Layout: Stick to simple, easy-to-read fonts, top examples are: Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Trebuchet, Noto Sans, Nunito, and Roboto. Maintain consistent font size and line spacing.
- Use Patterns and Colours Very Carefully: Keep it simple and professional.
- Don’t Split Sections Across Pages: Each section should stay on one page.
- Keep it Short: Aim for 1-2 pages.
Personal Details: What to Include and What to Omit (and why)
Don’t Include:
- ‘CV or worse, ‘Curriculum Vitae’: Stating the obvious takes up precious space.
- Your age, race, religion or gender: These are irrelevant to most roles and could lead to discrimination.
- A photo: Only include if you’re applying for roles in modelling, photography, acting, etc. Employers’ recruitment processes should be fair, free of unconscious bias, and focused on promoting equality. Including a photo on your CV can compromise this. If you want to include a photo, just be aware that many Applicant Tracking Systems will remove it before the employer sees it, so your smiling face could end up as a blank space…
- Home Address: You don’t want your name and home address published together. On the Internet. EVER! This is none of their business until they offer you a job!
Do Include:
- Your Full Name: Prominently displayed at the top.
- A Professional Email Address: Use a professional email address. [email protected]
- Mobile Number: Make sure it’s a number you can easily be reached on and not your Mum’s!
- LinkedIn Profile Link: This helps recruiters see your professional online presence. If you don’t have one, it may be time to dip your toes in; but that’s a whole other blog!
Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement
Your statement is your personal pitch; your chance to sell yourself. It should be a summary of the specific skills and experiences that make you the perfect candidate for the role. Aim for 3-5 sentences that highlight your strengths and career goals. If an employer has a lot of CVs to look at; this might be the only thing they read. The first sentence needs to grab the reader’s attention.
For example:
“I am a motivated and creative recent graphic design graduate with a solid foundation in Adobe Creative Suite and a talent for producing captivating visual content. I am excited to bring my skills to an innovative team and look forward to further developing my abilities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.”
Key Skills
Choosing relevant skills and describing how you acquired them is essential. Include a combination of soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, empathy, problem-solving, creativity) and hard skills (e.g. photoshop, coding, Unity, C++, Ableton, UI and UX Design, JavaScript).
If you’re crafting your CV for a specific role, you’ll find all you need to know in the job description. Match your skills with the key skills the employer is looking for. You want your personal statement and key skills section to help the employer quickly connect your education history and transferable skills to your career aspirations and the job they are hiring for.
For example:
- Adobe Creative Suite: Experienced in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. My Diploma in Graphic Design has given me a solid understanding of design principles including composition, colour theory, and typography.
- Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills developed through presentations and leading group projects.
Detailing Your Education and Qualifications
List your education in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent institution. Include the names of the schools or colleges, the dates attended, and any qualifications or awards going back to Level 2 (GCSEs).
If you don’t have any work experience and you are creating a skills-based CV, use this section to highlight what you have learned and any particular achievements. Think about each module of your course and the skills that you now have, For example:
Diploma in Games Design – Distinction
Institution Name – Year of Graduation – Awarded Student of the Year 2000
- Website Production: Gained experience in creating and managing websites for interactive projects.
- Digital Games Production: Developed full game projects, from concept to final production.
- Game Engine Scripting: Proficient in scripting within game engines to create interactive elements.
- Working in the Creative Media Industry: Acquired knowledge of industry standards, project timelines, and collaboration techniques within media environments etc.
Highlighting Relevant Work Experience or Volunteering
Whether you’ve had a Saturday job or volunteered at a charity shop, it’s important to highlight these experiences. Describe your roles and what you achieved. In the example below, the recruiter will see skills and experience in:
- Event planning
- Digital literacy
- Social media marketing
- Digital content creation
- Google Analytics
- Data analysis
- Customer service
- Teamwork
Volunteer at National Trust (June 2023 – August 2023)
- Supported the planning of fundraising events, including:
- Creating unique content for social media;
- Updating and monitoring social media accounts;
- Analysing engagement with social media and websites using Google Analytics, including, page views, unique visitors, time on page, bounce rate, click-through rate (CTR), and conversion rate (CR), being online ticket sales.
- Developed strong customer service skills by interacting with visitors at events
- Worked as part of the wider marketing team, enjoying collaborating with others
And you thought it was ‘just a summer job’?
Whatever it is that you have done, you will have gained transferable skills. The art is in relating the skills that you have, to the role that you want. This will be of particular importance when you get to the interview stage.
Extracurricular Activities and Interests
Your hobbies and interests can set you apart from other candidates; but only if you can relate them to the skills required for the role.
For example:
- Captain of the college football team: leadership and teamwork.
- Member of the college art club: Shows creativity and passion for the arts.
- Enjoy doing live gigs with a band: Event planning, confidence, presentation skills, teamwork.
Note: Your competitive duck-herding hobby is unlikely to help you land that job in computer programming. If you can’t link your hobbies to skills relevant to the role, keep them to yourself!
Common CV Mistakes to Avoid
- Spelling and Grammar Errors: Proofread your CV multiple times.
- Poor Formatting: Ensure consistency and avoid clutter.
- Listing Duties Instead of Achievements: Focus on what you accomplished and the skills you have gained in your roles or education.
- Using Clichés: Avoid overused phrases like “team player” or “results-driven.”
- Using Only One CV: Your CV will need to be tailored to each role that you apply for.
- Not Reading the Job Description: This is essential so you can tailor your CV to the ‘essential’ and ‘desirable’ criteria the employer is looking for.
- Inappropriate Email Address: ‘[email protected]’ is probably not going to help you bag the job.
Final Checks: Proofread and Get Feedback!
Before sending off your CV, proofread it several times and ask friends, family, or mentors for feedback. They might spot mistakes you missed, or suggest improvements.
Taking the Next Steps in Your Career Journey
Creating your first CV is just the beginning of your career journey. As you search for jobs, don’t just wait for the offers to come in:
- Network with others in the relevant sector,
- ‘Follow’ the industry giants and newcomers.
- Take free online courses to build your skills.
- Volunteer to gain more experience.
Employers ❤️ Volunteers.
Now that you’ve read this guide on how to write a student CV, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a professional and impressive CV.
Remember, your CV is a reflection of you – make it count!
To kickstart your career journey, apply for a course with Access Creative College!