Helping perfect your Curriculum Vitae
Your CV needs to stand out… But it needs to stand out for the right reasons! It needs to be well written, well formatted and professional.
Our attentive consultants have had years of experience in perfecting CV’s and know exactly how to make your CV stand out from the crowd and get the attention of even the busiest of hiring managers – and we provide all of this guidance absolutely free of charge!
So, submit your CV now or contact us to get one of our consultants to give you a call back!
We understand that depending on your level of experience and what sector you are working in, the formatting and layout of individual candidate CV’s may vary, but from experience we have compiled a short list of do’s and don’ts which will help you on your way!
CV Do’s:
• Do work on your CV layout – please, please, please ensure that your name, location and contact details are on the very top of your CV, also ensure that your personal email address is of a professional nature (beerguzzler24@emails.co.uk will not score you any brownie points!). This is imperative, as there is nothing worse than a manager frantically trawling through pages of a CV to find out your name or how to contact you!
• Do use a professional font – choose a professional font. We recommend Calibri, Arial, New Times Roman or Cambria as it is not only professional, but it is easily read and managers can scan through these fonts highlighting key areas. There are more professional fonts which may work for you and may even grab the attention of a hiring manager, but the main point here is to ensure that the font you use reflects your professional personality in a working office environment.
• Do keep it concise and to the point – the best CVs we have seen aren’t just informative, they’re also concise and to the point. Try and get to the most important points on your CV without too much irrelevant information. There is no perfect length for a CV, because everyone’s experience and qualifications differ, but try and keep it under 3 A4 pages in length, simply because hiring managers do not have the time to read pages and pages of a potential candidates CV.
• Do use bullet points – they draw attention to the key skills or relevant experience within your CV and allow hiring managers to read the document quickly and find your significant achievements with ease.
CV Don’ts:
• Don’t try to squeeze too much into your CV - the ideal CV should be a checklist of your key experience, skills, qualifications and accomplishments. It should definitely not be your life story, or describe how much you enjoy the company of a family pet! Tailoring your CV to your desired role is a great way to trim some of the fat and keep all waffle to a minimum.
• Do not include irrelevant information - before including any information in your CV, ask yourself one simple question: ‘will this information help me get the role’. If the answer is no, take it out. Hobbies and interests are a great example. If they don’t help you stand out, don’t waste valuable space.
• Do not experiment with size, colour, margins etc - changing font size, using random font colours or messing around with margins is a great way to ensure your CV stands out for the wrong reasons! Too small, the reader needs a magnifying glass to read, too large and it looks as though you are trying to make your CV stretch out (same with narrowing margin sizes!). Too bright and you lose the professional respect of a hiring manager! Simply put – don’t do this!
Some intervew tips to help you get the job...
Practice and Prepare
Practice your responses to the typical job interview questions and answers most employers ask. Think of concrete examples you can use to highlight your skills and experience. The easiest way to do this is to make a list of the job requirements, and match them to your experience. Providing evidence of your successes is a great way to promote yourself.
Also, have a list of your own questions to ask the employer ready.
Research the Company
Do your homework about the role, the employer and the industry so you are ready for the interview question "What do you know about this company?" Try to relate what you have learned about the company when answering questions. Know the interviewer's name, and use it during the job interview. Building rapport and making a personal connection with your interviewer can up your chances of getting hired. People tend to hire candidates they like, and who seem to be a good fit for the company culture.
Get Ready Ahead of Time and Dress to Impress
Don't wait for the last minute to pick out an interview outfit, check the address, or print extra copies of your CV. Have one good interview outfit ready, so you can interview on short notice without having to worry about what to wear. When you have an interview lined up, get everything ready the night before. Make sure your interview attire is neat, tidy and appropriate for the type of firm you are interviewing with. Bring a nice portfolio with any certificates relevant to the role and extra copies of your CV. Include a pen and paper for note taking.
Be On Time (That Means Early)
Be on time for the interview. On time means five to ten minutes early. If need be, take some time to drive to the interview location ahead of time so you know exactly where you are going and how long it will take to get there. Give yourself a few extra minutes to get a glass of water, visit the bathroom, check your outfit, and calm your nerves.
Try to Stay Calm
During the job interview, try to relax and stay as calm as possible. Remember that your body language says as much about you as your answers to the questions. Proper preparation will allow you to exude confidence. Take a moment to regroup if you need it. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Listen to the entire question (called active listening) before you answer, and pay attention - you will be embarrassed if you forget the question.
Show What You Know
Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions. When discussing your career accomplishments, match them to what the company is looking for. Use examples from your research when answering questions, “I noticed that when you implemented a new software system last year, your customer satisfaction ratings improved dramatically. I am well versed in the latest technologies from my experience with developing software at ABC, and appreciate a company who strives to be a leader in its industry.”
Follow Up
Always follow-up with your consultant after the interview, this will allow your recruitment agency to contact the Hiring Manager and offer your feedback on the interview as well as gain some initial feedback from the employer
“Daniel has been my consultant for almost a year now and he's been absolutely brilliant. Very easy to talk to and approachable. I've never had any issues with him. Adversa is a fantastic agency - great job!"
– Susan, Support Worker at Hertfordshire County Council
“Karis has been amazing all throughout the process of getting started at my new company. She is very nice, and always has the time of day to check in on you to see how things are going. In previous employment with an agency they did not do this, so I feel much more comfortable here. I would 10/10 recommend this agency!”
– Chloe, Administration Officer at Halton Borough Council
“Absolutely friendly and efficient approach! Sadie contacted me about an opportunity and stayed in touch with me all the way through the interview and my first day. I have experience with a few agencies, and Adversa is my favourite so far! Thank you!”
– Zsuzsanna, Energy Officer at Central Bedfordshire Council
“The team at Adversa, especially Mr Gurdeep, have always been very supportive and approachable. They always pay my wages on time and give me the choice to work in my preferred location. I have found the company very accepting and accommodating of my preferences and I can't thank them enough. I highly recommend this company to anyone within social care.”
– Shamira, Care Assistant at Hampshire County Council
“Mike recently contacted me about an upcoming vacancy with Rotherham Council. He answered any questions I had and helped me to gather the documents I needed for me to start my new job as quickly as possible.”
– Zoe, Cleaning Operative at Rotherham Council
“Adversa Recruitment is the best health care agency. If you are in the UK and have experience in health care, come to Adversa Recruitment. The staff are great, especially Daniel. I strongly recommend everyone come together and show love to vulnerable people with Adversa.”
– Collins, Care Assistant at Hertfordshire County Council
“When I received a call from Adversa, I was a bit reluctant to fill out the application form because I just got a job elsewhere. I'm so glad I filled out the forms and Ina made my recruitment journey very worthwhile. I would give them 10 stars if that was possible!"
– Janet, Support Worker at Nottingham Community Housing Association
“Brilliant team who helped with my application and were extremely patient and helpful. Special thanks to Rob Berezowy for all his help!”
– Barney, Care Assistant at Bedford Borough Council
“Fantastic company. Helpful from the start and walked me through every step of the process. Any issues were resolved there and then. Highly recommended. Thank you to Lewis and all the team involved."
– Adam, Enforcement Officer at North West Leicestershire District Council
“Very friendly. efficient and helpful people who gained me employment. I am ever so grateful for the outcome. Thank you so much!”
– Richard, Service Support Assistant at Hull City Council
“Working with Adversa was great. They quickly found “Karis at Adversa Recruitment is a pleasure to work with. I appreciate her positive, upbeat, calm and professional way of working. Karis is well organised and takes time to show that she cares about your progress."
– Jeremy, Senior Communications Officer at West Sussex County Council
“I really can't say it all, but believe me this agency are the best in Hertfordshire! Good communication skills, always supportive, encouraging and friendly. I am happy to be part of this team. Kudos to Daniel, who is doing a great job for Adversa. Keep it up!”
– Azeezat, Care Assistant at Hertfordshire County Council
“Adversa have been a great agency for me to work for. They found me a temporary job that lasted 9 months and led to permanent employment. Gurdeep was always helpful and responsive. I would recommend!!"
- Catherine, Senior Contact Tracer at Thurrock Council
“Very professional. I have worked through agencies for years and I must say I am impressed. They are quick at answering queries and actually listen to your preferences and needs. Karis and Elle have been fantastic, always a phone call away - it's refreshing! The vetting process was painless and the communication regarding the role, interviews and options always seem to be honest and straight forward.”
- Joana, Accommodation Officer at Flintshire County Council
“A first-class, professional agency. They are great to chat with and have great communication. You feel valued, taken care of and much more. They are excellent, on the ball and I can't rate them highly enough!”
– Stephen, Youth Bus Driver at Cardiff Council
“Karis was helpful and lovely throughout. I would 100% recommend working with her. I'm loving my new role already, thanks to Karis and the team of equally superb staff."
– Peggy, Project Support Officer at Central Bedfordshire Council
"Excellent agency. They find you the perfect jobs super quick, fitted to your profile/CV. Very friendly, helpful, patient staff who are happy to support you. Always paid in a timely manner and ensure that you have swift moves between contracts. It's been great being employed by them, they take away all the stress of finding and applying for jobs. Special thank you to Daniel, who's an excellent recruitment consultant."
- Martyna, Social Work Assistant at South Gloucestershire Council
“Mike is really helpful and found me the job I wanted in no time. I can't thank him enough. Cheers - a great agency."
– Jordan, Loader at Vale of Glamorgan Council
“Sadie called me after finding my CV for a role, put me forward and was always one step ahead of me to keep me updated on the process. Sadie made the whole process so smooth and having to never(!) chase for information was amazing. Thank you to Sadie and to the team for your customer service - it is so underrated these days but you guys are setting a high bar for other recruitment agencies.”
– Jenny, Community Engagement Officer at Bedford Borough Council
"Great service from Rob and Sophie. The onboarding process in my new role was really quick with regular updates by phone and email. They are always a pleasure to deal with and a credit to Adversa for sure. I highly recommend."
- Bryan, Learning Support Assistant at North Hertfordshire College
"I was contacted by Karis who was professional and friendly. The whole process was great and even the paperwork was easy. From the start to obtaining the position was only about a week or so. After I started, Karis didn’t abandon me - she phoned to check all was going well and remind me about how to put in my timesheet. Such care and service is very rare and much appreciated."
- Kathleen, Business Grants Processor at Swindon Borough Council
"I highly recommend Adversa Recruitment. Extremely professional and very helpful. Mike got me the job I want and was there to guide me every step of the way. Mike answered all the questions and queries, was super fast with responses and has been so helpful. I'm so thankful. A big thanks to Mike and Hayley - I really appreciate all your help!"
- James, Caretaker at Camden Council
"I would like to say a massive thank you to Sadie for an excellent service and support given. This is how a good service should be given, the way Sadie did - reassuring me and finding me a perfect role. She is a star and you should have more staff like her working for you, making you feel part of the establishment."
- Viro, Business Support Officer at Cardiff Council
"Karis and Hayley were lovely to deal with and really made me feel at ease starting my new job after being on maternity leave. They're very hardworking and professional. They made sure everything was ready for when I started the job and always replied to my emails straight away."
- Nicole, Financial Assessor at Central Bedfordshire Council