1. Using a Stylish Template
Having a sleek and stylish CV layout is a sure fire way to help your CV stand out from the crowd. There are loads of websites with free templates and designs for you to transform your CV within minutes. I highly recommend using Canva: https://www.canva.com/ as it’s easy to use, free for their basic package and the designs look incredibly professional.
2. Being Factual and Honest
This may seem like an odd one to add as a ‘trend’ but since the pandemic left so many in need of work, the recruiter or hiring manager is more likely to test the applicant on their CV in detail. It used to be accepted that you would bend the truth slightly to make your CV shine a little brighter e.g. Netball as a hobby, however you haven’t actually played since P.E in school 12 years ago. Joey’s scene in TV Show Friends comes to mind. As a general rule, if you can’t prove it or provide in depth details, leave it out. However, if you can drink a gallon of milk in 10 seconds…by all means leave it on there.
One thing I see a lot on CVs is people changing the dates of their employment to fill in a career break or gap in employment. It’s absolutely okay to have a gap in your employment, and we’ve written a separate article on how to tackle this issue here: (http://thedentalschool.org/how-to-explain-a-gap-in-your-cv/)
3. Social Media
Social Media can either be your best friend or your worst enemy when it comes to applying for jobs. Increasingly, before an employer offers a job to somebody, they will do a little digging on social media to check what kind of person you are depending on who/what you follow and what you post. This ensures that your interests are aligned with the companies – e.g. If you are applying for a position within a political party, it would be a conflict of interest if you were posting content in support of the opposition. I highly recommend reviewing your security settings on any social media platforms, unless you want your future employer looking at your profiles that you’ve made publicly accessible.
It’s becoming increasingly popular to add your social media account to your CV, if you are applying for a creative position. Often it can be used as a visual CV, or Portfolio and very beneficial when applying for these types of positions.
I also highly recommend that you use professional networking platform LinkedIn regardless of your industry. www.linkedin.com It’s a wonderful tool to use when you’re searching for jobs, and will allow you to reach out directly to hiring managers and recruiters. You can also follow companies, motivational speakers, activists and just about anything and anyone you’re interested in to keep up to date with industry news and trends.
I hope that these have helped. For more tips on securing a role, or to find out more about what we do, please click here: https://www.ppcm71.sg-host.com/