CV updating is the ‘biggest barrier’ to looking for new work, according to the results of the latest Monster poll.
More than a third (37%) of respondents said the prospect of updating their CV was the hardest part to finding another job whereas another third (34%) said they didn’t seek out a new job as they were put off by having to deal with the hassle of interviews.
Andrew Sumner, Managing Director at Monster.co.uk, comments: “These findings give us an insight into the reasons many of us put off finding a new job. “
“While it’s always good to be sure you’ve done everything you can to make a situation work, you don’t want to make yourself unhappy by staying in a job you don’t like. The right job for everyone is out there, so if you don’t feel like you’re getting the most out of your current job role, it might be time to move on and find something better.”
Monster.co.uk offers help and advice to job seekers on the topics of updating CVs and crafting cover letters. Here is a set of top tips to help those who are thinking of leaving their current job but might not know how to update their CV:
1. Presentation
Choose a clear layout. Since employers spend around 20 - 30 seconds scanning your CV, it is important to make it easy for the reader to immediately understand. Separate different sections and insert clear headings to avoid long paragraphs and organise text into more manageable ‘bite-size’ chunks. Check vigilantly for spelling and grammatical errors.
2. Think about your audience
Think about who will read your CV and tailor your information to what they will look for. It may sound like a time-consuming process, but making the effort to tailor your CV to suit the requirements of each particular job that you are applying for can greatly increase its chances of staying at the top of the pile.
3. Length
ACV should be informative but concise. As a general rule, two A4 pages is a maximum. Only include the information that will sell you. If it is feasible, a one-page CV is recommended – and some recruiters may insist on it.
4. What's essential to include?
In addition to basic personal and contact information a CV should include your most recent educational information and any degrees or certifications you may have obtained. Work experience, listed chronologically from most recent, skills, especially those relevant to the position in question, and any other competencies and qualifications that may make you stand out to an employer should also be included.
5. What's best left out?
- An unprofessional e-mail address
- Work phone numbers or work email addresses
- Irrelevant information such as where you went to secondary school and former jobs that don’t have anything to do with the position
- While including a picture on a CV is not a standard practice in the UK it may be useful if applying for a job overseas.
Monster poll results
Of the below, what is the hardest part to changing jobs? |
% of votes |
|
Updating your CV and cover letters |
37% |
|
Interviewing |
34% |
|
Handing in your notice |
7% |
|
Leaving a familiar workplace |
18% |
|
Change in your commute |
3% |
|
Other |
1% |
