Axcis is dedicated to helping you find not just the perfect job, but the perfect team and school or education organisation. Considering that the average full-time employee spends more waking hours with colleagues than with friends and family, finding a job that fits you is crucial. Our mission is to support you on your journey to securing your ideal position, and it all starts with a stellar CV. Here are 10 steps to getting your CV ship-shape.

No matter which job you’re applying for, your CV is the key to success. It’s vital to create it as clearly and precisely as possible to stand out in the crowded job market.

Why Clarity Matters

With hundreds of people looking for jobs, it’s likely that 20 to 100 other candidates could be applying for the same position as you, whether online or in person. The gatekeeper filtering through those CVs is usually under a lot of pressure, so they’re looking for key factors quickly.

Focus on Substance Over Style

While fancy CVs may look impressive, they aren’t necessarily going to win you the job. Your character, experience, and essential skills are what really matter. Presenting this information clearly will make it easier for the gatekeeper to notice you among 20 to 100 other CVs.

Essential CV Layout Tips

1. Your Name: Ensure that your name is clear and matches any nickname or alias you may use. The last thing you want is confusion about your identity at an interview.

2. Contact Details: Your objective is to get hired which means that the person reading the CV needs to be able to reach you as quickly and easily as possible. List your phone number, email address, and residential postcode clearly underneath your name at the top of the page. If you do not want to add your postcode, mention the areas you can work in. Also, make sure to make a note if you’re not easily reachable by phone. For example: “I am not always able to answer my phone immediately due to the nature of my current job, so please text me instead, and I will respond as soon as possible.”

3. Personal Profile: This section acts as a brief cover letter, giving the employer a snapshot of who you are professionally. Even if you lack extensive work experience, include a personal profile to highlight your dedication and relevant skills. Don’t be afraid to allow your skills and commitment to shine here!

4. Qualifications: List your qualifications in a timeline format, detailing the dates, course names, and institutions. Ensure that you start with the most recent and work the timeline back. For example:

5. Work History: Detail your work history in reverse chronological order starting with the most recent and work your way back. Include all relevant roles, even if they were in different sectors. For extensive supply work, summarise your experience and key achievements. For example:

6. Key Skills: Highlight skills such as clear communication, teamwork, empathy, and technical abilities etc. For example:

7. Professional Development: List relevant courses and training you have completed. For example:

8. Interests: Share interests that can strengthen your professional profile and showcase your personality. For example:

9. Check the spelling, grammar and personal details: Even the best CV is no good if the company you apply to can't get hold of you because there is a mistake in your phone number! Prospective employers may not be interested in you if your CV is full of spelling and grammatical errors, so be sure not to miss this crucial step.

10. Read it back to yourself: Is your CV clear and concise? Is it relatively easy to read? What typeface/size have you used? Should it be amended? Get someone else to proofread it to ensure that you haven't missed anything. If you can, print a copy to make sure it looks as good printed as it does on screen and fits well onto the page(s).

By following this structured layout, your CV will be easy to read and highlight your strengths effectively.

Get Started with Axcis

Download our sample CV and get in touch with Axcis to kickstart or develop your education career. We cover all provisions and disciplines, offer many CPD options to help you grow, some of which are often free, and guide you all the way.

Share and Refer

Remember to share this guide with a friend to help them. Better yet, refer them to Axcis and you could £150 in shopping vouchers if they get selected to complete 20 days of work as a thank-you and as an added bonus, the person you refer will also receive a £25 voucher when you get your shopping vouchers – double win! Click here to learn more.