Your CV is your first interaction with an employer and builds an impression and picture of you as a prospective employee.  

On average, recruiters take around 60 seconds skim reading a CV before deciding whether the person is potentially right for the role, so making sure that it stands out can make the difference between you getting your dream job or not.   

Below are a few tips that you can use to make sure that your application is highlighting your skills and giving you the best opportunity.  

**DO make sure that your contact details are at the top, both your email address and mobile phone number.** 
As CV’s can be skim read in the first instance if the details are hidden away at the bottom they can be missed, and assumptions made that you haven’t included them.  

**DO double check that all your contact details are correct.** 
It’s surprising how many people change their number and use an old CV to apply for a role or keep an email address that they have forgotten the password to or no longer use.  

It’s a small detail that is often overlooked and can cost you your dream job!  

**DO make sure that you have a professional email address.**
Your choice of email address can say a lot about you as an individual. Individuality is great but football club affiliations, nicknames and dubious references in emails should be avoided and if you need to set another up make it simple with your first and last name. 
 
**DO make sure that you have a clear and succinct personal statement.**
This should always be written by referring to yourself in the first person and not the third.  

Avoid clichés such as, “works well in a team and also on my own,” and think about how friends, family and previous bosses or colleagues would describe you to ensure that it is individual to you and has impact for the person reading it.  

**DO tailor your personal statement for each job that you apply for.**
If you applied for another role that states you are passionate about working in childcare and you’re applying for a role in retail the employer will assume that either you don’t really want to work in that sector or that you haven’t paid attention as you’ve not changed the details.  

Researching the background on the company and its culture will help you pick out what they are looking for and you can tailor accordingly to highlight your skills and experience and how they would match that organisation. 

**DO make sure your jobs are listed in reverse order with your most recent first.**

The layout should be clear:  

- Date 
- Position
- Company
- Key Responsibilities

Put your main daily responsibilities in bullet points, ensuring that you think carefully about all your previous skills and experience. Sometimes it can help to think about what you did over the course of a day 

**DO remember to review your document on spelling and grammar.**
Any spelling mistakes can make it look sloppy and give the impression of a lack of care or attention to detail. Asking someone else to proofread it with a fresh pair of eyes can also catch mistakes that may be missed.

**DO use a clear font and ensure the spacing and paragraphs are correct.**
Writing a CV in various or non-uniform fonts can be distracting and look like you haven’t thought about it carefully or make it incredibly difficult to read.  

Stick to the same font throughout, with clear sections:

**Name**

**Address**

**Mobile** 

**Email Address**

**Personal Statement;**
- Tailored to the role you are applying for 

**Work Experience**
- Most recent first  
- Laid out in format shown below with clear dates, role, company and key responsibilities  

**Qualifications**
- Listing uni, college or school qualifications 
- Start with the highest level/most recent qualification first  

**Additional Info/Hobbies & Interests**
- Don’t be afraid to include these, there’s nothing wrong with showing another side to yourself outside of work but make sure they are real  
- 99% of the population likes ‘socialising with friend, reading and going to the cinema’ be a little bit different and stand out! 

**DO ensure that the email that supports your application is tailored to the company or the hiring manager if you know their name**
If you apply through a job board often it creates a generic introductory email, make sure you change this to stand out from the crowd and show that you have put in the extra effort to show how serious you are about the role.  

**DO use a compatible format for your document in either Word or PDF.**
As most companies will use Microsoft Office and will be unable to download or open your CV if you use a program that they do not have access to.  

**DON’T put your photo on your CV.**
Unless you are an actor or a model it’s not necessary and can often distract from the content of the CV. Your skills and experience are what are being judged, not what you look like.   

**DON’T give too much information.**
1 or 2 pages is adequate and 3 is absolute maximum.  

All the information should be clearly presented so that the employer does not have to search for the information and can see straight away that you fit the role.  

You want to give sufficient and clear information about your roles and the responsibilities you held and the best way to do this is through bullet points.  

**DON’T leave the hiring manager to guess.**
On the opposite side of the coin, don’t give too little information either. Listing only the dates, company and job title doesn’t really give any insight as to what you did. Don’t assume that the other person will be able to tell exactly what your skills or experience is purely by the role you held; the same title could be held across 500 different companies with each one of them slightly different. 

**DON’T stretch the truth**
It can be tempting to cover the gaps of periods of unemployment or overstate your expertise or experience. Whilst this might get you the interview the likelihood is that it will come to light during the actual interview itself or when your references come back. No-one likes being duped and it’s a sure-fire way to end up being rejected as the trust is broken before you’ve even started.   

**DON’T send without double checking the attachment**
From recipes and holiday confirmations to family photos and blank documents – recruiters have had many strange things come into their inbox. Make sure before you send that you have attached the right document so that you are making the right first impression.  

**Overall, make sure that you have definitely attached it, a surprisingly large proportion of applications are sent without a CV or application attached!** 

For more support with your CV or applying for jobs in Edinburgh city centre get in touch with our FUSE team at hello@edinburghfuse.com or call the team on 0131 370 3850 



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How to make an impression and avoid common mistakes.

CV Do’s & Don’ts

General

You’ve sent off the CV and had your interview date confirmed. What’s the best way to ensure that you give it your best on the day? 

**PREPARATION, PREPARATION, PREPARATION**
It sounds obvious but the amount of preparation that you do can influence your confidence and state of mind in the interview.  

Even planning your route in advance to ensure that you get there in time, taking into account rush hour traffic, parking, and how long it will take you to find the premises – nothing induces stress like running late or getting lost on the way to your interview.  

Glassdoor is a good website that can give you an insight into other peoples’ interview experiences with the same company and some of the questions or techniques that they may use.  

Make use of their website so that you can think of a couple of questions regarding the company that you may want to ask. Make sure you also do a google news search on them as well so that you can get the up to date information that may not be on their website but will be sure to impress them that you’ve put in the extra effort.  

Confidence comes from knowing that you are as ready as you can be for any questions that might get thrown your way. Spend some time thinking about standard interview questions that are normally asked and those that pertain to the particular role you are interviewing for i.e if they are looking for someone with exceptional customer service skills have a ready example you can pull out the bag to showcase a time that you went above and beyond for a customer and the recognition that you received or how this made a he difference to them.

**If you arrive just in time, you’re already late**
Follow the 10 minute rule. You should always be 10 minutes early for your interview, not only does it show the employer that you keep good time and are taking the role seriously but it also gives you a chance to steady your nerves, relax and take in your surroundings.

**It’s not just the interviewer you need to impress**
How you conduct and converse with all levels within the company speaks volumes about you as a person and what kind of team player you are and it’s not uncommon for the hiring manager to ask other people you have come into contact with how you came across. Many candidates have come a cropper by being dismissive to those that they view as unimportant in the hiring process.

**First impressions**
Studies have shown that people make a judgement within the first 7 seconds of meeting you as to who you are and how trustworthy they believe you to be.  

A broad, confident smile, standing up straight and a firm handshake are important basics which all contribute to a positive first impression.

**Dress to Impress**
You may be interviewing for a company where you know that it is a relaxed dress code, how you dress shows how seriously you are taking the opportunity and how much you want the job. Whether we like it or not, people make a snap judgement based on appearance and how you carry yourself and you want to ensure that you are viewed as professional, keen and capable.

**Listen carefully to the question**
Nerves can get the better of us and so often we are listening with the goal of speaking next rather than actually hearing the other person properly. Listen carefully to the question that is being asked and think as to which example that you have prepared will best fit the criteria.

**Take your time**
Sometimes we get put on the back foot by a question that we didn’t consider beforehand or we rush to give any answer without first properly considering the question.  

To give you time to think you can use a statement such as:  
‘That’s a good question, there are a couple of examples I could use.’ 

**Answer in the STARR format**
To give a good answer, think about how you structure your response.   

A comprehensive answer should follow the STARR model and will allow you not only to answer the question at hand but show that you have learnt from challenging issues and reflected on them.  

**S**ituation – What was the issue or challenge that you dealt with?
**T**ask – What was the outcome that had to be achieved?
**A**ction – What did you do?
**R**esult – What was the outcome?
**R**eflection – What did you learn from it or what would you differently next time? 

**Ask about them**
Everyone’s favourite subject is themselves. Not only do people warm to you when you ask them questions and it shows you are keen and actively engaged. It can also give you a better insight in to their managerial style and the type of culture within the company.  

Asking the hiring manager how they came to be in their position or how long they have been at the company builds rapport and gives you the opportunity to see the career pathways and progression opportunities that are available.

**Don’t forget to be yourself!**
So, you’ve checked the route, got there 10 minutes early, practiced your answers and examples in your head and your shoes are so shiny you can see your face in them. The only thing left to do is to let your personality shine through.  

Although nerves can often get the better of us, remember that the hiring manager wants to get a good idea of who you are and are willing you to do well and although skills and experience are important, personality and team fit are a large part of the decision. People can often see potential and hire on ability to train and enthusiasm, rather than solely focusing on current experience.  

So be your natural, lovely, sunshine self and Good Luck!  

For more support regarding interview tips you can contact the FUSE team at hello@edinburghfuse.com or call the team on 0131 370 3850 

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Tips to build your confidence and land that job

What’s the best way to ensure that you give it your best on the day?

Interview Tips 

You’ve had the interview and thought it went well, then the doubt starts to creep in.  
Could I have answered that better? Did they like me? Will they offer me the job?  

It’s often the most agonising part of the interview stage and it’s natural to go over the events scanning for signs to give an indication of the likely outcome.

Here are some positive signs that the interview went well and you could be about to receive an offer…

**Positive body language and affirmations**
Strong eye contact, smiles, and nodding of the head from the interviewer, all indicate interest in what you are saying and agreement with your opinions and answer.

**Interview becomes more conversational**
Some interviews are less structured than others but when the hiring manager starts to engage with you on a personal level rather than purely job related questions, this is a good sign that they like you and are interested to know more about you in general.

**Humour**
If you got them laughing or shared a joke then this is a hugely positive sign and means that they felt they had a rapport with you and helps build a picture of how you would fit in within the team.

**Your interview went on longer than expected**
If you were allotted 45 minutes and came out an hour later, this is a good sign that the conversation flowed, lost track of time and they found you engaging.

**When discussing the job responsibilities they use the word ‘you.’**
Rather than using ‘the successful candidate’ they subconsciously start using ‘you’ as they can see you working in the role.  

Often people can do this, realise that they’ve slipped up and go back to referring to the post holder in a general sense but you can be confident in the fact that you may be a contender if they are already visualising you in the role.

**Selling the opportunity and the company**
When the interviewer starts waxing lyrical about the role, the opportunities for growth and the employee benefits then they may be trying to secure you for the role ahead of others than you might be interviewing for.

**Introducing you to others within the office**
If they walk you out after the interview and start introducing you to other team member this is a very positive indicator that they can easily see you fitting in to the existing team.

**Asked questions regarding other interviews or notice period**
If at the end of the interview they ask about notice period and any other interviews that you currently have lined up they may be trying to suss out how much interest you have in the role and how secure a candidate you are for the next stage.

**Salary is discussed**
Most interviewers won’t broach the subject of salary with candidates who they aren’t considering but if they do it’s a sure sign that they are viewing you as a serious contender. It should be remembered though that often this is dealt with by HR or once the post is offered.

**You’re given a specific time frame about feedback or the next stage**
When the interviewer lays out when they will give you feedback or what the next stage is in timelines this usually means that they want to keep you interested before you may accept another offer from elsewhere.  

This can sometimes be overlooked, not because they didn’t like you but because there may have been so many other topics they covered within the interview itself. If this is the case, then you should ask it as one of your questions at the end so that you know when to follow up by to gain feedback.  

Interview performance and signs can be a difficult thing to read but if you haven’t been successful, as hard as it, try not to take it personally but ask for honest feedback about areas you can improve and use this to build on development areas for your next interview.  

Job hunting is never easy but building resilience and taking feedback on-board will put you in good stead to land that next role! 

If you would like any further help with interview techniques or searching for that dream role then you can contact the FUSE team at hello@edinburghfuse.com or call us on 0131 370 3850.  

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Positive signs of interview success

You’ve had the interview and thought it went well, then the doubt starts to creep in.  


Signs your interview went well

You have thought of it all - what to wear, competency questions and researched the organisation. 

You’re now in the hot seat and the first thing the interviewer asks you is, “Talk me through your CV”, and your mind goes blank! 

**1. Don’t panic**

The first thing to remember here is there is no right or wrong answer. At the end of the day, the only person that can answer this – is you. 

Your CV is simply your experience and life mapped out on paper. Ultimately what is written, is a reflection of your choices and the work that you have completed.  Ensure you are fully prepared by learning your CV and approach this question with confidence - you’ll be set for the rest of the interview.

**2.	Don’t dwell**

Past experience is great and will always add value but for the most part, the individuals conducting the interview want to know about your most recent experience. 

Run through your past roles relatively briefly, giving a concise overview, spending more time on your most recent roles and less time the further down the page they are, unless they are of course highly relevant to the position that you are interviewing for. 

To keep on track, break it down: 
- What attracted you to the job
- What attracted you to the jobresponsibilities on a daily basis, making sure to highlight areas that are relevant to the role you are interviewing for
- Areas that you enjoyed in the role (best to leave out the bits that you didn’t to ensure you’re keeping the interview positive!)
- Why you left

Remember, you might have hated a job but avoid negativity or bad mouthing a previous company or manager at all costs. Keep it positive!
 
**3.	Wrap it up**

Try and close your run through by explaining how your CV has led you to this interview and specifically why you are keen for this particular job.  

A good close, with direct mention of why your experience relates to this job will put you in great stead for the next part of the interview. 
 
To get further advice on Interview Tips [click here](https://www.edinburghfuse.com/article-details/Articles_5df115aeef9da90017e45582).

For more help with Interview Skills or CV Writing & Job Sourcing then get in touch with the FUSE team on [hello@edinburghfuse.com](mailto:hello@edinburghfuse.com) or register for our Talent Bank via [www.edinburgfuse.com](https://www.edinburghfuse.com/job-application/TB). 




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Advice on discussing your CV in an Interview

What if you get asked, “Talk me through your CV”, and your mind goes blank! 

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Interview Tips

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Talk me through your CV

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CV Do’s & Don’ts

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Signs your interview went well

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