With an unprecedented amount of job vacancies in the UK and abroad, along with many in the veterinary profession looking to move away from clinical roles because of the rising pressures in the industry, it has never been so important to have a high quality CV.
Many job hunters don’t know where to look or who to speak especially if they’re looking to move away from clinical work so we wanted to provide you with some help. Some of the most common questions asked by candidates about their CV are;
- How to lay out their experience?
- Should Education or Employment be listed first?
- What information should be included or left off?
- How long should a CV be?
Below are some key elements we suggest you focus on to get your CV fit for finding that perfect role. If you’re still not sure, why not reach out to us and see whether we can help to support you.
Presentation
This is important! If someone is taking time out of their ‘day job’ to review CV’s you want it to be as clear and concise as possible.
The layout of a CV can be an indicator of how you would approach your work so make sure it is a reflection of you and your personality.
Minimal text boxes or none are preferred. Some people will open CV’s on their mobile phones and if your CV has a number of text boxes it won’t open properly on a mobile device.
Although it shouldn’t happen, if a file is frustrating to read because of the layout you could ruin your chances of being shortlisted.
Work Experience
In any good job advert or job description there will be key words or experiences that are desirable for the role.
Where possible, you want to be able to make sure those ‘key words’ feature in your CV. If you’re changing industries and you’re not sure how your experience transfers, give examples of what you have done and try and link it to the role you’re applying for.
Bullet points are a great way at keeping your information concise and to the point. They are a great way to capture a snippet of your experience and leave room for questions at an interview.
If you’re a Graduate, include any other work experience you have had through Education as this can demonstrate your other useful skills like customer service for example.
Education
Depending on the responsibilities within a job, a person’s education and qualifications can play a vital part when trying to hire. In terms of order on the CV, if you have spent a number of years in Employment we would recommend putting your job history first. If you have just graduated, put your Education section first.
We have a number of clients who have roles available but need clinically trained people in order to do the role so even if you are applying for a non-clinical role, your qualifications are vital.
As an agency, where appropriate, we are working to educate clients that a good educational background isn’t the be all and end all. Interpersonal skills can’t be graded at school and a true empathetic approach to customers can’t be taught.
Above and Beyond
Showcasing yourself can be an uncomfortable feeling but showing how you can go above and beyond could be the difference between being offered an interview or not.
Include evidence in your CV with examples of how you can go the extra mile to support the wider team, deliver an exemplary service and outperform what is expected in your role.
Although this isn’t essential, you could include statistics and figures, case studies or even quotes from people giving you feedback to support your application. Competition for non-clinical roles can be tough so your CV needs to stand out in order to guarantee you a place in the race!
Personality
It is important when applying and interviewing that you show off your personality to ensure the fit will work with the wider team but also to ensure it’s an environment that you will enjoy.
Don’t panic if a company or recruitment agency ask for an initial pre-screening telephone call or ask you to come back and meet the team – they are taking a thorough approach and ensuring that the fit is right for both parties. Just make sure you’re yourself!
Red Flags
There are several red flags that can be raised when looking at CVs so make sure you check off the below before submitting your CV for a role.
Be aware that if these red flags are spotted by hiring managers you could be asked further questions on the following;
- Employment gaps
- Job Hopping or very short periods in certain roles
- Poor Spelling and Grammar
There is a lot to consider above and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, why not reach out to us and see how we can support you with your job search.
We are ready to help on 01823 429566.