It may surprise you to discover that there are number of unthought-of categories to include writing into your CV without having a wealth of job experience! Writing a CV after leaving school with little, if any job experience, can be a problematic and worrying predicament. However this guide tries to provide help and ideas on what to include and hopefully making your CV stand out from the crowd.
Firstly, you must realise that tweaking your CV for every job you apply for can really help! providing you stick to the truth… No two jobs are the same and they may look to draw on different qualities.
Your CV needs to highlight just how good you can be in your potential area of work. So you mustn’t be scared of being boastful of your achievements to date no matter how insignificant they may seem to you.
However, always try to keep to the point; put in information that is relevant to the job you are applying for. Importantly though, you may be surprised as to what information is deemed relevant or that an employer will be interested in.
The life experience’s you have gained so far can play a big part in helping to create an interesting CV even at this early stage in your career.
Some examples…
Here are some brief examples and things you may use in your CV:
- You may have volunteered for projects or done charity work
In my spare time I worked with XXX charity and this experience taught how to communicate with a range of people who had issues with xxxx. This helped develop my communication skills and showed me how well I can perform under pressure.
- Had a part time job
Working part-time in the evenings showed that I have desire to work and taught me how to deal with customers, manage stock and experience a range of work related issues that included…….
- Holidays where you have experienced cultural differences and you can show you are someone who is culturally and socially aware and diverse
Skills taken from this include being able to interact with people with different beliefs from your own and being the type of person who is not afraid to experience new things.
- Scouts, Duke of Edinburgh or part of football team
I enjoy taking part in xxxxx this has taught me how to interact with others, be part of a team / club and help strive to do the best possible job.
Being member to a club or society, whether it be a physical or home based activity, can also prove to be a worthy admission. Maybe you’re a member of the scouts, where team leadership and team playing, are both skills that can be implemented from such an environment into a working one. Or maybe you have simply created a website. Explaining you have an interest in a certain something will give the impression you like to keep physically and mentally active and is just another string to your bow.
Achievements you’ve been rewarded with can also show you to be someone who is worth employing. Perhaps you’ve completed the Duke of Edinburgh Award, or won something at a club you belong to, this all goes to show that you are an achiever and have a determined character. Both characteristics companies love to see in their employees. Whilst accolades gained at school, such as having the honour of being named a Prefect is something that will indicate what a responsible and respectable character you are.
In your CV, explain what makes you passionate and why you want to get in the industry you’ve applied for. Unless you let them know you’re motivated and willing to do well for them and the company, then they won’t give you an opportunity. It cannot be underestimated how impressive it is for recruiters, if you show how enthusiastic you are, attitude is the key!
Your grades are not the be-all or end-all with employers, attitude and enthusiasm count for a great deal other skills can be learnt on the way.
