Advice & Tips
Achieving Success
Top tips for writing your CV
Font and Size: Use clear fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri, size 11 or larger.
Consistency: Maintain the same style throughout.
Readability: Use headings and bullet points for easy reading.
Clarity: Be concise and to the point.
Start with the job advert to tailor your CV to the role. If no job description is available,
research job profiles for relevant skills.
Customise your CV to match the job and company to boost your chances of an interview.
CV Section
Contact Details:
Include your name, phone number, email address, and a LinkedIn profile link if applicable. Do not include personal information like age, marital status, or nationality.
Introduction:
Write a summary of who you are and your career goals, positioned just below your
contact details.
Education History:
List your qualifications, schools, and dates of attendance. This is crucial if you’re
early in your career or have limited work experience.
Work History:
Detail your work placements, volunteering, and paid jobs, starting with the most
recent. Include:
o Employer name
o Job title
o Employment dates
o Responsibilities
Gaps in Work History:
Gaps are normal and can be explained. Refer to additional advice on addressing these gaps.
Short Work History:
If you’re new to the job market, highlight skills from projects, volunteer work, or hobbies that demonstrate relevant abilities, such as leadership or organisation.
By following these guidelines, you’ll create a CV that effectively showcases your qualifications and improves your chances of securing an interview.
12 questions interviewers often ask
About the Employer
1. “What do you know about us?”
2. “Why are you a good fit?”
3. “Why do you want to work here?”
About You
4. “What do you do in your spare time?”
5. “What are your hobbies?”
Work History
6. “Describe a challenging situation you faced.”
7. “Can you share a work achievement?”
8. “Have you ever taken initiative or failed at a task?”
Strengths
9. “What are your main strengths?”
10. “Why should we hire you?”
Weaknesses
11. “What are your weaknesses?”
Last Position
12. “Why did you leave your last position?”
What to Expect in an Interview
Interviews, whether for a job, training, or a qualification, generally follow a similar format. Employers will assess your relevant experience and strengths, even if you haven't done the exact job before. For qualifications or training, they will consider your education, experience and interests.
Check the Interview Details
Verify Date and Time: Ensure the interview schedule works for you and fits around
your other commitments.
Format: Confirm whether it’s an in-person, phone, or video interview.
Accessibility: If you need adjustments due to a disability, request these.
Prepare for the Interview
Review the Job Description: Understand the required skills and experience.
Research the Company: Visit their website and familiarise yourself with their
operations.
Review Your CV/Application: Anticipate questions and prepare relevant examples
from your past experience.
Answer questions using the STAR method The STAR method helps you to answer
interview questions fully.
What STAR stands for:
Situation - the situation you had to deal with
Task - the task you were given to do
Action - the action you took
Result - what happened as a result of your Action and what you learned from the
experience.
You’ll usually have some time towards the end of the interview to ask some of your own
questions.
These might be about the role or company. You could think of some questions when researching the company. It’s important to write these down before the interview.