Preparing the Perfect CV: How to Make a Great Impression and Get the Job You Want (Career Success)

Every job hunter needs an impressive CV that describes their educational and professional history. A well-prepared and individually tailored CV is invaluable and can greatly improve your chances of getting the job you want. "Preparing The Perfect CV" provides sample CVs for job seekers of different abilities applying for various types of work. It is therefore useful for every age and calibre, from school leavers to those wishing to return to work after a career break. Careers expert Rebecca Corfield analyses the content and presentation of a well-prepared CV, helping you to impress the employer and get an interview. Complete with new online CV templates to get readers started and a comprehensive checklist of dos and don'ts, "Preparing the Perfect CV" is an indispensible guide that every job seeker should have. Copyright ......Page 5 Table of contents ......Page 6 Introduction......Page 10 What does curriculum vitae mean?......Page 16 What is in a CV?......Page 17 How do you start to write a CV?......Page 18 Dos and don’ts......Page 20 Points to remember......Page 21 2. What is a CV used for?......Page 22 How can a CV enhance your job prospects?......Page 23 How do you start to compile an effective CV?......Page 24 Stressing your good points......Page 26 Reflecting on your career......Page 27 Dos and don’ts......Page 28 Points to remember......Page 29 The most common CV content mistakes......Page 30 What should be included?......Page 31 Making your CV stand out......Page 32 Dos and don’ts......Page 56 Points to remember......Page 57 The most common mistakes in CV presentation......Page 58 Ordering your material......Page 60 Length......Page 62 Layout......Page 65 Adding emphasis......Page 66 Sending your CV by e-mail......Page 67 Dos and don’ts......Page 68 Points to remember......Page 69 Dos and don’ts......Page 70 Examples of CVs......Page 72 1. School leaver (Version 1)......Page 74 2. School leaver (Version 2)......Page 77 3. College leaver......Page 84 4. Graduate (Version 1)......Page 87 5. Graduate (Version 2)......Page 90 6. Voluntary experience......Page 93 7. Many jobs......Page 97 8. Gaps between jobs......Page 100 9. Woman returner......Page 103 10. Career changer......Page 107 11. After redundancy......Page 110 12. Personal profile......Page 113 13. Hybrid (Version 1)......Page 116 14. Hybrid (Version 2)......Page 119 15. Hybrid (Version 3)......Page 122 Step-by-step guide......Page 125 What goes in a covering letter?......Page 131 Examples of covering letters......Page 134 Dos and don’ts......Page 138 Points to remember......Page 139 Blank CV......Page 140 Using the internet to help you prepare your CV......Page 141 Applying for jobs online......Page 142 Dos and don’ts......Page 146 10 great sites for jobseekers......Page 147 Other useful sites......Page 149 Other sources of help......Page 151 Further reading from Kogan Page......Page 153 Index......Page 156 Every job hunter needs an impressive CV that describes their educational and professional history. A well-prepared and individually tailored CV is invaluable and can greatly improve your chances of getting the job you want. Preparing The Perfect CV provides sample CVs for job seekers of different abilities applying for various types of work. It is therefore useful for every age and calibre, from school leavers to those wishing to return to work after a career break. Careers expert Rebecca Corfield analyses the content and presentation of a well-prepared CV, helping you to impress the employer and get an interview. Complete with new online CV templates to get readers started and a comprehensive checklist of dos and don'ts, Preparing the Perfect CV is an indispensable guide that every job seeker should have. Online supporting resources for this book include downloadable sample CV layouts and templates. Preparing The Perfect CV provides all the answers about where to start. This bestselling guide will be welcomed by job-seekers of every age and calibre, from school leavers to those wishing to return to work after a career break. It demonstrates how different CVs can perform better at different levels of ability and types of work. It analyses the content and presentation of a well-prepared CV, using examples to demonstrate what an asset a good CV can be. Complete with new CV templates to get readers started and a comprehensive checklist of dos and don’ts. A well-prepared and individually tailored CV is invaluable and can greatly improve your chances of getting the job you want. This book offers sample CVs for job seekers of different abilities applying for various types of work. It analyses the content and presentation of a well-prepared CV, helping you to impress the employer and get an interview. Corfield analyses the presentation and content of a CV. Her examples show how they work in practice for different levels of ability, types of work and backgrounds, in awkward situations, and for the first ever job applications