Tips and tricks for crafting an impactful CV

At Rapport, we pride ourselves on building a team of exceptional individuals who embody our core values: Create Rapport, Be Brilliant, Innovative Spirit, Walk Tall, and Stronger Together.

A successful candidate demonstrates not only relevant skills and experience but also aligns with these values. We seek individuals who foster relationships, exhibit brilliance in their roles, embrace innovation, maintain confidence, and thrive in a collaborative environment.

To help you become a standout candidate, here are essential tips to enhance your chances of being noticed, shortlisted, and ultimately hired.

Your CV is often the first impression a potential employer has of you, so it’s crucial to get it right.

Key Elements of a Strong CV:

• Layout, Design and Length: Keep your CV clean and professional. Use clear headings, bullet points, and ample white space to make it easy to read. Keep your CV up to two pages long – there are various free templates online that can help you achieve a visually attractive CV.
• Grammar and Punctuation: Errors can detract from your professionalism. Always proofread your CV or ask someone else to review it.
• Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV for each application. Highlight experiences and skills relevant to the specific job advert to catch the employer's attention.
• Focus on Highlights: Use concise bullet points to summarise your achievements. Avoid lengthy paragraphs that can overwhelm the reader.
• Personal Information: Stick to relevant information. Do not include your age, marital status, or any personal details that are not pertinent to the job.
• Professional Photos: Only include a photo if it's customary for the industry, such as modelling. Otherwise, it’s usually unnecessary.

A few Do’s and Don’ts for CV Writing:

• Do: Use action verbs and quantify achievements when possible (e.g., "Delivered exceptional customer service, achieving a 95% guest satisfaction rating”)
• Don’t: Include irrelevant work experience or hobbies unless they demonstrate transferable skills.
• Do: Align your accomplishments with key elements of the role you are seeking.
• Don’t: Just list your responsibilities within your CV.