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4 Easy Ways To Improve Your CV

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To be clear, UK Distance learning loves learning for learning’s sake. Not everything is about getting a job, and it can be fun and rewarding to learn new things whether you are eight or eighty eight. However, we do also recognise that most people who study with us are doing so with a particular goal in mind. This is usually a job. So, in this article we will look at 4 easy ways that our students (or anyone else for that matter!) can improve their CV, and make that dream job a reality.

 

1: Make the most of your qualifications

Of course, you will already know that it is important to list your qualifications on your CV, whether they are from UK Distance Learning or anywhere else. However, it’s important that you highlight why these qualifications make you a better candidate than someone who has a different set of qualifications. For example, if you were applying for a job as a sales person, and you had an A-Level in Business, it would be up to you to point out how these two things could be linked. You might write something like: ‘This Business qualification had given me an in-depth understanding of the relationship between maintaining ongoing customer care and attracting new customers/making new sales’. This shows that you have thought about the specific role you are applying for, and tailored your CV to appeal to that particular role.

CV Template

2: Keep it short

Business who advertise for jobs these days receive hundreds and hundreds of applications. They might tell you otherwise, but the reality is they won’t read all of them in detail. If they pick up a CV that’s more than one or two sides of A4, they may not bother to read it at all. Your CV needs to be super-focused and super-sharp. Hit the most important notes straight away: qualifications; work experience; skills. You really don’t need a full page of flowery prose telling them how wonderful you are (even if it’s true).

 

 

3: Use visuals

It can be as simple as including a picture of yourself at the top of your CV (smartly dressed of course!) Others will use coloured text boxes, or include links to their own website, or a video CV on YouTube. Having a splash of colour and imagery will help guide employers towards your CV amid the sea of black and white text in front of them. This will really help to improve your CV and give you a marginal edge over your competition.

 

4: Focus on real-world experience

You will of course list your academic achievements and your previous work experience, but it’s also important to think about your skills and experience in the rest of your life. If you’re a writer, for instance, mention how this has sharpened your creative abilities. It’s a good idea to have a list somewhere on your CV entitled something like ‘Key Skills’, where you can draw your new potential employer towards the unique things that you think you can bring to a role that others may not.

 

CV Example
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