The digital marketing industry is ever-changing which makes it a fast-paced and exciting sector, perfect for a graduate with transferable skills to find a career in.
While many job selection processes are overshadowed by tedious psychometric online tests, pre–recorded interviews and the dreaded virtual assessment days, all tend to kick off with submission of a CV. As a result of this, it is essential that your CV is up to scratch to improve your chances of catching a potential employer’s attention and (hopefully!) receiving a job offer.
It is a mere two pages where you must cram in all your expertise and experiences to prove that you are the perfect fit for the job, here are some top tips for doing just that…
Watch your language:
When writing a CV it’s important to remember that you are effectively writing a personal advert, because of this make sure you are creating an advert fit for the target audience – the employer.
A sound structure:
While there is no set in stone structure that all CVs are required to follow, there are some sections that would be expected and in the following order; your personal information, a personal profile, education details and relevant work experience. Making sure that all of those details are broken down into reverse chronological order to ensure the employer will be able to see your most recent successes first.
After this, embellish these basics with sections such as skills, volunteering, positions of responsibility, interests, hobbies and references. This is where you can really emphasise why you are the perfect fit for the job and demonstrate what makes you unique compared to other candidates.
Shine like a STAR:
Structure your writing by using the STAR technique, thinking about a Situation, Task, Action and Result. When writing about your experiences reflect on a ‘Situation’ you had to deal with and the ‘Task’ you were given to do. Think about the ‘Action’ that you took and what the ‘Result’ of your action was, along with the learnings that came as a result of the experience. Using this approach will let you showcase the skills and qualities that are directly stated on the job description.
Get online:
Many employers are turning to LinkedIn for recruitment and are actively looking at a candidate LinkedIn profiles. Therefore it is important that you use the platform to build your personal brand. The network also gives you the chance to further expand your CV and show potential employers what skills you bring to the table.
Be a storyteller:
Being a graduate who has worked through a global pandemic it is inevitable that you may find gaps throughout your CV. This is not something to worry about, instead it is important to make sure your CV tells a story. Tailor the gaps to demonstrate how you have been able to show resilience in the face of adversity.
Use your resources:
Make sure that you make the most of your university career support services. Despite graduating you should still have access to files that provide writing structures, interviews tips, online job vacancy platforms as well as contact details of staff from the Career Development Services who will be happy to help.
Don’t get caught in the lie:
As easy and harmless as it may seem to slightly fabricate experience, avoid this at all costs. Even if you feel like you don’t have a lot to pad out your two pages it is not worth the risk of making it to an interview and finding yourself caught in a web of lies regarding your supposed extensive experience!
Good luck and happy job hunting!
