When applying for a job, there are a handful of skills that you can take with you into any profession – and most of these you would have gained from school. Whilst at school, you are encouraged to write a CV ready for when you leave to follow your chosen career path, but how do you write a CV with nothing to write about?
Although we may not consider sitting in a classroom or hanging out with friends at break times ‘work experience’, it helps you to develop skills employers actively look for such as communication skills, teamwork and individuality. Before staring at your CV template and feeling it is inevitably going to be a blank canvas forever… take a look at these handy tips.
Working well as part of a team
Being able to effectively work in a team is crucial; in the majority of jobs you may apply for, you’ll be expected to work with others and you want to be able to reassure employers that you can fit in well with current employees. For your CV, think about when you’ve worked well as part of a team to achieve a particular goal, focusing on what you learned and why you were successful.
Learning how to manage your time
Being punctual is essential to any role: it shows dedication, respect and professionalism to your employer. Managing your time well is important to employers as they need to be able to rely on you. Flexibility with your time is also a selling point to any employer, so if you are able to work overtime during busy periods… tell them!
Understanding the value of IT
Most jobs will require you to have basic Microsoft Office skills (such as Word and Excel) as well as having web-based knowledge. This means being comfortable working your way around search engines and knowing how to research and navigate websites. Most job roles will require a basic level of IT knowledge, especially as technology advances. Having these skills will also benefit you no matter what sector you decide to go into, so they’re well worth developing.
For more tips on how to write a glowing CV, please click here.
For interview preparation advice, please click here.
