Totaljobs.com > Career Advice > Jobseeking plus > CVs, interviews and references: quick guide
CVs, interviews and references: quick guide
Applying for a job usually starts by sending off your CV or a job application form. Interviews follow and if you make it through to the final stage, they'll contact your references. Whether you're job hunting for the first or 100th time, there's always room for improvement.
CVs
Your CV is a self-marketing document that presents you in the best possible light to prospective employers. If they like what they see, they'll invite you to an interview to find out more about you can offer. So what should your CV include?
On average, a recruiter will spend just eight seconds reviewing a CV, so it's important to impress early on. By following a basic structure, you can present the information in a clear, concise and persuasive way. Start by introducing yourself with personal details. Follow that with where you worked, and the kinds of education and skills you have.
There's no requirement to include personal information like your marital status or age. In most cases it's not relevant to your suitability for the role. Any requests for personal information should be stated and explained in the job description, such as the need for a clean driving licence, for example. There's no need for you to justify lifestyle choices such as why you want to work part-time. Suitability for the role is all that should matter to the recruiter.
Keep your CV short. Two sides of A4 is plenty. It should look clean and tidy, and all the information should be clearly signposted.
If you're not sure where to start, check out our CV templates and read our expert guidance on creating your own CV.
Interviews
If you've made it through to the interview stage, it's your last opportunity to sell yourself. Don't panic! Keeping calm during an interview is the key to being able to answer their questions well and give away a bit of your personality.
Preparation is the best medicine for interview nerves. If you're confident that you know what the company does and how you want to project yourself, you'll be fine. But it's not all about them getting to know you. An interviewer will expect questions from you too, so have a think about what you would like to know about the company and the role. It will show them that you're keen and that you understand what the business is.
References
It is standard practice to provide details of referees at the bottom of your CV. Prospective employers will use them to check your suitability further prior to offering you a job. Most jobs are offered "subject to satisfactory references", so choose your referees wisely.
If you discover that a previous employer has made less than favourable comments and put your future work prospects at risk, it's not necessarily over. You can always fight your corner. Usually, by the time you have got to the reference stage of the application process, you will have sailed through the CV stage and passed at least a first interview. By now, the employers want you, so it is worth putting your case forward to explain any discrepancies. The key is to be matter-of-fact, explain the situation and show what you have learned from the experience.
For more advice see the see our section on references.
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