Jobs Retail has teamed up with professional CV Writing companies to offer you tips to help you secure your next career.

What to do...

• Succinct sentences are easy to scan, especially given many recruiters have just 10 seconds to read it.
• Use standard typefaces such as Arial, 11 or 12 points.
• Check and re-check spelling do not rely on spell checker.
• Ensure your personal details are printed by all printers not in the header/footer.
• Dates and employment should be easily found and consistent.
• Lead with achievements, use active verbs and positive language.
• Follow up all claims with proven examples, be quantitative as well as qualitative.
• Use email addresses where referees are abroad.
• Include awards or recognition received for work well done, together with professional memberships and relevant training.
• Keep your CV honest, factual and to two pages.
• Ensure every line sells you at your best.
• Prioritise relevant content.
• Ensure you send your CV with a covering letter ideally to a named individual.
• Take ownership and use words such as Determined, Implemented, Created, Devised, Coordinated, Conceived.
• Include figures ie number of staff you managed or budget size.
• Focus on what you have to offer the employer rather than listing what you have done.
• Ask trusted colleagues and friends if this is an accurate representation of you.
• Seek feedback if you are not achieving any interviews and if you feel your CV is not reflecting you at your best seek external advice.

What NOT to do...

• Date your CV.
• Put your irrelevant personal details first ie date of birth and nationality.
• Mention Salaries.
• It is not necessary to put reason for leaving.
• Include negative or irrelevant information.
• Lie.
• Use Reverse Chronological format if you have many gaps between employment.
• Put education first if its 10 years out of date.
• List every employer if you have been working since the seventies.
• Allocate the same space to all positions, prioritise the content.
• Quote unsubstantiated superlatives.
• Modify your CV for every application unless you have a foolproof method of remembering to whom you sent which edition.