When applying for jobs the first thing that you’ll need to do is update your CV. Your CV and cover letter is the first bit of information that a prospective employer gets about you so it really needs to make an impact.

It’s always a good idea to tailor your CV and cover letter specifically to the job you’re applying for. This means looking up the job role and the key characteristics the employer wants and ensuring that you can evidence those in the previous roles that you have carried out.

It can be tempting to over explain past experience on a CV but you have to remember that for any one role an employer may have received hundreds of applications and therefore they need to be able to scan read your CV and get all the relevant information quickly.

Using bullet points under each job role highlighting your key responsibilities and skill set is a great idea to give lots of information quickly. You could also list key achievements whilst in that role and any recognition you received whilst in that job.

Always have someone else check through your CV to ensure you’ve not made any grammatical mistakes or errors which may negatively impact your job application.

There seems to be jobs in retail and hospitality advertised everywhere currently as Brexit has affected how many overseas workers are available for work here in the UK but how can jobseekers maximise their chances of getting past the application form stage to the interview stage?

Some people fall down on the application stage and never get the opportunity to impress their potential employers at interview. A possible reason for this may be because their application form lets them down in some way. It is essential that all the spelling on the form is correct especially the name of the company and the name of the person who is organising the application process as many application forms are discarded at this early stage because of these mistakes. Most companies now a days expect applications to be word processed although some are happy to receive neatly handwritten applications, but it is worth checking whether there is a preference when requesting an application form from the company.

If there is an achievement that you feel proud of whether it be in your work life or personal life it may be worth putting this down on the form as it shows your willingness to work hard to achieve a goal and demonstrates other elements of your character which may contribute to the job.

A CV is basically a document where you record all your qualifications and work experience. There are no strict guidelines as to how you should create a CV but many people follow a few simple rules such as keep it to one or two pages and make sure that the information given is relevant and easy to understand.

Often people don’t update their CV until they decide to switch careers or they see a job advertised that they wish to apply for. The danger in this is that it is easy to forget course, additional training or qualifications you may have gained and also it the deadline for applications is soon, you may not have the time to update your CV correctly. This could mean that you either miss out or that you make mistakes by rushing it.

I update my CV every three months, this way I know that should I need to amend it, it will only be the previous three months that I need to think about rather than years!

Many employers favour application forms over CV’s. It allows them to get the information they need when looking for applicants without having to trawl through a stack of different CV’s. Most forms include a section for a personal statement. This is your only opportunity to sell yourself and secure that all important interview.

It’s really important to make this part relevant to the job you’re going for. Your prospective employer only wants to know what makes you suitable for the job they’re offering. Don’t waste time repeating things from the previous work history section unless it’s to highlight how it makes you a good candidate. If you don’t have relevant experience, think creatively about the experience you do have and link it to the position you’re after.

If you are submitting a CV, make sure to tailor it for the job in question. It’s easy to send off a standard CV but it won’t make you stand out from the crowd.

As you move from one job to another your CV will rapidly become outdated, and it’s always important to maintain a CV, even when you’re not in a job search. This is because you’re then able to use it immediately when it becomes important again, and you won’t have a ludicrous amount of changes to make.

Dates are important on a CV if you don’t want to have gaps, and it’s a lot harder to backtrack dates than it is to update your CV as and when it’s required. If you’re settled in a job and you’re very comfortable, it can be difficult to see how your CV can be enhanced, but you’re likely to have picked up more skills along the way, while the form of a CV may change somewhat.

For example, social media pages and websites become important in media related jobs, while you may pass your driving test, gain a small promotion or pick up a new responsibility. These should all have a place on your CV so make sure you keep yours updated with the latest developments.

One thing to remember at your job, is to always have a positive attitude. The consequences of behaving inappropriately or whining at your job, even when the job wasn’t what you expected, and is not something you can see your self enjoying, could be dire. If you leave a negative impression with your employer, they will not be willing to give you a positive reference to your prospective employer, which can quickly damage your chances of getting the job. One of the things which employers consider to be of paramount importance with any employee is that they maintain a positive attitude, and don’t scupper the team dynamic. If you can’t demonstrate the emotional and professional fortitude in any situation, it will reflect badly on you. If this poor showing of your skills is the only reference for your work ethic and abilities, then it will severely damage your chances of acquiring the job your seeking.