If finding a new job was one of your New Years’ resolutions, you’re not alone. Apparently it’s one of the most popular resolutions to make, right after losing weight.

If you’ve already got a jump on things, you’ve probably already noticed that job hunting is not the same beast it was 12 months ago. Thanks to the economic downturn, unemployment in the UK is rising at an alarming rate, and at 1.92 million, is currently at the highest level than for more than a decade.

Gone are the days of shooting off a few CVs and taking your pick from the three different employers desperate for your skill set.  Now there are so many candidates applying for available positions that employers are able to pick and choose and disregard anything that doesn’t float their boat 100%.

So make sure you are giving yourself the best shot of succeeding in your job search as possible! As someone who has spent their fair share of time on the hiring side of the desk, I’ve put together a short series with some top tips on finding a job and avoiding the common mistakes many job seekers make, starting with getting your CV and cover letter sorted.

Get your CV and cover letter sorted
There is little point to having a standard CV and cover letter that you send out to all and sundry. Potential employers are very good at recognising stock-standard applications, and they won’t get past the person who culls the applications.  So don’t even think of doing that mail merge!!

You must tailor each cover letter and CV to each individual job spec. Show that you have read the job description, that you understand what the role entails, and that you have the necessary skills and qualities to undertake it. It might be time consuming, but there is nothing more annoying than trawling through CVs and cover letters and seeing that the applicant has spent absolutely no time working on their application.  They will only end up in the bin.

Curriculum Vitae
Your CV should not be longer than 2-3 pages. Keep the things that are relevant to the job you are applying for, and ditch everything else. You might be really proud of having been head cheerleader 15 years ago, but your potential employer doesn’t care! They want to know why they should consider you for this role. Tell them!

Structure it correctly
Firstly, don’t use a fancy font or weird colour on your CV, no matter how cute you think it looks. Black ink, and (if you are sending it via snail mail), white, A4 paper only.  Keep it clean and well-spaced.

Your CV should tell the story of your employment history quickly and effectively.  How a CV is structured is very industry-specific, so be sure to do your research and find out how to set yours up. If you are working with a recruitment consultant, ask them for advice. In general, list your jobs in reverse order, starting with your current or most recent. Give a short description of your role, explain your responsibilities within the organisation, the skills you gained, the major projects you worked on, and your achievements and/or awards.  Keep your sentences short or bullet-pointed, and to-the-point.

Depending on how many jobs you have had, list only the most recent ones in detail, keep the rest to a few short lines highlighting the most important points.

Education
After your employment history, briefly summarise your education, your university degree, and academic awards you received (Dean’s List, Merit List, etc). If you went straight on to do your MA or PhD after your undergrad degree, judge carefully whether or not to include this information, especially if you are applying for entry-level roles. Many potential employers may find you to be overqualified, even if you have little practical experience.

How much education detail you include will depend on how long ago you graduated. If you are applying for entry-level positions, include quite a lot of detail and any internships you undertook.  If you are a new graduate, you should also include your secondary school results, as well as important academic awards you received, such as Gold Colours, Dux or Proxime Accessit.  If your employment history is longer, don’t include secondary school information.

Extra-curricular
Whether or not you include non-work related information on your CV will depend on your industry. Some people like to show that they lead well-rounded lives by listing their golf club, and Duke of Edinburgh awards, etc.  In some industries that are all about networking, this may be a benefit, but you must be the judge of whether or not it’s worthwhile.  It’s really a personal choice, but if you do, keep if brief; no more than a sentence or two at the end.

Personal information
In the UK it is now illegal to ask an employee their age, or whether they have children; so don’t include your date of birth, or the fact that you do/don’t have children on your CV. If you are a foreign national, include your visa information on your CV, and any employment restrictions or lack thereof.

References
List your references, at the end; or write ‘references available on request’.  Make sure they are relevant to the industry you are applying for – squeeze out the best contacts you possibly can out of your network. If at all possible, use a reference whom is well-known within that company or industry. If that’s not possible, a university Professor or an acquaintance of high standing in the community is best, such as a doctor or judge.  Check with your referees before giving out their details so they are prepared for any phone calls.

Photo
Finally: the photo. In short, DON’T DO IT! Unless the job spec specifically asks for you to include a photo, please, don’t. I have never seen a CV with a photo that didn’t come across as hideously cheesy (and that didn’t give the office a good belly laugh). It is highly unprofessional to include a photo, and will probably end up in the bin, no matter how great your skills – if not for any other reason than most people don’t want to work with the type of person who puts a photo of themselves on their CV!

The Cover letter
In my field, job applicants live and die by their cover letters. Never underestimate how important it is to strike the right tone, and present yourself to the best of your ability. A so-so CV can be saved by a good cover letter, and a great CV can end up in the bin thanks to a sloppy cover letter.

The cover letter should be no longer than three or four paragraphs, and should briefly summarise why you are applying for the role, your employment background, and why you think you should be considered for the role. It can also be used to explain gaps in your work history, or to explain a change in industry or direction.  Don’t write anything negative about a previous employer or workplace, even if that is the reason you are looking for a new job.

This is the place to show a little personality (but not too much; keep it professional), and let your enthusiasm for taking on a new challenge shine through. It is also what potential employers will use to gauge your intelligence, your attention to detail, and get a feel for your written communication skills by the way you express yourself.

Have someone else read over your cover letter to check that it is succinct, it makes sense, and there are no grammar/spelling mistakes. And if there is a contact name listed in the job spec, be sure to personalise your introduction (rather than ‘Dear Sir/Madam’), address the letter properly and triple-check the spelling of the name!

Next: How to find the right jobs to apply for.