Template details:
How to customise the Contact Icons CV template
Trying to make your CV stand out from the competition is even harder these days. With so many other well presented and professionally written CVs to choose from, the hiring manager is spoilt for choice. That’s why we create so many fantastic free CV templates, so you have a great chance of standing out from the crowd.
Our Contact Icons CV template or Résumé template would suit a wide range of roles, and allows you to offer as little or as much information as you like. You can copy and paste extra sections, or use the tab key to create extra rows in the tables.
Here are a few tips for customising your free CV template:
Keep it concise
Your prospective employers’ time is precious and usually limited. Just a couple of pages are the perfect length for most job applications. The employer does not need to see your complete career history if it spans over many years. Provide the most recent and relevant roles, and keep the previous job descriptions (or irrelevant) down to the bare details.
You should always try to avoid waffle and filler words. Instead, stick to the facts and provide evidence wherever you mention soft skills. Want to know what a soft skill is? For more information on what an employer is looking for, please read – The 6 soft skills an employer wants to see on your CV.
Here are some examples of cliché statements to avoid:
I am a reliable person
I am good at solving problems
Instead of stating you are a reliable person you should prove it. This is what you should write:
I have only had 2 sick days in the past 5 years in my current role
Solving problems is great, but is it fair to expect the employer to take your word for it? You could instead say:
During my time with XYZ Company I noticed XXX issue which was costing the business XXX money. I solved it by…
Real examples show your employer that you have the skills they are looking for.
Explain an employment gap
Provide explanations for gaps in your employment history where possible. Even if these are simply ‘I left work for a year to have a baby’. Or ‘I was made redundant from XYZ Company’, in which case your employer will understand that it can take some time to find a new position.
For more information on how to plug that employment gap, please read – How To Explain Gaps In Employment (With Examples)
Explain why you don’t settle
If you have moved from one position to the next quite frequently, provide an explanation. Employers don’t like to see this on a CV as it suggests if they invest time and money in training you, you might not stay with them. Sometimes however, there is a simple explanation – such as working temporary contracts, doing part time work to fit around other commitments (which you now don’t have) or completing placements for work experience.
Don’t be negative about your current boss
If you are still working, provide a simple explanation for wanting to leave your current role – but be positive. For example, if the real reason is that your boss requires you to work long hours, you could say that you are looking for a new role with a better work-life balance. If the reason is that you find your current job monotonous, you could say you are looking for a new challenge. This is far more positive than saying that you find your job boring!
We hope you love the Contact Icons CV template as much as we do and we wish you every success in finding your dream job – let us know how you get on!
NB: This design was updated 8th September 2018.
very good