Template details:
Smart Green Lines CV template guide
We hope you enjoy using our Smart Green Lines CV template to create the perfect job application. Here, we look at a few different ways to get the most out of your template.
Dazzle with your introduction
Underneath your name you will notice there’s an introduction section. A common mistake job seekers make is to fill this section with fluffy statements. Often called a ‘cliché statement’, the employer will fail to be impressed.
Here are a few examples of cliché statements and claims to avoid:
I am a team player
I can work well with others and on my own
I’m a hard worker
At all costs you should avoid making these empty statements on your CV. Instead, provide evidence of these qualities through examples of what you’ve done in the past. You can also do this through your achievements.
Summarise your key points – be specific
The top section is actually intended for a summary of your key points, your biggest achievements and what you are looking for. An example might be:
‘I am a web designer with 5 years commercial and 3 years freelance experience. I have excellent knowledge of PHP, MySQL, HTML, CSS, Javascript, JQuery, WordPress, Joomla and much more.
I am looking for web design role in a digital marketing agency, working with clients to develop new sites and maintain existing ones.’
You’ll see that this is incredibly specific which is exactly what prospective employers want to see. Throughout your CV you should use facts and evidence to support your application, rather than fluffy words such as ‘reliable’, ‘hard working’ and ‘loyal’.
How to provide evidence of performance and skills
So how do you provide evidence that you are indeed a team player or can be relied upon? Simply offer examples of where you’ve demonstrated the desired skills successfully. For example, you might say:
‘Worked as part of a 3-person team to develop and launch the VisitScotland.com website.’
‘Only 3 sick days over the past 5 years in my current role as Customer Service Advisor.’
‘In my current role I developed the booking system for AmazingHolidays.com. The client needed the new system which was complex, and had many requirements within an urgent 2 month deadline. I worked full time plus evenings and weekends to deliver this project in time, and the client was delighted with the result – which now serves almost 40,000 customers per month.’
Note how the above examples actually demonstrate soft skills such as teamwork, reliability, going over-and-above, and so on. However, you don’t always need to use these words for your prospective employers to know that you have those skills. Instead, you need to provide evidence to SHOW the employer that you have the skill.
The words alone aren’t enough to convince, and only often serve to frustrate the employer. As this is the most common error a job seeker makes when writing a CV, the employer is subjected to these fluffy credentials time and time again.
