Guidance on writing the employment section of your CV

There are many instances when simply listing your previous job titles and the daily tasks will just not cut it any more. Employers are looking for a much more detailed view of how you performed in those roles, and would like to see examples of your performance. That could be anything ranging from sales figures to generated revenue; customer service to problem solving.

We will help explain how you can incorporate the right information in your employment history section, and how you can ensure any gaps are adequately filled and explained. Employment gaps are a major concern for all employers, and knowing what to put down on your CV is the key to success.

Explaining gaps in employment

Lots of people have an extended period of time away from employment, and there is no shame in admitting it on your CV – no matter what the reason. Did you take a gap year? Always put a positive spin on a gap year and talk about how travelling made you a better person. Maybe you were quite a shy and reserved person before you travelled, and now you are much more confident and ready to work. This would be a great way to discuss your time away from work, rather than saying you had a great time and attended lots of parties.

One of the best ways to explain a gap year or any kind of break from employment is to tackle it head on with your cover letter. Due to the nature of the cover letter it is much easier to address anything you want and delve into a little more detail than your CV would. Again, always talk about your time away from work in a positive light and explain why you are now eager to get back to work.

Lots of people have to take time away from work for personal health reasons, or to look after a family member. It’s highly likely that the hiring manager themselves has experienced a similar problem in their career too, so you should never worry about what the employer might think.

Remember, during your time away from work there may be an opportunity to still keep your finger on the button. This could be via a part time course, a home or online course, or keeping up to date on the latest trends in the market. Visit social media sites and read the news to keep on top of what’s happening in your chosen industry. All of this will make for great reading when you explain on your CV what you’ve still managed to achieve during your time away from work. It will also help you to write a commercially aware CV when the time comes to apply again.

Keeping your work history relevant

Creating a relevant work history section for your CV is a must – and we will show you how to do it. Why should your experience be relevant? An employer is only interested in seeing what skills you’ve attained that can be utilised in their company, so listing all of your tasks and responsibilities is not going to help them see how you’re a worthy candidate.

If you have years of work experience and find yourself spilling over to three pages, you certainly need to consider cutting out most of the tasks. You do not need to list every single task for every role you’ve ever done, as this will be a waste of valuable CV space. Instead, look to focus upon your most recent and relevant roles, and stay focused upon what the employer is interested in.

Incorporating soft skills into your work history

Which skills, both soft and hard, is the employer looking for? How can you demonstrate those skills from your employment history? These are all important questions that our team of experts can help you answer.
We will also help you to demonstrate your past performances for your work history section. This is a vital part of a CV which most job seekers fail to realise. Every hiring manager that reads a CV is trying to build up a picture of how that candidate may perform for their business. Make it easier for the employer by creating an employment section that shows a clear indication of past performance.

Don’t write a cliché statement unless you plan on providing the evidence in your CV. Stating how great your communication skills are will not give the employer any indication of your talents. However, what will demonstrate your skills are facts directly relating to the skills which are relevant. If communication skills are important to the role, then search for past instances when you excelled in this area and explain this on your CV.

We will show you how to create an employment section which will highlight all the key areas and demonstrate to the employer that you are the right person for the job. Even if you have only a small amount of experience, we can show you how to bolster your CV and make the hiring manager want to give your application a second look.

Applying for a job with no work experience can feel like a lost cause, but that’s simply not true. There are lots of hidden skills you’ve probably never realised you’ve gained along the way – through both your education and work experience. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to complete a two page CV with what seems like so little to go on.