We understand that CV writing and going to job interviews can be quite daunting at times. Your CV should encapsulate who you are in both your personal and professional life, whilst highlighting your key skills and past experiences. As for interviews, it's best to be yourself whilst also showing that you are enthusiastic about the job.
In light of Made Futures - a virtual careers exhibition encouraging job seekers to consider a role in manufacturing accompanied by a jobs board, the Made in Group sat down with Paul Fielding - Divisional Director at Brewin Dolphin.
Having looked through numerous CVs and holding many interviews during his career, Paul offered his expert advice on CV Writing and Interview techniques in a recent live interview. Therefore we have rounded this up into 5 actionable ways you can apply Paul’s advice to your own CV and interview techniques!
1. Preparation
An important aspect of getting ready for an interview is making sure you dress appropriately and arrive on time.
Paul recommends that job seekers consider travelling to the interview location prior to the day of the interview and consider any traffic that may be an issue at that time. Also dress professionally for the interview, punctuality and professionalism are important to all employers.
2. What to take to the interview
Paul also recommends taking a copy of your CV so you can highlight some of your key skills or attributes prompted by the questions in the interview. On top of that, it may be useful to take a notepad and pen to take down any notes or important information to take away from the interview. However, Paul says the most important thing to bring along is questions.
Rather than asking ‘what does the company do?’ showing that you haven't done a lot of research prior to the interview, instead ask questions like ‘I saw online that your company does this, can you tell me more about that?’
3. Don't say too little but don't say too much
It may sound contradictory but hear us out on this one. Paul mentioned that interviewees tend to repeat themselves when asked a question, going over the same point as to ‘why you would be perfect for the role’ which could possibly lose the interviewer. However, make sure you don’t just respond with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as this won’t get your personality across. Find a balance, and if you get stumped by a question don’t hesitate not to answer straight away - employers usually do not penalise you for this.
4. ALWAYS include your contact details
It may seem obvious, but Paul says quite often applicants forget to include their contact details on a CV. Make sure your phone number and email address are at the top of your CV along with your name and home address.
5. Why you should check your CV and how to structure it
The first and most important thing you should do before sending your CV off is to check for any spelling or grammatical errors. Ensure to check your CV numerous times using spelling checkers such as Grammarly or Word. You could even get some else to have a look over it just to make sure.
When it comes to structuring your CV, Paul recommends that you place your name and contact details right at the top followed by your profile, training courses, experience, education interests, and references. Find out what you should include in each of these sections by heading to page 99 of the Made Futures book.
So what are you waiting for? now you have read our actionable tips make sure to upload your CV to www.madefutures.com and apply for current vacancies in the manufacturing sector. Good luck!