New CV blogs

5 tips CV for graduates to optimise their CVs

11/7/2025

Are you a recent graduate applying for jobs?

Is your CV a worker bee opening doors that will get you through to part 2 of the recruiting process or is it a sluggish sloth that is going to secure your place in the reject pile?

It makes sense to know how to optimise your CV for the job it has to do, so here are 5 tips to help you create a fit for purpose CV.

5 Top Tips for Graduates Preparing to Apply for Jobs

8/7/2025

Graduation is almost here!

But when the excitement of the day, the gown and recognition of your hard work is done, it is time to reflect on your next step, which at some point will involve getting a job. Question is, how do you prepare for this mammoth task? Yes, you have the qualifications and enthusiasm but have you ever thought about truly getting your ducks in a line so you are ready for the process of getting the job you want?

How the language you use to talk to and about yourself affects your ability to get a new job

1/4/2025

The words we use when we talk to and about ourselves have a profound impact on our mindset, confidence and, when job seeking, our ability to secure a new job. Whether you’re navigating unemployment, transitioning careers or striving for a promotion, the language you choose can shape your personal brand, influence your self-perception and determine how you present yourself to potential employers.

Here’s how your inner dialogue and external language choices affect your job search and how you can adjust them to increase your chances of success.

Are you ready to return to work after a career break?

13/1/2025

If you have been out of the formal workplace for a while, there is often a chasm between resolving to get a new paid job and actually doing something about it.

Things get in the way, like a lack of confidence, negative chatter in your head or from others, and feeling unprepared.

Why using keywords in your CV is so important

28/11/2024

KEYWORDS are the tools that unlock the door to an interview, so knowing why and how they are important is crucial to the success of your CV when you apply for a job.

CV writing in the 21st century is an art and a science, you need to write a concise, well-constructed CV in a business-like format and you need to use the right language.

What is ATS and how does it affect how successful my job application is

15/11/2024

Understanding ATS and how it works can significantly impact the success of failure of your job application, as many companies rely on this software to filter out unqualified candidates before a human ever reviews the application.

ATS, or an Applicant Tracking System, is a type of software used by companies and recruiters to speed up the hiring process through partial automation. It helps them to manage large volumes of job applications by scanning, sorting and filtering CVs based on specific criteria such as keywords, skills and qualifications.

What is a skills-based CV and when to use one

28/10/2024

A skills-based CV (also known as a functional CV) is a type of CV that emphasises your skills and abilities rather than focusing primarily on the chronology of your work history. This format is particularly useful for job seekers who want to showcase transferable skills or competencies that are relevant to the position they are applying for, rather than drawing attention to a chronological career path.

When you were a child did you want to be an astronaut or a CV writer?

25/3/2024

Pilot, footballer, engineer, ballet dancer, train driver, singer, racing driver, scientist, school teacher. Who tells their friends at school that when they grow up they want to be a CV writer?

Following a successful career as a sales and marketing manager in film and TV post-production (I didn't say that was my career ambition either!), I was a busy mum, PTA volunteer, taxi driver, time manager, conflict resolver, creative thinker, finder of lost things and general dog's body who frequently met women trying to step back into their careers after a few years of raising a family. I saw the frustration as they received rejection after rejection from recruiters and hiring managers, and genuinely felt for them as frustration became despondency and a creeping lack of confidence.

New CV - an idea became a successful business

2/2/2023

When you are busy running your business and working with clients to give them the best service, it is easy to forget why you started doing what you do and to remember all those successes that make it all worthwhile.

Recently, I was interviewed by Subkit an online forum promoting small businesses and solopreneurs and it gave me pause for thought about the beginning of New CV.

Here is the article, it is a 3 minute read.

Groundhog Day

1/2/2021

In North America February 2nd is known as Groundhog Day, when, according to the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition the groundhog is said to come out of its hole at the end of hibernation. If the weather is sunny and it sees its shadow it goes back into its hole, which foretells six weeks more of winter weather.

The alternative dictionary definition of Groundhog Day is “a situation in which a series of unwelcome or tedious events appear to be recurring in exactly the same way.” And for anyone who has seen the eponymous film with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, Groundhog Day specifically symbolises getting stuck in a relentless repetition of the same day until such time as you make the right decisions and find your purpose.

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Musings of a CV writer