Our CV is typically our first chance to make an impression on potential employers. It’s our chance to overcoming the first obstacle and getting an actual interview. The problem is that many or most of us fail to avoid common mistakes that prevent our CV from even making it past the initial screening. To help us avoid these pitfalls, here are five common CV mistakes that are costing us interviews and how to fix them. Please contact us directly if you would like 1:1 help in this process!

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) have become commonplace in recruitment to say the least. Online CV templates and CV writers consistently quote their 100% efficacy with every ATS. So, do we need to be worried about them?

Interviewers may ask this question in various ways, including “Tell me about a weakness you have”, "Describe a time you failed and what you learned from it." or "What negative feedback have you received from previous supervisors or peers?". It can be tricky question to answer, but it’s a great opportunity to show self-awareness, honesty, and our ability to improve. Here’s a step-by-step guide for creating an effective response:

Answering the question "What is your biggest strength?" offers a great chance to really show off what we can bring to a job and how we have demonstrated the attribute before. It is an exceptionally common interview question and one that we need to have prepared in advance. Here’s a step-by-step guide for creating an effective response.

“Why do you want to work for this company” is an question we have to get right. Often it comes up early in the process and gives us an excellent opportunity to cast a solid first impression. Stumbling over our answer will look like we haven’t done our research. We need to make it comprehensive but concise - do the research and demonstrate genuine interest in the organisation's values and culture.

“Tell me about yourself” presents us with an excellent opportunity to cast a great first impression and ease ourselves into the interview. It's essential to provide a concise yet comprehensive overview of our professional background, skills, and experiences. Too short and we haven’t given an overview of ourselves, too long and the interviewer will cut us off, leading to a non-optimal first impression. Here's a structured approach to crafting our response.

Competency-based questions are used to assess a candidate’s suitability for a job based on our ability to demonstrate that we can complete key tasks for the job we are interviewing for. Competency-based questions are one of the most common forms of interview questions and we need to be able to answer them. Effective responses to competency-based question are clear, well-structured and, most importantly, very specific & detailed.

While our CV serves as the primary application document, a well-crafted cover letter showcases our enthusiasm and qualifications for the position. If compelling, it can significantly impact a recruiter's perception and move us forward in the hiring process. However, that begs the question: How do we write a good cover letter?

Should we include a cover letter with every job application? Different opinions exist on this – in reality it is typically zero harm to include a cover letter, but equally, many recruiters openly acknowledge not reviewing cover letters which makes us question its value. The debate surrounding the necessity of a cover letter persists - Read on for a simple answer to the question.

Preparation is essential. In 2024, if we are not familiar with the company and job description and have not completed significant practice then we are not giving ourselves a good opportunity to progress. Here are 3 key tips for interview preparation that can significantly enhance our chances of securing an offer.