Whether you have worked before, or if you are applying for your first job, your CV is your chance to showcase your skills and achievements and give the employer an idea of what you will be like to work with.
Those that have started Health and Safety Qualifications and have climbed the IOSH ladder to Tech IOSH, Grad IOSH, but do not have the necessary experience, you need to tailor your CV slightly different, Following the few ideas i've added will certainly make you stand out from the crowd, try and use them as best you can.
Personal Statement30 seconds. That is the amount of time a recruiter is likely to look at your CV, make it count. Don't hide important information in the last paragraphs. A personal statement is a short paragraph where you can sell yourself to the employer.
Avoid vague and generic language by using focusing on your achievements and experience. You won't stand out with phrases like 'hard working' or 'team player'. Ask your professors or course mates what you are like to work with and find active language to express this in your statement.
Don't forget keywords! For competitive jobs, recruiters may use software to scan your CV for keywords. Customise your application for each job to include keywords from the job specification.
QualificationsYour Health and Safety Diploma or Degree result should be easy to find. Make your qualification stand out clearly on your CV and mention if you undertook any modules which directly relate to the role for which you are applying.
Expand beyond the numbers and letters that make up your grades and demonstrate some of the skills you have acquired. For example if your studies required you to work independently or liaise with other people on your course for group projects these are useful and transferable skills that will impress your future employer.
Part Time JobsYour career as a Barista may not seem relevant to your Health & Safety Manager application but all part time work serves as a great introduction to the workplace. Briefly explain the skills you gained through your part time work, for example; did you hold a great attendance record or improve your interpersonal skills? This is valuable information for an employer to know especially if you are against another graduate who has no work experience. Did you oversee the health & Safety there?
Don't worry if you haven't worked before. Try and demonstrate that you are reliable and responsible through your educational or extra-curricular experience. If you find that your lack of experience hold you back, use your contacts to get some unpaid work experience or Voluntary experience which could give you an edge in your applications.
Hobbies and Extra Curricular ActivitiesSocialising with friends and going to the gym might not be of interest to an employer, so if you choose to right about your interests make sure they will either show your individuality or show skills that will relate to your field e.g. if you are applying for a job in Construction, it would be relevant if you had previous Construction Experiance. Also if you follow any related industry publications you should reference these here.
Keep it shortA typical professional CV is two pages in length but do not include unnecessary information to reach this length. One page of targeted information is better than two woolly pages. Ask a friend or contact in your chosen industry to read your CV and tell you what they think. You will probably need a couple of drafts to get it right but it's worth putting the time in to get you the right job.
Hope that Helps
