In a world that is shifting online more and more every day, many people are starting to wonder, what is more important to keep up to date, your CV or LinkedIn? Job hunting can be a long and arduous process full of long hours filling in applications on top of submitting a Cover Page and CV. One tends to become quite frustrated with having gone through the process of updating their CV and have that gleaming, to then also having to fill in an application that is basically exactly what your CV has on it!

Many career consultants are now recommending that you spend more time on LinkedIn and ensuring that your profile is updated and optimised when job hunting. There really is only so much you can squeeze into a CV but with LinkedIn you can put so much more and there is always the chance that a job could come straight to you! There are loads of recruiters out there that use LinkedIn to find exactly the type of people they are looking for, instead of going through the long process of putting job vacancies out to the public.

If you are job hunting or could potentially want something new in the near future, work on optimising you LinkedIn profile and who knows, that perfect job may just come straight to you.

Many of us find it incredibly difficult to try and sell ourselves effectively through the writing of a CV. Throughout the years the manner in which to write a CV has also changed. So what areas are the most important to make an impact?

A good CV should begin with a profile or personal statement that highlights qualifications, achievements and experience that will encourage the reader to continue further. Following should be your core skill section which will give a snapshot of what you have to offer. You would then want to expand into your job experience, even in voluntary roles with bullet point details, which should also include any achievements. To finish off, a more detailed list of any education or qualifications that you have, is important to include.

Finally, it is always best to cater the CV to the company you are applying to and what particular skills they seeking. Sending a generic CV is a big mistake. CV’s do not have to be incredibly fancy in the way they look or incredibly lengthy and it is often best to keep it simple. The most important thing is that you promote your skills, knowledge and achievements.