How to make the most of your application

In today's market recruiters are receiving hundreds of applications per role that they advertise. Therefore the way in which you present your CV has never been more critical.

The recruitment team at Experian QAS have put together our Top 10 Tips for CV Preparation and Top 5 Tips for Interviews. We hope that you find this useful, not only when applying to us for roles but also to other companies.

We would like to wish you well with your search and look forward to receiving your application!

Top 10 CV Tips

1. Make sure your contact details are easy to find on the page and up to date
2. Check for spelling, grammar and typing errors - Any of these will create a bad impression before the recruiter even reads the content of your CV
3. Keep it short - Your CV should not be more than two pages, three at an absolute push if you are fairly advanced in your career
4. Keep the layout clear and easy to read - Avoid fussy fonts, art work, colour schemes and photos
5. Start with your most recent or current job first and then work backwards in order
6. Avoid leaving gaps - If there are breaks in your career, explain why. Recruiters will only ask you when you get to interview so easier to get in there first
7. Think about your choice of language style - Avoid using 'I', 'we' and 'my'. They take up extra space and don't add any real value.
8. If sending your CV by email, send it in a format that is easy and universal to open
9. Check your CV against every role you apply for- Is there scope to tailor your experiences to show how you meet the job specification.
10. When writing about your hobbies - think about what they say about you and be prepared to talk about them. You never know what the interviewer gets up to in their spare time!

Top 5 Interview Tips

1. Get the basics right - Make sure you know where you are going, how you are going to get there and what time the interview is. Be early or on time, never late. If you are going to be late, phone ahead as soon as you know you are going to be late, don't leave it until the last moment
2. Get the dress code right - As a general rule of thumb, go for a suit including a tie. It is far better to be over dressed than under dressed. Don't forget the finishing touches such as shoes, socks, belt etc
3. Smile and give a firm hand shake - Greet the interviewers with a nice friendly smile and a good strong hand shake. When the interview is finished and you're ready to leave, say goodbye with a smile, a firm handshake and a brief thank you. This will be the first and last impression that you make and you need to get it right
4. Do your research - Find out about the company, find out about the role, find out about the companies products, their competitors, and the market space that they operate in
5. Answer the question you are asked - Do not answer the question that you would rather answer or that you hoped would come up. You will end up waffling and the interviewers will lose interest. It is perfectly acceptable to ask an interviewer to clarify what they mean by a question if you don't understand it