Posted 25.09.15 by prhcareers
How to sell yourself… well, not literally
Your CV is the first way to grab our attention, so it’s important to get it right. There’s lots of information out there about how to write your CV, so here we’re going to focus on what impresses us here at Penguin Random House.
Tailor your CV – we want to know how your previous experience has prepared you for the role you’re applying for, so don’t just send us a generic CV. Look carefully at the advert to understand the key attributes we’re looking for, then tell us how your past experience and achievements fit our requirements.
Focus on key information – we see lots of CVs every day, so make it really easy for us to see the key information. We want to know about your work history, educational background, and anything that shows how you’d be a perfect fit for the role. How you display the information is up to you, but if possible try to keep within 2 pages; use your CV to whet our appetite, rather than give us a long list of all the tasks you’ve ever undertaken. We’ll get into the detail when we talk to you at interview.
Make it easy to read – present your CV in a clear and logical fashion – we’re a publishing company so it’s important that anyone who joins us is able to present information in a lucid and engaging way. Unfortunately if we’re struggling to piece together the information in your CV it’s likely we’re going to move on to the next applicant.
Check your spelling and grammar – we’re a publishing company, so this stuff really matters, particularly if you’re looking to work in editorial. Errors in your CV will be quickly spotted…
Include your contact details – once you’ve demonstrated that you’d be a great fit for the role we’re going to want to get in contact with you, so remember to put your phone number and email address on your CV.
Covering letter – make sure that you include a covering letter with your CV –