Here at Prospect Health we have provided you with some Top Tips write an Audiology CV so you are in the best place to apply for your new graduate audiologist job.
How to write an effective Audiology CV?
When creating the perfect CV you should first ask yourself the question – what is my CV for?
Is it going to help me achieve my perfect Audiologist Job?
Your CV isn’t just a record of your employment and educational history.
Your CV should be a sales document. It should sell. Sell you as the best candidate for the Audiologist Job you are applying for. It should be the trigger to getting you invited along to an interview for that role.
Your CV should compete, and win in the race to get you that all important first interview.
Where do CVs go wrong?
If you want your CV to be the first choice for that dream employer, you have to first of all make it easy for the reader to see that you are indeed the ideal candidate for them. Your CV needs to emphasise the skills and experiences you hold, that make you the first choice applicant.
The way your CV is presented will also be subject to scrutiny upon first reading. Many candidates profess, in their CVs, to have a great attention to detail, and to be supreme communicators, whilst the CV contains grammatical errors, and isn’t succinct and clumsy in its construction.
Here are a few of the pitfalls to avoid:
- Lack of relevant information:
The big question here is actually what is relevant? Many applicants make the basic mistake of making assumptions as to what is important to the employer, and therefore end up providing very little in the way of information that is of any interest.
Research the company and the role you are applying for. (Job descriptions & adverts are a good starting point) You will learn what they are looking for from the perfect applicant and you can now ensure you are communicating all the relevant skills and experiences you hold through your CV, so as an employer you can quickly see your suitability for the role.
2. Insufficient evidence:
Unsubstantiated claims of brilliance don’t work! Simply claiming to have excellent communication skills doesn’t cut the mustard. Give examples of how you have used these skills, and you are onto a winner. “I write a monthly blog on life as a student audiologist” is going to win much more favour than an empty statement.
3. Too Generic:
Many people write a “one size fits all” CV, and this leads to a bland CV that doesn’t sell specific skills and experiences. Make it clear as to who you are and what you do, and importantly where and how you add value!
4. Errors:
85% of CVs contain basic spelling or grammatical errors, and are rejected on that basis. Your CV must be impeccable if you want to demonstrate your professionalism and attention to detail. Always, always get someone to proof read your CV and cover letter before you submit them to a future employer.
5. Negativity:
Focus on positive information. Never criticise or refer to difficulties and disappointments, unless they were something you successfully turned around.
6. Poor language and grammar:
The use of jargon, clumsy expression or clichés will sabotage the chances of even the most capable candidates. Instead of the first person “I” pronoun, “I did this….” “I did that…” use positive action statements to lead bullet points.
- Developed communication skills whilst …..
- Improved my rapport with patients when …..
This will look much more dynamic and is easier to read and digest. The bullet points give an energetic feel to your CV and help to reinforce the message that you are an upbeat “can do” type of candidate.
7. Make recruitment software work in your favour:
When applying online, your CV is scanned by the recruitment software before human eyes even see it. The software will often re-format your CV into a generic version, and this is where overly formatted CVs fall foul of the system. Formatting options like shaded boxes and columns interfere with the system’s ability to store your information correctly.
Ensure your CV is as plain as possible in relation to formatting. If you are uploading a PDF file, ensure it is compatible with the Web Portal being used.
Recruiters will also use Key Word searches to match the best candidates to jobs – make sure your CV contains the key words and statements likely to be used.
DO:
- Research the company you are applying to and ensure your CV exactly matches what the practice is looking for.
- Evidence and prove what a great candidate you are by including examples of achievements and your experiences so far – call on your placement experience to help with this
- Try not to over-elaborate, and be succinct. A CV DOES NOT NEED TO BE TWO PAGES, but it shouldn’t be a huge volume of pages either.
- Proofread your CV, and thoroughly check for any errors, ensuring it makes sense.
- Always write a cover letter that justifies why you are applying, and why you are the right person for the role.
DON’T:
- Be negative and critical. Your Audiology CV needs to be a positive reflection of you.
- Lie – you don’t want to be in the position of starting a new role and a couple of weeks later being let go for falsifying your experience or references.
- Don’t attach a photo unless one is requested.
- Don’t rely on just one CV. One size does not fit all.
- Don’t use fancy lay outs and formatting. This can easily get reformatted badly when it is printed off by the recruiter.
- Don’t undersell yourself – listing your achievements and skills isn’t bragging, it shows your success and why you’re the best candidate.
Finally, don’t get disheartened.
If you are not being called for interview to jobs that you know you know are a good fit for, seek some sort of guidance from a recruitment consultancy or similar organisations that operate in your chosen career field. You may be making a basic error that is easily corrected.
Contact our Audiology Team on 01423 813459 or email [email protected] and discuss your current situation and how best to pitch your CV for that all important role as a newly qualified audiologist.