Get your CV sorted for the New Year

Here are 5 tips from three of our friendly AUT Employability and Careers team on how to improve your CV and your chances of being at the top of the list when employers are looking to hire.

1/ Get your CV sorted

You need a CV and cover letter to apply for most roles, and a part-time role application needs as much care as one for an internship or graduate role, says AUT Employability and Careers Specialist Naufa Abdul Sattar.

“We run workshops to show you how to set up a good CV or remind you what to do, so come and make the most of that service. We can also do individual sessions offering CV and cover letter feedback once you’ve done a workshop. It is a very competitive job market at the moment, so you need to pay attention to detail and layout. You can book into workshops through Elab Online (it’s easy).”

2/ Don’t rely on AI – leverage it responsibly!

As you prepare your CV, it’s important to ensure it has no spelling mistakes and you use a format that is easy to read. And yes, AI tools can be a helpful starting point, but relying on them entirely won’t help you secure the job you’re aiming for.

Graduate recruiters review hundreds of CVs daily, and many have shared with us that they can spot AI-written CVs from miles away, says AUT Employability and Careers Specialist Munaal Abdali.

“AI CVs often give the impression that the applicant isn’t genuinely interested in the role because they have not put in effort to personalise it. This perceived lack of effort is often viewed as an indication of how much effort the applicant would be willing to put into that job itself.”

“AI tools are great for generating ideas or structuring your CV and cover letter, but remember that authenticity is key. Employers want to see your unique story, not a generic response. It’s authenticity and your personal touch that will help your CV stand out,” explains Munaal.

3/ A good CV leads to good interviews

Identifying your strengths when you’re writing your CV really helps you to answer interview questions, says Naufa.

“You need to identify your strengths in your CV. The exercise of doing that really helps you feel more relaxed/comfortable about talking about your strengths in an interview situation.”

A win-win!

4/ In the know

Be aware that the timing of recruitment periods for internship and graduate roles is a little different to what you may expect, says Naufa.

“Avoid the disappointment of missing the application time limit. Recruitment for internships and graduate roles for the following year open in March for many organisations. There are also mid-year opportunities. Summer internships usually come up in March and again in July.”

5/ Go to the source

One important way to look for a graduate role in this market is to go directly to a company’s website, rather than just sending applications through job boards.

“Many companies are only advertising on their own websites and avoiding Seek and LinkedIn to reduce the number of applications they receive,” says AUT Employability and Careers specialist Diana Bilbrough.

“Jobs still exist for grads, but they are more commonly one-off roles rather than roles titled ‘Graduate.’ Apply for roles that utilise at least some of your skills. Don’t hold off because it isn’t exactly what you wanted. This is a way to establish yourself in the company, and then you can make your way into other roles within the company once you have 'proven yourself'.”

Read our next blog on how to reach out to job search for a couple of ideas on becoming more connected.