We understand that there are a number of different reasons why someone might not have a written CV, which is why we accept job applications in whatever format the candidate feels most comfortable with when applying for a role. 

However, there are a number of benefits to having a CV that will help make candidates more marketable, increasing their chance of job offers and reducing the time it takes to find a new role.

Working with engineers and manual workers, we often deal with applications from people who don’t have a CV and are aware of a skills gap. As such, we recognise workers in the drainage sector, as well as related industries, are much less likely to have a working CV than employees in more corporate settings.

We have created this guide with the goal of combating that divide by highlighting the benefits of having a written-up work history, as well as helping workers to produce a CV by explaining what to include in the document and how to order and format the information.

Keep reading or click the links below to go straight to the section you need help with:

• How having a CV can affect your chances of getting a job offer
• The anatomy of a compelling CV
• How to format a CV that gets noticed
• Download our free CV template for manual workers

How having a CV can affect your chances of getting a job offer

On a basic level, no hiring manager is going to be more likely to hire you just because you have a written CV. There are a number of reasons that someone would be unable to write a formal CV, be it a lack of computer skills or limited literacy, and hiring managers need to treat all types of applications fairly.

However, being able to provide a CV will help to make your application more visible compared to others that are being reviewed and can increase your chance of being shortlisted - provided that the information within the submitted document is clear, factual and informative.

Additionally, having a formal CV allows you to apply for jobs more quickly and makes it easier for recruiters to reach out to you with suitable jobs.

Azem Hoti, European Business Manager at VHR and Global Recruiter’s Best Temporary Consultant of the Year 2019, said: “Recruiters and hiring managers all use LinkedIn, job boards and trade body websites to find candidates for manual roles. If you don’t have a CV, they can’t search for you and they can’t find you.”

Additionally, many larger firms, including Lanes Group, use sophisticated technology to help better manage the recruitment process. 

We use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that allows us to see how many applications each open job advert has received and to save the details of all applicants. Doing this means that we can stay in contact with candidates who haven’t been successful initially and keep them up to date when other suitable roles become available.

In summary, having a CV can:

• Speed up the process of applying for roles
• Allow you to apply for more roles
• Enable recruiters to keep your details on file
• Make you more visible to hiring recruiters looking for applicants

The anatomy of a compelling CV

Now that we’ve covered the benefits of having a working CV, you might be keen to begin writing your résumé - but what should the document look like?

Not knowing where to start can be a huge barrier to candidates looking to create a CV, and a survey from 2019 showed that even those that do have one aren’t confident that it’s right, as 41% of graduates admitted they don’t think their CV is good enough to land them a job.

A compelling CV should include relevant employment history; your education and qualifications; and examples of your knowledge and any transferable skills. 

The document should be factual and should follow the structure suggested below so that hiring managers can easily digest the information:

Introduction

This is usually a five or six-sentence statement about yourself and your experience. The statement should be straight to the point and summarise the most relevant parts of your entire work experience. Make sure you have your contact details in the header of the document as well, otherwise interested recruiters won’t be able to contact you.

Core Skills & Knowledge

After the introduction, include a bullet point list of your skills and qualifications. For example, this is a good place to let employers know if you have a valid Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.

Employment History

The employment history section is the most important part of your CV. It is your opportunity to detail your varied experience and gives employers the best chance of getting a clear picture of whether you’re suitable for the role.

The work history should begin with your most recent experience and work backwards. Aim to include 10 years’ worth of relevant experience, but don’t feel compelled to stretch it out and include unrelated first jobs if your time in employment doesn’t go back that far.

Each section should be made up of bullet points detailing your main duties and should begin with a short sentence explaining who your previous employer is, in case the person reading hasn’t heard of them before.

Education History

The education section of your CV should be another short, bulletpointed list, detailing any qualifications you have, the school you attended and the years you were there.

Here, you can also include any additional qualifications you have received that are relevant to the role you are applying for.

Hobbies & Interests

The final section of your CV should cover your personal interests. Some people choose to omit this section from their application; however, hiring managers can get a good idea of whether you’ll be a good character fit to join their team from the hobbies and interests you include.

Keep in mind that this is still a part of the application process, so you should look to include activities that can be used to demonstrate transferable skills; for example, playing a team sport such as five-a-side football shows that you can work as part of a team, and that you are sociable and active.

Remember that hiring managers will have to review a lot of applications in a short space of time, so try to keep your CV easy to follow and digestible. The whole document should be no more than three sheets of paper.

If you have a lot of varied experience in an industry, it can be difficult to narrow down without omitting some details. If you find yourself needing to cut something, it’s best to work from the back of the document, as this is where the less up-to-date and relevant information about your career will be.

Emma Louise O’Brien is Head of Career Coaching at Renovo, has been recognised by the Career Development Institute and previously awarded Career Coach of the Year. Mrs.O’Brien said: “The focus will always be on the first page of your CV, so make sure the most relevant and tailored information is written here. Anything you have included that isn’t related or as important to the job you’re applying for can be removed or moved on to another page.”

How to format a CV that gets noticed

Now that you’ve decided on what your CV should say, the last thing to do is to format the document in a way that flows easily and allows potential employers to quickly find the information that they’re looking for.

People can often go overboard with trying to make their CV stand out, but using bright colours and big fonts could actually harm your chances of getting invited to interview.
Colours will make it harder for employers to photocopy the document and keep your details on file; additionally, uncommon colours and fonts will be harder to read and are more likely to go straight into the recycling bin. 

Keep the styling simple, use a clean font like Arial and stick to font size 10 or 11 to make sure you have enough room to fit everything in, with your work experience as the priority. As long as it is well-formatted on the page, that should be enough to get you job offers.

Mrs. O’Brien said: “To get your CV noticed, mention specific skills included in the job description and if you’ve got a specific skill that they’ve asked for, include it into your profile. Of course, don’t list all of your relevant skills here - that’s for later in the CV - just showcase a few key skills that are of particular importance to your potential employer. 

“Researching the jobs and the company will help you optimise your CV with keywords and maximise your chances of getting through to the interview stage.”

Additionally, make sure that you take the time to double-check your spelling and grammar before submitting your application. According to research by BeHiring, spelling and grammar errors are the most common reason that résumés are rejected, and it takes just one spelling mistake for your CV to be thrown in the bin.

Bear in mind that these statistics come from a survey of recruiters in all different industries, including those where good literacy skills are seen as essential. Not being confident in your reading and writing shouldn’t hold you back from applying for manual roles.

In summary, your CV should:

• Be easy to follow and straight to the point
• Use simple fonts in sizes 10 or 11
• Stick to black and white
• Cover everything in two to three pages

By following this guidance, you should be able to create a CV that will really show off your experience and expertise, helping you to secure more interviews and hopefully achieve your dream job.

Download our free CV template for manual workers

To make things easier for you, we’ve created a CV template that’s free for you to download. The document lays out how much room each section of the document should cover, provides examples of what to include, and is totally free of Lanes branding, so you’re free to use it no matter where you’re applying for a job. 

Click here to download the template and start adding your details.

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