Five Ways to Boost your CV

Whether you’re trying to take your first step onto the career ladder, desperate for a promotion or simply thinking about a career change, your CV is a vital tool in reaching your career goals. The most important thing to think about when making a job application is standing out from the crowd, and chances are when you’re putting together your ‘additional skills and experience’ section – you’ll be a little stuck for ideas. Never fear, as below we’ve outlined 5 simple ways to give your curriculum vitae the boost it needs to get you your dream job:

1) Learn a language

Is c’est la vie the extent of your French knowledge? Perhaps ‘Paella’ is the only Spanish you remember from your GSCE Spanish oral?
Well get this – if you’re able to speak another language this unsurprisingly puts you in the minority, hence giving your CV something a little extra to catch your potential employer's attention. As the most widely spoken language in the world, with half a billion speakers, Spanish language skills would give you a distinct advantage over other candidates. Similarly, being able to communicate in Mandarin and Cantonese is especially helpful for those wanting to go into business, as many UK businesses are developing links with the Far East. 
You don’t have to become fluent in a foreign language, but simply being competent enough to hold a conversation will put you yards ahead of your competition.

2) Improve your ICT skills

In this age of social media mania, chances are we’ve all got a computer, a tablet, laptop and phone, but are you actually skilled in anything IT related or do you just know the basics?
We’re not saying you need to understand coding and HTML programming, but making sure you know your Word from your Excel will give you a good advantage when making job applications. Computer-phobic? Not to worry – a wide range of IT courses are available at anywhere from advanced to basic levels.

3) Pass your driving test

Most people assume that driving is a skill held by everyone, so don’t bother to mention it. On the contrary, mentioning your clean license can be a huge advantage; DVLA figures show that one in three adults in the UK don’t hold a driver’s license – who knew?
Even if you don’t own a car and use public transport to commute every day, your driving license is still worth mentioning.
And if you don’t drive, then why not book a one off driving lesson and give it a go – you never know, you might fall in love with the open road and gain a great skill for your CV – bonus!

4) Show off your talents

If you’re an expert piano player, beautiful dancer or star striker then why keep it to yourself? You may think sporting or musical achievements aren’t related to the field of work you’re applying for, but they actually tell employers a lot about you and your personal attributes.
Performance skills show confidence, communication skills and a good memory, whilst sporting achievements indicate a person who is hard working, ambitious and works well in a team - particular traits of a project manager. Who wouldn’t want to hire someone like that?

If you want to find out more about project management, read our comprehensive guide here. 

5) Get your digital skills up to date

Most of us are confident in using our smart phones and tablets, but there are many other ways we can add to our digital media skills. Although it would seem these skills are only relevant if you’re applying for a job in the media industry, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
More and more companies are beginning to branch into social media and make themselves a digital profile. Being well versed in social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.) will put you at a distinct advantage and benefit you in almost any career – they are easily transferable skills!

So there you have it, 5 skills that will instantly upgrade your CV and kick start your career prospects! Here at The Knowledge Academy, there are a huge number of courses available to update your skill set and in turn, make yourself seriously employable. So what are you waiting for? Enrol today!