How to make your CV stand out

Every year, some 300,000 young people leave universities and colleges across the whole of Britain and get ready to snap up their dream role that all those years of education has now fully prepared them for.

In an already-packed job market, I don't much like those odds.

It's obviously extremely important to back yourself and show prospective employers exactly what you have to offer their company.

But you have to do so by selling yourself on one solitary document, no more than three pages long.

How do you get everything into a succinct CV?

So how on earth are you supposed to write a succinct CV that tells company chiefs out there that you've got the employment history, skills, qualifications and personality perfect for them?

Luckily, an expert has offered some advice on how to make resumes stand out.

According to Margaret Holbrough, careers advisor at London South Bank University, the majority of undergraduates and graduates have a generic CV that is more or less angled towards the sector in which they want to work.

And they do demonstrate a reasonable amount of knowledge of the firm and interest in the job they are applying for, she says. But that simply isn't enough to set themselves apart from everyone else.

"Applicants need to make a real effort to target their CVs to the industry and role they are applying for. In most instances this will mean altering the opening profile statement and skills profile, each time they send it out if needs be, to make it obvious that they have written the CV specifically for that company or industry," she explains.

Draw attention to your unique selling points

As for showing what you have to offer, Ms Holbrough explains you need to flag up your unique selling point within that area of work by emphasising prominently a relevant final year project, work experience or particular expertise in a specific subject.

In the same way, any skills accrued during your period of study need to be included, for example problem solving, commercial awareness, technical abilities, IT knowledge, analytical talent, or accuracy to detail.

Additionally, the specialist went on to state the way your resume looks should also change depending on the nature of the vacancy.

"If [you] are replying to a job advert, the CV should reflect the requirements of the organisation as described in the advert or company website and provide evidence from actual events/experiences that [you] have what the company is looking for," she adds.

Cater your resume

So, the message here appears to be to cater your resume towards whichever company you're hoping to work for and keep it fresh, up to date and relevant

Yes, it may take time to write, but won't it be worth it when that first wage rolls into your bank?

If you're still having trouble finding that all-important job, though, don't worry too much.

Speaking back in 2009 - in the midst of the recession when conditions were arguably less favourable for employment seekers than they are today - chief executive of Graduate Prospects and UK's Higher Education Careers Services Unit Mike Hill told the BBC there were more vacancies than ten years previously.

There is lots of work out there, he said, it's just that bit harder to get.