Five steps to spring-clean your CV

Five steps to spring-clean your CV

It’s the season for a good old clear out. So why not give your CV a polish, by following our five-step guide?

“The mistake many people make about their CV is to think of it as a static document. But it should be revised and reviewed on a regular basis and tailored to specific job opportunities. That way, it will always do the best possible justice to your skills, talents, and potential.”

  “The best CVs start with a statement that summarises a person’s strengths, experience and talents,”...

That’s the view of Jody Collings, a Business Manager at Just Recruitment Group Ltd, who handles hundreds of CVs a month. She says the ones that stand out are concise, accurate and well written, creating just the right impression of a prospective candidate.

To ensure your CV is as sharp as a box of razor blades, here are Jody’s top tips to give it a spring clean.

1. Be ruthless

Okay, so your Mum and Dad are very proud of your silver medal in the school dance competition. But you’re a twenty-something professional, and it’s unlikely to help you stand out from the crowd when you go for your next sales job.

“Cut unnecessary detail from your CV,” advises Jody. “The average recruiter will have a large quantity of applications to work through. If yours seems verbose or self-indulgent, you’ll go to the bottom of the pile.”

Of course, what counts as “unnecessary” detail changes over time. Including a breakdown of GCSE results which is important if you’re a school leaver, but if you’ve been working for a decade or more, it’s probably sufficient just to say how many you have, and within what grade range. Your more recent educational and professional experience will trump what you did when you were 15.

2. Tighten the layout

You probably like to think that recruiters will focus on what you write in a CV, rather than how it looks. But the harsh truth is that visual presentation has a real impact.

“If you’re a busy person with a stack of CVs to review, you’ll be put off by clunky layouts that make the information hard to decipher,” says Jody. “It’s always worth making sure your CV is as legible as possible.”

Common mistakes to avoid are cutting sentences in half over pages, misaligning columns so they’re hard to read, or being inconsistent in the use of italics or bold typeface. As a general rule, keep your formatting as simple as possible – that minimises the risk of mistakes creeping in.

3. Be honest

Remember when you first started out on the job hunt and had to big up your limited experience? When you said that your role as a lifeguard included retail experience, because you were responsible for refilling the chocolate machine?

Now’s the time to go over your CV and correct those half-truths. Because if there’s one thing a recruiter can spot a mile away, it’s needless hyperbole. And even if you’re a great candidate, it creates an impression of someone who’s trying too hard – never a good look when you’re going for a new job.

Five steps to spring-clean your CV4. Update your summary statement

“The best CVs start with a statement that summarises a person’s strengths, experience and talents,” says Jody. “Naturally, this changes over time, and you may want to play up different attributes depending on the job you’re applying for.

“My advice is to review this statement each time you apply for a job, and perhaps keep a file of alternative versions somewhere on your computer. Then you can cut, paste and edit the one that seems most appropriate, helping you create maximum impact with your prospective employer.”

5. Enjoy your achievements

Reading your CV can be a curiously pleasurable experience. It’s a chance to remind yourself of your achievements and celebrate life’s successes. This can be a helpful way to build your confidence before applying for jobs. So, enjoy it, and remember to reference the highlights in an interview situation.

“A CV should be an honest appraisal of what you can offer a prospective employer,” says Jody. “But it is a sales tool, too. So, if you don’t finish reading it with a renewed feeling of pride and self-belief, you probably need to give it a bit more work.”

 

If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
What are the most common spelling mistakes on CVs?
How to create the perfect cover letter

 

Published: 3 March 2025
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2025

Jobs currently available

New job
Customer Service Executive
Sector: Customer Service
Salary: Competitive
Location: Sudbury
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913711
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a great company in Sudbury that offers a stable team and a positive working environment. They are seeking a Customer Services Executive to join their long-standing team.

As the Customer Service Executive, you will deal directly with customers by phone or email, providing stock updates, pricing and delivery information.

You will provide excellent customer service and promote this throughout the organisation.

The goal is to keep the department running in an efficient and profitable manner, to increase customer satisfaction, loyalty and retention and to meet their expectations.

To be considered for this role, you must have excellent Excel skills, including VLOOKUP's and Pivot Tables.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Improving customer service experience, creating engaged customers and facilitating organic growth
  • Taking ownership of customers' issues and following problems through to resolution
  • Setting a clear mission and deploying strategies focused towards that mission
  • Developing service procedures, policies and standards
  • Keeping accurate records and documenting customer service actions and discussions
  • Analysing statistics and compiling accurate reports
  • Reviewing order input, both for accuracy and to understand the customer's business and requirements
  • Managing office holidays and ensuring cover is in place

Key role requirements include:

  • Proven working experience as a Customer Service Executive or Key Account Handler
  • Experience in providing customer service support
  • Excellent knowledge of management methods and techniques
  • Ability to think strategically and to lead
  • Strong client-facing and communication skills
  • Advanced troubleshooting and multi-tasking skills
  • Customer service orientation
  • Strong Excel skills are required

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing business with the potential for development and career progression within the role.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Field Service Technician – Twickenham / Kingston Upon Thames
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Twickenham, Kingston Upon Thames
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913709
About the role

Due to continued growth, a world-leading provider of vehicle washing technology is recruiting a Field Service Technician to service a customer base in the Twickenham / Kingston Upon Thames area.

The role involves servicing and installing car and commercial valet equipment. You will be involved in all aspects of planned maintenance, breakdown repairs, equipment servicing, and general repairs. Responsibilities also include maintaining van stock levels and completing job sheets.

Role requirements include:

  • Having an Electrical or Mechanical engineering qualification
  • Be willing to travel and stay out overnight as and when required
  • Be willing to take on additional training and relevant courses, including evening courses that the company may pay for
  • Working on your own initiative or part of a team, and have problem-solving skills
  • Have a valid, clean UK driving licence
  • Good people skills, presentable and able to liaise directly with customers
  • Being punctual and able to keep accurate and timely documentation
  • IT literate with Microsoft Office and Outlook experience
  • You will be required to work within Health & Safety guidelines as set by the company

Benefits on offer include:

  • Company vehicle
  • Mobile phone
  • Pension scheme
  • Death in service benefit
  • Uniform and tools provided#

Hours: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week plus 1 in 3 weekend cover.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Field Service Technician – Chelmsford / Ilford
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Chelmsford, Ilford
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913708
About the role

Due to continued growth, a world-leading provider of vehicle washing technology is recruiting a Field Service Technician to service a customer base in the Chelmsford / Ilford area.

The role involves servicing and installing car and commercial valet equipment. You will be involved in all aspects of planned maintenance, breakdown repairs, equipment servicing, and general repairs. Responsibilities also include maintaining van stock levels and completing job sheets.

Role requirements include:

  • Having an Electrical or Mechanical engineering qualification
  • Be willing to travel and stay out overnight as and when required
  • Be willing to take on additional training and relevant courses, including evening courses that the company may pay for
  • Working on your own initiative or part of a team, and have problem-solving skills
  • Have a valid, clean UK driving licence
  • Good people skills, presentable and able to liaise directly with customers
  • Being punctual and able to keep accurate and timely documentation
  • IT literate with Microsoft Office and Outlook experience
  • You will be required to work within Health & Safety guidelines as set by the company

Benefits on offer include:

  • Company vehicle
  • Mobile phone
  • Pension scheme
  • Death in service benefit
  • Uniform and tools provided#

Hours: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week plus 1 in 3 weekend cover.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Field Service Technician – Bromley / Redhill
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Bromley, Redhill
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913710
About the role

Due to continued growth, a world-leading provider of vehicle washing technology is recruiting a Field Service Technician to service a customer base in the Bromley/Redhill area.

The role involves servicing and installing car and commercial valet equipment. You will be involved in all aspects of planned maintenance, breakdown repairs, equipment servicing, and general repairs. Responsibilities also include maintaining van stock levels and completing job sheets.

Role requirements include:

  • Having an Electrical or Mechanical engineering qualification
  • Be willing to travel and stay out overnight as and when required
  • Be willing to take on additional training and relevant courses, including evening courses that the company may pay for
  • Working on your own initiative or part of a team, and have problem-solving skills
  • Have a valid, clean UK driving licence
  • Good people skills, presentable and able to liaise directly with customers
  • Being punctual and able to keep accurate and timely documentation
  • IT literate with Microsoft Office and Outlook experience
  • You will be required to work within Health & Safety guidelines as set by the company

Benefits on offer include:

  • Company vehicle
  • Mobile phone
  • Pension scheme
  • Death in service benefit
  • Uniform and tools provided#

Hours: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week plus 1 in 3 weekend cover.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Flexi/Bendi Driver
Sector: Transport, Logistics and Shipping
Salary: £12.75 per hour
Location: Witham
Role: Full Time
Contract: Temporary
Job ref: 16797466
About the role

Just Temps is seeking Flexi/Bendi Drivers for a company based in Witham.

This is an immediate start, temp-to-perm opportunity role!

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

About the role:

This is a varied role where you will support the Team, Coordinators, and Warehouse Manager in the daily operations of the warehouse, helping to ensure compliance with Health & Safety regulations while maintaining the highest standards of customer service and operational efficiency.

Duties will include:

  • Loading and unloading goods from deliveries
  • Checking for damaged or missing items
  • Accepting incoming goods and comparing them with the shipping document (material number, description, quantity)
  • Storing goods in warehouses using manual processes or MHE
  • Making sure any loads are safe and secure
  • Tidying and stacking empty pallets
  • Picking and packing orders for dispatch
  • Moving stock around either by hand, using lifting equipment or a forklift truck
  • Loading goods for dispatch
  • Inputting data regarding stock and inventory into a computerised system
  • Carrying out stock counts as and when required
  • Managing, completing, and keeping paperwork to the required standards
  • Operating safely and in full compliance with all health, safety, and environmental regulations to ensure your own safety and the safety of others
  • Keeping areas of work clean and tidy to ensure safety and operational efficiency
  • Making recommendations to aid efficiency and add value
  • Other general warehouse duties as required

Role requirements:

  • Ideally, you will have an accredited licence, although the company will consider in-house certificates
  • Demonstrates a hands-on commitment to getting the job done whilst adhering to deadlines

 

Just Temps acts as an Employment Business for the supply of Temporary Staff.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. 
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Warehouse Supervisor
Sector: Warehouse
Salary: Competitive
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913695
About the role

Just Recruitment is recruiting for a growing organisation, based on the outskirts of Colchester, looking to add another Warehouse Supervisor to their team.

The key purpose of the role is to work closely with the senior management team, supervising the warehouse and completing all associated tasks as expected.

Duties include:

  • Manage employees’ day-to-day activities to ensure they are meeting their goals and deadlines
  • Supervise employees and direct work as they undertake activities related to returns, re-works, order fulfilment and order management
  • Monitor employee performance to ensure they are meeting company standards
  • Work closely with the General Manager to monitor staff levels and adjust accordingly
  • Perform regular Quality Audits, documenting the results
  • Work closely with the Customer Account Manager to ensure any issues are resolved quickly and effectively with minimal disruption to both the customer and the company
  • Ensure all Health & Safety regulations and relevant laws are adhered to
  • Monitor depot housekeeping, ensuring a clean and safe work area is maintained
  • Work closely with the Senior Management Team to ensure that work tasks are completed on time and within budget
  • Supervise the training of new employees
  • Coordinate with colleagues on the retrieval of stock replenishment and outsourced stock

Key requirements for this role:

  • Have previous warehouse experience or proven experience with a leadership position in a similar role
  • Have excellent communication and problem-solving skills
  • Have proven leadership and employee management skills
  • Have knowledge of warehouse management systems (WMS)
  • Hold a valid Forklift Licence

This role is located in a great working environment with free parking available on-site.

Please note that due to the company’s location, you will need to have access to your own transport.

Working hours:

8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.
You are required to work 2 x Saturdays out of 4 (with a day off in lieu that week).

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more