Grammar: Getting It Right On Your CV

The importance of spell-checking your CV when job hunting is often highlighted, but equally as important in creating a professional first impression on a job application is ensuring that your grammar is correct. Using the correct and appropriate grammar will not only make your CV read well and easily (which a potential employer will appreciate when trawling through a huge pile of applications!), but it will also show that you have taken time and consideration to put the document together, demonstrating how interested you are in the role.
Here are Flame Health's top tips at for avoiding common CV grammar pitfalls:

• Always check a spellchecker - spellcheckers will point out any obvious typos, but they might not save you from homophones e.g. their / there / they're or new / knew, two / too etc., so be sure to read through your CV several times before submitting it
• Don't over-use CAPITAL letters - the rules about when to use a capital letter and when not to can be debatable, but the main thing is to be consistent in how you use them and don't use them unnecessarily in the Middle of Sentences!
• Don't repeat yourself - over-using the same adjective (experienced, ambitious etc.) could give the impression that you have not proof read your CV; widen your vocabulary, but beware of the thesaurus! Only use an alternative word that you know how to use in a sentence
• Use apostrophes properly - apostrophes are used to indicate missing letters (wasn't), possessives (the company's), time or quantity (a month's worth, or 100's); read more here
• Pick your person - if you choose to open your CV with a third person statement (John is an experienced recruiter...) then stick with this style, alternatively keep it simple and all in the first person (I am an experienced recruiter...)
• Be careful of tenses - as a general rule, keep descriptions of past positions in the past tense, and your current position in the present tense, but the main thing is not to switch between the two mid-sentence

Flame Health can help you with all aspects of the recruitment process; if you work within the following sectors, contact us today for information on our current opportunities, CV tips, interview techniques and more...

Optometry, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary, Care, GP, Nursing, Cosmetic Surgery, Pharma

Freephone on 0800 085 0858 or if calling from a mobile on 01158 114488 alternatively email [email protected] 

To read more on CV grammar, visit: http://careers.theguardian.com/careers-blog/grammar-rules-cv-top-tips