In one of the toughest job markets in 13 years, with an average of 100 applications being received for each graduate-level vacancy and over five million people on out-of-work benefits, specialist Human Resources consultancy P3 People Management has shared a few tips on how graduates can make their CVs stand out from the crowd.

P3 People Management’s Charlotte Gallagher said, “Recruiters spend an average of just three seconds glancing at a CV, so graduates should take time to ensure it’s easy-to-read and correctly-formatted, starting with a short profile of three or four lines listing proven experience for the role sought, using key words mentioned in the advertisement.”

According to P3 People Management’s recent client survey, employers’ tips for successful applications are:

DON'T use photographs - this does not strengthen your CV unless it was specifically requested

DON'T state marital status and date of birth - these should not be relevant in an equal opportunities environment

DON'T tell lies! Stick to truthful facts as employers may check up, or quiz you at interview and this could lead to any offer of employment being retracted

DO provide a personal statement at the top of your CV, outlining your key qualities and aspirations

DO include compelling facts - for example, perhaps you might explain how you helped increase sales for a company and back this up with the details

DO use keywords that are relevant - ie. easily-recognised job titles and buzzwords for the particular sector, so that when you upload your CV to a job site, these will help search engines pick your CV out from the rest

DO ask someone to proof-read your application for you - a simple spelling or grammatical mistake could prevent it being read

DO follow up with a call to ensure that your CV has been received, which will ensure that your name stands out