By Remy Raitt

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to crafting a media CV but there are some definite do’s and don’ts says recruitment manager Candice Clarke. She says the most important thing to remember is attention to detail. No matter if you’re applying for a job in TV, print or any other medium, frivolous errors suggest you have not taken your application seriously.

Take your time

Sending out a generic cover letter and CV for different job postings is a big no-no. “Align your strengths to the job,” says Clarke. If the application calls for a news journalist, harking on about your experience in lifestyle won’t be to your advantage. Rather focus on selling your qualities that are in line with the job listing.

“The professional profile (sometimes called personal statement) at the top of the CV is really important when applying for jobs in the media industry,” says Katy Wilson, managing editor for CVCentre.co.za. “It is your opportunity to really highlight your skills and your notable accomplishments. But remember different recruiters may be looking for different skills so you may need to subtly change this for each role that you apply for to maximise your chances of success.”

Keep it simple

“Cover letters should be a short, punchy paragraph about what makes you stand out for the job you applied for,” says Clarke. Elizabeth Mamacos from Careers24 suggests keeping it under half a page or 150 words. “Don’t waffle,” she says, “as your CV will tell your employers what they need to know.”

Drowning employers or recruiters in information is a sure fire way to get your CV chucked in the declined pile. As a media type it is imperative that you can show you’re able to be ruthless and only include the facts, show this in your CV.

It is also important your CV is legible. Wilson says to choose a font that is easy to read and to keep consistent in terms of style and design throughout your CV and cover letter. If you are applying for a writing job, allow your flair to show through your wording.

Order by relevance

Include your career history in reverse chronological order. “Start with your most recent work,” says Mamacos, “and don’t go too far back in time, recruiters don’t care about the waitressing jobs you did.” The HR team at Newsclip suggest using bullet points under each of your previous job titles as these are easy to read.

Share your online presence

“It is really important to showcase the different media assignments that you have worked on, but you also need to keep the CV brief,” says Wilson. “The best way to do this is to include a link to your online portfolio or website or even your LinkedIn profile. Also reiterate this in your cover letter so that recruiters can easily access your work.”

Recruiters and employers will without a doubt look you up online. “Be sure to keep your social media platforms clean and tidy,” says Mamacos. She also says you should ensure the information on your CV matches up to that online.

Have you recently crafted a CV? What are some key features you included or steered clear of. Tell us below.