Writing a CV
A CV is a short statement of facts about you, your work history, skills, experience and successes. A well written CV is essential when you are looking for work and it is important to spend time getting it right so that it gives a good impression to a future employer.
Your CV should:
be concise - two sides of A4 is enough, keep it short and to the point, employers won’t spend time wading
through pages of information to find what they want. Include key points and relevant information
be accurate - employers will overlook your CV if it includes avoidable errors. Employers can receive a large number of CV’s for each role and one way to sort through them is to scan for mistakes. Spelling and grammatical errors must be avoided. Ask someone to proof read the final draft before submitting it.
should include a personal statement - this is a short statement at the beginning of your CV to sell yourself and highlight your skills, experience and personal qualities to link your suitability to the company and role. Positive words such as ‘competent’, ‘adaptable’, ‘conscientious’, ‘effective’ are useful
be tailored - you should tailor your CV for each role you apply for, matching your skills and experience to the requirements of the job. Research the company and use the job description to highlight your suitability
be positive - your CV should emphasise your achievements, strengths, successes and how you have contributed to your previous employers success. It is a good idea to add figures to support facts and to use positive and active words, for example managed, led and achieved
avoid gaps and exaggerations - Gaps tend to make employers suspicious. If you have been out of work try to be positive about the time out - did you develop any new skills, i.e. teamwork, community work, project management, communication skills? There’s a difference between selling yourself and inventing things!. Selling yourself means showing yourself in the best light, highlighting proven skills and experience. Don’t be tempted to invent qualifications or previous jobs. Employers will check the facts and if they don’t you will be asked for more information at the interview.
be well presented - your CV should be consistent throughout with bullet points to highlight important points and sentences kept short. Keep the layout simple and use plenty of white space to separate sections.
What to include
There isn’t a set format, how you present your CV is your choice. You should however include: -
- your name
- address
- email address
- home / mobile telephone number
- your career history
- your qualifications & training
- achievements
- interests
- references
New laws on age discrimination means that you don’t necessarily need to include date of birth on your CV.
Career History - your most recent employment should be first and dates should always be included. Employers are most interested in what you have done recently. Clearly cover any gaps, employers will want to know what you did during those periods. If you haven’t had much full time work experience list any other work your have undertaken including voluntary work, temporary / holiday or part time jobs. If you haven’t had much work experience emphasise the skills and experience you have acquired including communication skills, team work and PC experience.
Achievements - mention achievements that are relevant to the job you are applying for
Interests - hobbies and interests can support and strengthen your application, they can further highlight any skills and responsibilities that are relevant to the job you are applying for. For example, you might use organisational or leadership skills or teamwork as part of the activity.
References - Ideally you should name two people who can provide a personal or work reference, one should be your recent employer wherever possible. If you have been out of work, it could be someone who occupies a professional position and who has known you for a long time. If you have been studying, you can ask your tutor or head of department. It should be someone who can comment on your qualities in relation to the job. You should ask their permission beforehand.