Creating your CV

27/07/2016

A CV is a record of your qualifications, work experience and skills. Rather than just a list of everything you have done in your professional life, it should be used as a marketing tool as evidence that you are the right candidate for the role in which you are applying. While there is no single perfect way to present a CV, the following general rules should apply:

 

• The CV should be specifically tailored for each job for which you are applying (at least tailored to each industry) – highlighting relevant skills and experience in line with the job specification.
• It should be easy to read, logically ordered and written in report style (i.e. well structured, bullet points, short sentences and small paragraphs).
• When you write your employment history and education details put your most recent achievements first.
• Don’t leave gaps – leaving obvious gaps on your CV immediately raises red flags with employers. If you were out of work, try to put a positive spin on the situation. Participated in a course, volunteer work or travelled? Say so!
• The length of the CV should be relative to your work experience – there are no rules, if it’s relevant write it down.
• It should be informative yet concise – each sentence should add something new. If you find you are repeating yourself, cut it out.
• Choose a suitable font and size, with subtitles in bold or underlined – consistency throughout is key.
• Proofread your CV, or get a friend to. There should be no spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors.

Personal details

Include your personal details at the top of the first page – name, address, phone number and email. People often forget them. Do not include your age or a photograph unless specifically asked to do so. The email address provided should be appropriate and professional.

 

Education and qualifications

Your degree subject and university, plus A levels and GCSEs or equivalents. Grades should be included, otherwise some employers might assume you did poorly.

 

Work experience

This section should be structured in reverse chronological order – with your most recent job at the top. The company, job title and dates should be detailed clearly, with bullet points below explaining the role, notable achievements and relevant skills utilised. Backing up your achievements with numbers makes selling yourself much easier; don’t just say that you have increased sales, say that you have increased sales by X amount over a certain time period.

 

Interests

Keep this section short and to the point, and avoid boring clichés like “socialising with friends”. Any interests relevant to the job are worth mentioning. Evidence of leadership is also important to mention, such as being captain of a sports team. Hobbies that are a little out of the ordinary can help you stand out from the crowd; skydiving or mountaineering can show a sense of wanting to stretch yourself and express an outgoing nature.

 

Skills

Fluent in other languages? Proficient in various software? Languages, computing skills and driving licences are the most common to include.

 

References

There is no need to give referee details at the application stage – employers will ask for their contact details later on in the process. Writing “references available upon request” at the end of the CV is perfectly acceptable and can save yourself valuable space.