Writing Your CV
Your CV should include the following basic points:
Your Details
Include your name, address, phone numbers and email address so any interested employers can contact you easily.Personal Statement
One paragraph that immediately grabs the attention of your reader and makes them want to find out more about you. Relate it to the job you're applying for detailing how you meet the employers needs.Work experience
List your most recent position first, continuing in reverse chronological order including the name, location, website and dates of your employment for each company you have worked for. Using bullet points where possible detail your role, responsibilities and achievements in each role.Education
Again, in reverse chronological order, give brief details of your academic and professional qualifications along with the grades you achieved.Skills
You will have picked up many skills over the years. Include every IT package or programme you have used as well as any foreign language skills you have learned, and state whether you're at a basic, intermediate or advanced level.Hobbies & Interests
This information is optional and this can be added to the end of your document. It can be used to give the interviewer a more rounded picture and something more personal to discuss at an interview.References
It's not necessary to list referees on your CV, but it is important to state that this information is available upon request. If this is your first job, it's a good idea to nominate tutors or mentors.A Clear and Simple Layout
Always keep your CV to two pages of A4. It should be clear to anyone reading your CV where to find the information they're looking for, with enough 'white space' to ensure they're not overawed at first glance.The purpose of this document is not to get you the job, but to get you an interview. Always remember you’re not writing a CV for yourself, you are writing it for your reader. As you write your CV, put yourself in their shoes. Keep it short, to the point and, above all else, interesting.
Due to the high volume of applications they receive, a recruiter will generally spend at most 20 seconds initially reviewing each CV, so it’s important to get it right.
Things to Watch Out For
Time spent making sure your CV is crisp and relevant is always time well spent. There are plenty of simple mistakes that are often overlooked that will turn your readers off before they've gone much further than your name and address.
- Resist the urge to jazz up your CV with images or colour
- Steer clear of long paragraphs
- Careful use of bold type can be effective, but don't overdo it
- Underlining should be reserved for website links only
- Use typefaces like 'Times New Roman' or 'Arial' - they're easier to read
- Avoid using font sizes smaller than 11pt, employers won't strain their eyes to read it
- Don't use txt speak and only use abbreviations if they're universally known
And Finally...
Check for spelling or typographical errors. Any errors are your responsibility and are one of the first things employers use to weed out the weaker candidates. Even if the role you're after doesn't require a high level of literacy, spelling errors scream lack of care, which is an undesirable quality for any recruiter. Don't put all your faith in a spell checker as many are set to American settings as a default. If you're not sure about a word, look it up in a dictionary.
Before you distribute your finished document or upload it to the Internet, get someone to look over it. Professional CV checkers see hundreds of CVs every day and can immediately spot things that may put off a potential employer.
