CV Advice

How to write a CV
CV stands for Curriculum Vitae. A CV is a document that shows your qualifications, work experience, skills and the type of work you're looking for.

Why do I need a CV?
Getting an interview can depend on how presentable your CV is. Remember that the potential Employer probably hasn't met you yet so your CV is your first point of sale. It will need to represent you in the best possible way, highlighting all key areas in relation to the post applied for. Basically this is your chance to show the employer that you are more than capable of doing the job!

I've never written a CV before - where do I start?
• What to include - Start with your personal details i.e. name, contact details etc., follow on with your personal profile or key skills, your education / qualifications and finally your career history. However if it is some time since you were in full time education then add this in the last section of your CV after the career history.
• How much detail is needed - Your CV should really be no more than 3 pages long. Only add the relevant detail and try not to write too much that is not in relation to the post applied for.
• How to make your CV stand out - Clear, concise CV's will stand out, ensure you have read the job brief properly and highlight any areas on the CV that will strengthen your application.
You may wonder how to fit everything into 2-3 pages but you can free up space by leaving certain things out or by being brief about others that are less important.

Tailoring your CV to the job
Your CV shouldn't be your life story but should be tailored for the job you're applying for, focusing on the parts that are important. Look at the job advert or the person specification and think about what the job involves, and what the employer is asking for. Take some time to find to research the company prior to your application.
It should only be a few lines but must spark the reader's interest. For example, if the job involves working with people, you could say you're a good team-worker and an effective communicator. Be brief - you can highlight examples of your skills in later sections.

Education and work experience
This part of your CV depends on your background and the type of job you're applying for. Some jobs require experience, while for others your qualifications are more important. If you've been working for a while, put your employment history first; if you're younger and don't have much work experience, focus on your education and training.

Employment history
Start with your present or most recent job and work backwards, using bullet points to illustrate the experience / duties at each role. Give details of all positions going back 10 years if necessary. Always include:
• Employer / Company name
• The dates you worked for them
• The job title
• Your main duties in bullet points
Employers want to see how your experience will be useful to them, so be brief about jobs that are totally different from the one you're applying for. Relevant jobs should be listed in more detail, showing not only your main duties and responsibilities but giving examples of the skills you used and what you achieved.
Avoid unexplained gaps in your employment history. You can provide reasons for them further on where necessary.

Hobbies and interests
Some employers like to read about your interests, as it can give them an idea of your strengths and what type of person you are.

Additional information
If you need to add anything else that's relevant, such as a gap in your employment history for travel or family reasons, you could include a further section titled 'Additional Information' after your interests to explain this.

How should it be presented?
Remember that your CV is your first introduction to this potential employer so ALWAYS spell and grammar check your CV!! Ensure it is presented on clean A4 white sheets in the same format and font.
A common mistake is to use bold type everywhere. It's good for section headings such as 'Employment History' or 'Education' but many people use it to highlight dates and previous employers' names - this draws the reader's eye away from what's important.