CV Writing
A CV is your chance to “sell yourself” to a potential employer so it is very important that you take time to plan what information to include and how it is presented.
An employer may spend just 30 seconds reading your CV so a good one will improve your chances of getting a job interview by highlighting your skills, qualifications and experience.
You may need to adapt you CV depending on the job you are applying for but always remember your CV should be:
- Concise - 2 pages is usually recommended
- Clear - Your CV must be typed and easy for an employer to read and understand
- Accurate - Always check for spelling mistakes
- Relevant to the job you are applying for
- Truthful - Don't be tempted to lie on your CV!
For an example of a sample CV click here.
What should you include?
Personal details: Name, address, phone number, email address.
Profile: A few sentences to summarise your main selling points, skills and personal qualities.
Skills and Achievements: Include specific skills e.g. IT skills, languages or practical skills as well as achievements as bullet points.
Education: List brief details of the qualifications you have i.e. GCSEs with the grades, date and school/college you were at. Start with the most recent first and work backwards.
Work experience: Include the name of the company, your job title and the dates you worked there. Then list 3 or 4 bullet points describing your duties and achievements in that job. Start with the most recent first and work backwards.
Interests: This section is optional but you may wish to include activities like playing sports, music, volunteering etc as they show certain skills and personal qualities and may be relevant to the job you are applying for.
References: You can provide the name and contact details of two referees here or simply write “References available on request.”
For more tips on CV Writing click here.