Writing your CV
The purpose of a Curriculum Vitae (CV) is to help you to get an interview and will hopefully lead to job offers; it is effectively a selling tool. It is the first point of contact that a potential employer has with you, so it is important that you think carefully about the layout and content.
Ensure that your CV is clear and easy to read and follows a logical format. There are NO hard and fast rules for writing CVs, despite what you might read in text books! Hopefully, these guidelines will point you in the right direction and will help you to get that job that you want.
After reading our advice on writing CVs, if you feel that you still need some assistance please do not hesitate to contact one of our experienced Recruitment Consultants who will be able to give you free advice.
General tips for your CV
- Check spelling and grammar and use quality paper.
- Do not use fancy fonts, choose a professional look such as Times or Arial.
- Keep it brief; try to make it cover no more than two pages.
- State clearly the type of work you want and how you are qualified.
- Use words that describe your skills, abilities and achievements.
- Highlight your skills and achievements.
- Explain any gaps in employment.
- Be honest - it is easy to make checks and you will get caught out.
- Jot down some ideas before you begin - start off with some key headings.
Structuring your CV
- Contact Details:
- Full name, address, telephone number, mobile number and e-mail address.
- Personal Profile:
- This should be a short paragraph which states key skills, experience and skills which are relevant to the job.
- Education:
- Starting with the most recent, put where you studied, what you studied and what grades you attained.
- Training:
- Identify any relevant training and certificates gained.
- Work experience:
- Starting with your most recent job first, put company name, job title and the dates you worked, together with a very brief resume of duties/responsibilities. Expand on the skills you are using in your current job which you think will be valuable for the position that you are applying for.
- Personal Information:
- You may put here anything additional that you think that may be relevant which may be driving license etc.
- Referees:
- You will need to give details of at least 2 referees, one of which should be from your last job.
