CV Advice

Get the lowdown on presenting the right CV for your dream job.

YOUR CV

Ask 100 people how to produce the perfect CV and you will get 100 different answers!

Your CV is 'your' chance to sell yourself on paper and make a fantastic first impression. Easier than you think with our straightforward guide. Confidence will speak volumes. Believe in your abilities and don’t be afraid to stand out. You deserve this job.

CONTENT

‘Keep it short’ - Content should be succinct, tangible and to the point. Resist the urge to waffle in the hope that at least something will work. Employers shouldn’t have to search for what makes you suitable for the role.

‘Tailor your CV to the role’ - Before you start, use the job description to brainstorm the experience and skills that you feel the client will be looking for, selecting keywords to apply to your CV. What kind of candidate will benefit their business? What have you achieved that will appeal to them? What skills do you have that will enable you to do the job better than anyone else? Scour through your existing CV and cut out any unnecessary material. Parts addressed in detail can be discussed during the interview stage, so be ruthless. Don’t waste that precious selling space.

PRESENTATION

White paper - black text - simple font. Elaborate fonts or a photo are not advisable. Attempting to be extravagant will only serve to distract from the sole purpose.

LAYOUT

Ideally, a CV should not exceed two pages and should be formatted in an organised manner. Following your personal details and profile, content should be placed in whatever order you feel is most relevant to your application. Think about the information an employer needs to see first.

SUBJECT MATTER

Personal Details - Your name, address, phone number and email address should be placed together at the top of your CV.

Profile - Usually a short paragraph to instantly draw an employer in, revealing aspects of your personality that make you unique. Think about your interests and the experiences you’ve had that will support your application and demonstrate your commitment. Don’t simply list your qualities without using examples and experience to back it up. Just be positive about your attributes and filter out anything that isn‘t constructive. Anything beyond three or four sentences could be used in your covering letter.

Education - A brief rundown of your qualifications: GCSE’s, A-levels, diplomas and degrees. If necessary to your application, go into minor detail of the units covered.

Skills - Specific skills such as IT abilities, typing speeds, training, proficiency in particular programs or fluency in foreign languages.

Work Experience - Beginning with your most recent experience, list each held position in short concise sentences, possibly in bullet-point form. To enable your prospective employer to gather further information, noting down the company’s website next to the employer’s name may be beneficial. Also, briefly explain any gaps in work history - ‘Unemployed but actively searching for work’.

References - List the name and contact details of two or three referees that know you at your best at work. Alternatively, it is perfectly acceptable to state ‘References available on request’.

FINALLY

Proof read and proof read again - Mistakes will give the impression of carelessness and more than likely end up on the reject pile. Don’t waste an opportunity by not doing something that takes so little time. Send out your CV with confidence.