It can be hard to know where to start with writing your CV, but it’s important that you do it the right way so you can make a great first impression and get your foot in the door.

Writing your CV

  • Keep it short and sweet – a CV should be no more than two pages long.
  • For each role and company that you are applying to, you should tweak your CV
  • Match your CV to the job description. Ideally, it’s best to reflect the skills that are listed in the job description.
  • Include a personal statement explaining why you are the right person for the role. This should be altered each time you apply for a different role so you mirror the job description and company.
  • Ensure that your facts and figures are accurate.
  • You should proofread the document at least twice. It’s even better if you can ask someone else to proofread it for you – two pairs of eyes are always better than one. Making sure that it’s accurate is important as your CV is the first thing an employer will see and if there are any spelling mistakes or other errors, this could reflect badly on you.

CV format

The more concise your CV is, the better. To ensure that it is as clear as possible, you should use:

  • A professional-looking and easy-to-read font that is consistent throughout the document and with a size 10-point minimum
  • Good spacing
  • Bolder or slightly larger headings
  • Adequate spacing and layout

What to include

  • The CV should start with your name, contact details and current job title so the employer can immediately see what they are looking at
  • You should include your mobile number, postal address and email address

Work experience 

Then start by listing your relevant work experience. For each role you should include:

  • Your job title
  • The name of the company you worked for
  • The dates of your employment
  • Your responsibilities
  • Your main achievements in the role

Education 

Then list your education and qualifications in chronological order. You should include the dates you were in full-time education and the grades you received. The same goes for any qualifications you have achieved since leaving full-time education.

Skills

Here you should list your hard skills such as IT skills, analytical skills and also soft skills like being a good communicator for example.

Interests

It’s only necessary to include your interests if they are relevant or link to the job role you are applying for.

References

Many people think that you need to include references on your CV but you do not need to give a reference until the interviewer asks you. Alternatively, you can put ‘references available on request.’

Keep it up to date

You should update your CV regularly to add any new achievements, skills or work experience that you have gained.

Overall a good CV can open doors and help you kick-start your career. Putting the time into making it as clear and informative as possible will make all the difference to getting an interview and could even lead to landing your dream job.

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