CV Writing Tips

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If you want your CV to jump out to potential employers a well written CV is essential. Putting together a great CV isn’t as difficult as it may seem, we’ve provided some simple tips that will guide you in the right direction – 

What information should your CV include?

• Your name
• Address
• Contact numbers
• Email address
• Profile / Personal Statement 
• Employment history – starting with your current or most recent position

Presentation

Don’t be over ambitions with formatting: - 

• Use one, clear, legible font
• Tables don’t always look the same once emailed 
• Don’t use patterns or borders, these can detract from presentation
• Unless it is specifically relevant to the role don’t use photographs
• Stay on point
• Print on white paper
• Try to keep it to two pages

Be Specific and Accurate

• Ensure your own contact details are correct
• Be accurate about dates of employment, detailing starting and finishing dates for each position
• Explain gaps in your CV, whatever the reason give a brief explanation
• Include information for each role that you carried out for an employer, especially if you transferred roles
• Include a brief list of your roles and responsibilities
• Think of your personal statement / profile as your sales pitch, list a few of your key strengths and skills/qualifications that are transferable to the role and make you suitable for the position.

Professionalism

• Rethink the quirky email address that you created years ago - Your email address is potentially one of the first things a prospective employer will see from you, what once seemed funny may not give the best first impression
• Keep the file name when saving your cv short and professional – Your name and CV is enough

Check and Double Check

• Spell check, (F7) USE it. Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors really don’t give the best impression to employers who receive your CV
• Ask someone to read over it, they may notice something that you have missed

If you’re still not convinced, we have a CV template to get you started!.