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Curriculum Vitae (CV) Tips

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) should demonstrate your suitability for a particular role and how your profile fits with an employer’s needs. Consequently your CV will be different for every application you make and it should not simply include every experience and achievement you have. This means that your CV is never finished as it is constantly being revised and rewritten for every position you apply for. Unlike an application form, the CV is an opportunity for you to sell yourself in a unique way and to make yourself stand out from the other applicants.

The style and content of your CV will ultimately depend on what is relevant for the position being applied for and what they are looking for in a potential employee. However, in general most CVs include the following sections:-

Personal Information   (Show...)

This section should include contact details such as address, phone number, and email address. You can also include your date of birth and nationality, although these are not essential.

Education   (Show...)

List your qualifications in reverse-chronological order. Include the name and town of the institution, dates attended and qualifications achieved. If you have a degree or A levels do not list all your GCSEs, simply state how many were achieved and what the grade range was (e.g. 9 GCSEs grades A-D).

Employment History   (Show...)

This section should include all previous work positions, both paid and voluntary, in reverse-chronological order. It should include details of the company, the dates worked there, job title, and general responsibilities for each position.

Skills Profile   (Show...)

In this section outline the skills you have which are relevant to the position applied for. Include examples of when you have shown these skills as evidence that you have mastered them.

Interests and Activities   (Show...)

This section gives you the opportunity to show that there is more to you than just work. It shows that you are motivated to follow other pursuits, and make you sound a more interesting candidate.

References   (Show...)

Two referees should be included. At least one of these should be a previous employer; the other could be an academic referee or previous employer. Sometimes companies also allow the use of character referees. If you are running out of space and an employer has not specified that they want referee details then it is acceptable to simply state 'references available on request'.

When writing your CV it is important to get the length right, whilst also including everything which is relevant and will support your application. Try to keep your CV to a maximum of two pages. If it is any longer employers may get bored and not finish reading it. Also, try to avoid long lists of information, for example GCSE subjects and grades, and keep information succinct. Make sure that the most relevant information for the position you have applied is contained at the beginning of your CV as if there is nothing relevant on the first page an employer might not read the second. This usually means listing information in reverse-chronological order.

When listing previous jobs, or experiences ensure you provide enough information regarding what you did. Ensure that you back up any skills that you list with information on how you demonstrated that skill.

Your CV should be presented in clear sections so that it is obvious to employers what is included. Ensure that spelling and grammar are correct and it is always a good idea to get somebody else to proof read it. Always print your CV on good quality paper, and print each page on a separate sheet, do not print it back - to – back.

When sending out a CV it should always be accompanied by a covering letter. While your CV highlights the skills you have relevant for the position, your covering letter should present you motivations for applying to a particular company. It should highlight the most important skills which are described more in depth on your CV. It can also be used to put across information which does not fit into your CV. A covering letter should be no more than one page long and be divided into short, clear paragraphs.