Independent and Established Since 1992
How To Write a CV
There is no perfect way to write a CV. The key thing to remember about your CV is that it is a sales document and its sole purpose is to get you an interview. It should, therefore, be easy to read. With this in mind, there are a few key things we would strongly recommend when you are writing one. These are:
- All spelling and grammar must be correct. Do not rely on a spell check to do this for you. Get at least one other person to check your CV.
- Do not use text abbreviations
- Use clear, straight forward English
- Send a short covering letter with the CV. This should state which job you are applying for, why you think you could do the role, what salary you are currently on, when you would be available for interview and a contact telephone number or/and e-mail address.
- Use bullet points rather than paragraphs when describing each of your job roles. Recruiters will initially spend a matter of moments looking at a CV before making a decision on it. You need to make it easy for them to read
- Keep your CV to a maximum of between two and three pages. You don’t want to bore the recruiter.
- Keep it relevant. The recruiter is delighted that you have a dog called Shandy or that you were a World Champion Mud Wrestler back in 1975 but doesn’t need to know for the purposes of the job you are applying for!
- Educational background should start with your most recent professional qualifications first, followed by your A Levels and then GCSE’s / O Levels. It should also include (accurate) grades.
- Work history should also start with your most recent job first as this is most relevant to what you want to be doing in the future. If you are a mature applicant, there may not be a need to list all your jobs. What you did in 1970 will have little relevance to today’s marketplace.
- A CV is never “done”. It should be tailored for each job role you apply for. This is easy if you use bullet points. Read each job role carefully and pick out the main aspects of the role. If your job currently consists of these, they should be the first bullet points under your work history