CV

Writing a CV…

Writing a CV from scratch can be a pretty daunting task. Deciding what to include and what to leave out can be quite difficult. To make your life a little bit easier I have compiled a list of tips and tricks on how to write a good CV.

Personal details:

• Personal details – the first tip for writing a good one. Which people often forget is including details such as. Your full name, address, phone number, and email address. You don’t need to go into detail with things like age unless this is specifically asked for, but giving potential employers a way to contact you is crucial.

Last things first:

• Last things first – when talking about your employment history, make sure you list the most recent things first. Don’t make employers read through every job you’ve ever done to get to the relevant roles. If they’re interested in the rest of the jobs they will read on.

Short and Sweet:

• Keep it short and sweet – the length of it will be dependent on your work experience etc, but try to keep it to around 2 pages maximum. When talking about what you’ve done trying to keep it fairly brief. You can always explain further in a cover letter or application form if you need to.

References:

• References – make sure that you put references on your CV, or at least have some to hand if they are asked for. Also, make sure that one of these references is your current employer.

Presentation:

• Presentation – your CV should be laid out carefully and clearly. Make sure that headings are clear and in bold or underlined (or both) and fill your space carefully. Not leaving too much or too little room. It’s all about how easy the CV is to read for employers, and the easier the better.

Be honest:

• Be honest – if you lie on your CV you will probably get caught out in one way or another. Especially if you are then employed by that company. For example, if you lie about your grades but then your employer or interviewer asks to see your official certificates. It will be pretty tricky to explain how that A* in GCSE Maths is actually a D according to Edexcel.

Specific:

• Make it specific – Understand what the job entails and tailor your CV towards this. If there are specific skills or types of experience that the role requires, make your skills and experience fit the bill.

Renew:

• Renew – add to and change your CV regularly. Always adding new skills and experience when you gain them, not years later. For example. If your job roles changes or you undertake a relevant course, add this to your CV for potential employers to see.

Proofread:

• Proofread – and proofread and proofread until there is definitely not a single mistake in that CV. Once you have read your CV so many times that you 1) are sure there are zero mistakes and 2) can’t read any more, pass it over to a friend to proofread.

Summary:

I hope this little 9 step guide on how to write a good CV has helped you out – you are now one step closer to getting the job! If your brand new CV works in getting lots of interviews, you may want to check out our interview tips and tricks – you are so lucky to have me.

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