CV Tips

Quite often the hardest part of looking for a job is drawing up your CV- an advertisement for yourself designed to interest employers and put yourself in the driving seat before other candidates. It is important to spend time and effort on producing your CV in order to grab the reader's attention and eventually allow you to market yourself in person.

CV Preparation

Think about your skills, competencies, qualifications and experience. If you are replying to a specific job advertisement, review what key words were used, which of these apply to you and then use these words in your CV. Remember that you want your CV to be read and responded to. Include enough information to stimulate interest, but not so much that you bore the reader. If you provide small, digestible pieces of information you stand a better chance of having your CV read.

Ensure that your CV is well structured and well laid out on standard, white A4 paper; this gives the impression that you think logically and makes it easier to review. Remember a CV that is hard to read is often put aside and forgotten. When writing the CV, remember that self-opinion is best avoided and often treated with scepticism from some employers. Therefore, aim to include factual information or objective evidence and remember to focus on the benefits of your achievements. Always ensure that your CV is well-presented, easy to read, straight to the point and, most importantly, has no spelling mistakes. For this reason, always get a family member or friend to look over your CV before sending it.

CV Content

Three pages maximum is preferred, but keeping it on one page is even better! Every word must contribute to the overall message- so keep it brief and ensure that the content is relevant to the job you are applying for.

The First Part

This should contain your personal details, your home address and contact details, followed by a brief summary of educational credentials and qualifications. An overview statement should be included covering your strengths in the relevant area, skills and experience and the type of position sought.

The Second Part

Here you should highlight your employment history. Present this in a reverse chronological order (i.e. most recent job first). If you have only worked for one company, break it down with an entry for each position or project dealt with. For each position held, briefly describe responsibilities and work undertaken. Include achievements, not just regular tasks, and if possible quantify them in sales, financial or production terms. Each professional position that you've had must include at least one statement of accomplishment. For your current and recent positions, you may want to have several bulleted items under the job that list your most significant experiences.

List your hobbies and interests in no more than three lines. Any voluntary or charity work or external posts you hold are worth including. Always include any languages, courses or training you may have done, or any professional memberships. It is recommended that two referees be given- including the referees' official title, addresses and telephone numbers.

Covering Letter

In order to supplement your CV, we would suggest that you introduce yourself with a covering letter. This allows you to let your personality come through as well as saving you time in having to rewrite the CV each time you want to target a specific advertisement or job. Use the letter to pinpoint exactly what role you are looking for and highlight your key relevant strengths to the actual job which modesty or space prevents you from including in your CV.