Writing a CV
What is a CV?
A CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a document that should be no longer than two sides of A4 that is used when applying for jobs.
It allows you to summarise your education, skills, qualifications and experience to show potential employers what makes you more employable than others.
What should I put in my CV?
• Contact details – Make sure to include your full name, home address, mobile number and email address.
• Profile – A statement that highlights your key attributes and helps you stand out from the crowd. This is usually at the beginning of a CV and picks out a few relevant achievements and skills, while expressing your career goals. A good CV will focus on the sector that you are applying for.
• Education – List and date all previous education, including the professional qualifications. Remember to include the qualification type and grades.
• Work experiences – Put all your work experience in order, making sure that anything you mention is relevant to the job. Remember to put your job title, the company you worked for, how long you were there for and key responsibilities.
• Skills and achievements – Talk about any foreign languages you speak and the IT packages you can use such as Microsoft Office.
• Interests – Include relevant interests that can provide more information on who you are and show your employer that you are interested in this sector of work. If you don’t have any interests that are to do with the sector you are applying to, leave this section out.
• References – You aren’t required to put names of referees at this stage so you can just put ‘ references available upon request’.
CV Format
- Use a font that is an industry standard such as Arial size 10.
- Keep it concise and easy to read by using clear points.
- Use section headings as this is a good way of breaking up your CV and making it easier to read for the employer.
