Writing your CV

Your CV is a document providing a summary of your educational history, qualifications and your work experience, skills and achievements. It is important to create a favourable impression from the outset. The tips below should help you do so:

  • Your CV should be well laid out and in a logical order.
  • It should ideally be no more than 2 pages of A4 long and typed where possible.
  • Remember that the prospective employer will be looking at 100s of CVs and so it is important that yours is easy to read.
  • Take a look at our example CV template to assist you

Your CV should include the following information:

  1. Personal details
  2. Personal profile
  3. Employment history and work experience
  4. Education and training
  5. Interests and achievements
  6. References

1.  Personal details

This should include your full name, contact details including your home address, your telephone numbers and your e-mail address if you have one. You do not have to disclose your date of birth or marital status.

2.  Personal profile

This should be no longer than a few lines summarising your key skills and abilities and your career aims.

3.  Employment history and work experience

  • Put your employment history and work experience in chronological order starting with your current / most recent job / experience. Explain any gaps in your employment history such as travelling, caring for a relative or raising a family.
  • You should include the name of the employer, the dates you worked for them, your job title and your main duties.
  • Be sure to demonstrate any skills you have gained and responsibilities you have had that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
  • If you have no or limited work experience you should demonstrate your skills through your education and life experiences.
  • Use bullet points for a professional result.
  • Make sure that you use positive language and check the spelling.

Education and training

  • Start with your most recent qualifications and education and work back.
  • Include the grades of any qualifications.
  • Include any work-related courses.
  • Include any qualifications and training gained whilst doing voluntary work.

Interests, hobbies and achievements

  • Here you can include any interests, hobbies and achievements that are relevant to the post you are applying for.
  • Any team sports that you play can demonstrate your ability to work in a team.
  • Membership to a club or society shows that you enjoy meeting new people.

References

  • You should have 2 or more people who can provide work and personal references for you. One of these should be your current or more recent employer.
  • The contact details for your references can be included here or you can simply state "references on request".
  • Always ask permission from a person before using them as a referee.

What should I do with my CV now?

  • Send it in response to job adverts.
  • Distribute it to recruitment agencies. Be sure to select ones that work with the types of jobs that interest you and you are skilled to do.
  • Send it speculatively to companies you would like to work for. Include an e-mail / covering letter asking if they have any current or future vacancies.
  • Take it along to job interviews to jog your memory. Also take a copy for the interviewer in case they do not have one.
  • Register it online with recruitment websites.

Covering e-mail / letter

When sending your CV it is important to include a short covering e-mail or letter to:

  • Introduce yourself.
  • Explain the reason you are sending your CV. Is it in response to an advertisement or sent speculatively.
  • Have a look at our covering letters. We have one in e-mail format and one in letter format.