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Creating the Perfect CV

Preparing your own Curriculum Vitae can seem a daunting task, quite apart from what to put in and what to leave out, describing your own strengths and abilities isn’t easy.

Making your CV stand out is more important than ever. Employers are looking for a closer match between a prospective employee’s skills and experience with the job role.

We have put together the following advice to help ensure your CV is a professional document that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Presentation and layout

  • Always ensure that your CV is printed on white, good quality paper, use a clean
    typeface and don’t go smaller than 12 point.
  • The use of sub-headings (e.g. Personal profile, Career history, etc.) will help
    potential employers glean the information they require with ease.
  • There should be clear spaces between category headings for easy clarification
    and definition.
  • Your name, address and contact number should form the start of the document.
  • Beginning with your present or most recent employer, state your career history.
    Then list your professional qualifications. If you have been working for many
    years list your academic qualifications and a very brief mention as to your
    College or Schooling.
  • If you are just commencing your working life, having previously been a student,
    provide more in depth information regarding your academic achievements.
  • Keep your CV to a maximum of 2 pages.

Content

  • Begin with a bold profile about yourself and your abilities – give the reader a snapshot of the person you are and the skills you possess.
  • Keep it short, objective and make sure you can back up the statements at your interview.
  • Starting with your current or most recent employment provide details of your
    position as follows:
    – Job title
    – Time that you have held this position
    – The key tasks and responsibilities that comprise this role’s requirements
    – Notable achievements whilst in the role
    – Where possible quantify your achievements with precise facts and figures,
    e.g. Managed junior staff, handled department budget, prepared
    management reports
    – Expand on the skills you are using in your current job which you believe will be valuable in the position(s) for which you are applyingIt is not necessary to state the reason you are leaving your current position. This will be a topic for conversation when you are invited for interview or can be covered in your letter of application.
  • For all previous employment, unless one appointment was more significant than your current or last position, keep details brief i.e. the name of the company, job title, period of employment a short overview of the position.
  • Be sure there are no gaps in your career history - unless for example you took a year out to travel, in which case make reference to this under Interests/Hobbies.
  • If you are a student just starting work, give any evidence you can to demonstrate your practical skills e.g. event organiser, member of sports team, contributor to your college magazine, or voluntary work.
  • Consider what examples (Interests/Hobbies) you can give to show that you match the selection criteria.
  • If they want someone to work in a team, remember to say if you belong to a local organisation or if you are part of a sports team.
  • If they want someone who will work on their own for large periods of time, make
    reference to an Open University course you are considering undertaking.

 

 

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