Source – CV Library – https://www.cv-library.co.uk/career-advice/cv/how-to-write-a-cv-tips
To write a good CV you must first make sure you know what your goals are. You need to write your CV with a specific job in mind. The right CV will get you an interview quickly, while a badly written CV may mean you won’t even get a rejection.
There are a few things you need to do to get the most out of your CV and show prospective employers why you are the only person for the job.
This guide will give you our top tips and the best CV examples, showing you how to write a great CV that gets noticed.
What is a CV?
‘CV’ is short for ‘Curriculum Vitae’, a Latin phrase meaning literally, ‘course of life’. It should be a brief account of your education, qualifications, and previous employment. This is how you present yourself to the outside world, the world of work. It is a form of personal marketing, so make sure when you write your CV that it shows you in the best light possible.
Remember, writing a CV is often just one part of the application process; a cover letter and completed application form may also be required.
What information should be included when writing a CV?
The format of a CV is flexible, and many different styles are used. While you need to tailor the content of your CV to the job in question, there are elements that most employers would expect to see:
Name, professional title and contact details
You don’t need to include the words ‘Curriculum Vitae’ as your heading. The title of your CV, at the very top, should be your name, professional title and contact details – anything else is just a waste of space.
What contact details should I provide?
Your email address and contact number(s) are all that is required – you don’t need to include a postal address. Do not add your age, nationality, date of birth or marital status – these are NOT required.
Feel free to add an up-to-date professional profile, such as LinkedIn.
Here’s an example of how your header might look:
Forename Surname | Professional Title
Location: Town, County
Phone: 01234 567890
Email: name@example.com
Personal profile
This is simply a few lines about you, who you are, what you hope to achieve, and your goals. Make it fit the job you are applying for if you can. The person described in your Personal Profile (you) should sound like the ideal candidate for the job.
Work history and experience
This section is where you can really shine. Set out your previous roles, experience, volunteering, placements or internships. You should list these in reverse chronological order – that is, most recent first. This is because your most recent role and experience are the most important to your prospective employer.
For each job, you should include:
- employer details
- your job role/title
- your employment dates
- no more than three to four lines of what you did in that role.
Significant achievements should be identified using the STAR method. Active words, such as ‘planned’, ‘built’ and ‘created’ are useful in detailing things you have achieved.
Here’s an example of how each item could look on your CV:
mmm yyyy – mmm yyyy
Company Name, Location
Role Title
Outline
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Key responsibilities
- xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Key achievements/projects
- xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Top tip: If you have a lot of experience/previous positions, you don’t need to include roles from more than 10 years ago – unless, of course, they are particularly relevant to the job for which you are applying.
Education
Again, these should appear in reverse chronological order, the most recent first. Each item should include:
- Institution (School, College, University)
- Qualification with grades/distinctions, etc.
- Dates attended/completed
So, this section may look like this:
Institution name – Dates attended (from – to)
Qualification/subject – Grade
Or for space-saving if needed, try the more compact:
Qualification, grade – Institution – Year
If you have a degree, it’s a good idea to list a few relevant modules, projects or assignments underneath.
Additional sections
If you have room, or again, if they are particularly relevant to the role for which you are applying, then you can add extra sections for things such as:
Key skills
This is an opportunity to add some key skills (also known as ‘soft skills’ or ‘core skills’) that are super-relevant to the job you are applying for. You could include, for example, experience with a particular piece of software or application, courses you have attended, or anything that will help you secure your dream role.
Hobbies and interests
Try and keep this section of your CV interesting, if you use it. Include unusual hobbies, ones that add to your suitability for the role. Try to avoid really common hobbies and interests, such as reading, walking, etc.
Achievements
Your achievements are significant things you’ve accomplished in the roles you’ve held that go above and beyond the responsibilities or tasks associated with those roles.
When you submit a job application, emphasising your achievements can help you convince the company that you’d be a perfect fit for the position.
Candidates who are further along in their career may be able to emphasise professional achievements, while entry-level candidates might need to concentrate on academic awards.
Referees/References
If you wish to include this section, feel free to do so, but you can always just add ‘references available on request’ or leave it off altogether when creating your CV.
Check out our CV Templates – all sorts of templates for all sorts of roles
Formatting and general guidelines on how to create a good CV
- Keep it brief – A standard length for a CV in the UK is just two sides of A4, but depending on the circumstances (the job or sector you’re applying to or your experience level), a single page or up to three pages is also acceptable.
- Headings – Just like this piece, clear headings for your CV content makes things easier to read and the document easier to digest.
- File type – For best all-round readability, save your CV as a pdf. You can do this in most word-processing software such as Microsoft Word and Google Docs, by ‘printing to pdf’. Or you can use a tool to do a conversion – there are many available online.
- Font type – Good, clear fonts like Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri are ideal – definitely not Comic Sans!
- Font size – Body text should be 10 to 12 point and headings between 14 and 18. Make sure it’s readable, and don’t cram in too much or reduce the size of the margins; standard-size margins should be fine.
- Proofread it – Get someone else to proofread it and then give it a final once-over. Make sure the font and layout are consistent throughout. Don’t say how detail-oriented you are and then leave a glaring typo in your CV!
- Tailoring and keywords – If you’re applying for a job you REALLY want, make sure you’re drafting your CV specifically for the role, and add relevant keywords.
- ATS – What? Applicant Tracking Systems – these are bots that ‘read’ and often reject up to three-quarters of CVs before a human even gets to see them. They use an algorithm to select what they perceive to be the best and most relevant CVs, and put them into a shortlist for human review. We have specific advice on how to win over the ATS bots.
If writing a CV seems like too much effort…
You could try the shortcut and use our very own CV Builder tool – it’s free and will do much of the hard work for you, leaving you to fine-tune it for your needs.
Get it right, get applying
Getting your CV right the first time means you may find a job more quickly. You only get one chance to make a first impression and your CV is it!
So follow our CV tips and get creative. The better and more relevant to the role it is, the more likely you will be offered an interview.
After you’ve followed this guide and created a powerful, winning CV (tailored to the role you are applying for), you can then take the next step and upload your CV to apply for and hopefully secure your next job.
Got an interview lined up? Check out our common interview questions guide.