As employers in the recruitment industry, we know how important it is to make a good first impression. You want your CV to grab the attention of prospective employers for the right reasons; here are some tips on how to write a CV well and make your job application stand out from the crowd!
What is a CV?
CV stands for curriculum vitae- it is a document that is required when applying for a job. In your CV, you want to communicate a summary of your education, skills and work experience clearly with the recruiter. Typically, it should be no more than two sides of A4 paper. Although there isn’t necessarily a ‘formula’ for creating this document, the format of your CV needs to look professional. A font size of 10/12 is recommended, with a clear and easy-to-read font such as Arial or Times New Roman.
How to write a CV:
- Personal Details– include your name, address, a contact number and email address. These are crucial details so don’t leave them out! Your name will work as a title- you do not need to write ‘CV’.
- Personal Statement- this is your chance to give your recruiter an overview of who you are and what you can offer. Ideally, this introduction should be around 100 words. A short but concise profile to begin your CV should highlight your key attributes as a potential employee. In this section you could also briefly include your career goals, emphasising what makes you and your application unique.
- Work Experience and Employment- list your experience in reverse chronological order, as your most recent role will be most relevant for your employer! In this section, you should include the name of the organisations you worked for, your job title, the dates you worked there and your key responsibilities. If you have an extensive list of experience, you can reduce the detail of the less relevant roles. Alongside this, if you have positions from over ten years ago, you are able to delete these.
- Education and Qualifications- ensure to include your educational achievements in this section. Include the date you received it, and the type of qualification/grade you achieved, positioning the most recent first. Only include specific modules if they are relevant to your job application. Remember to always be completely honest on your CV! Something as small as changing your University grade from a 2:2 to a 2:1 could result in a prison sentence for degree fraud!
- Hobbies, Interests and Achievements- This section is the perfect opportunity to add a personal touch to your CV. In relation to your wealth of skills, knowledge and experience in your industry. It probably isn’t relevant to include dog-walking or socialising here but if you believe you have further experience that can add value to your application then include it here!