A CV is a document that is used when applying for jobs. A standard CV in the UK should be no longer than 2 pages long and should include the main points of your education and experience.
What should I include in my CV?
- Contact Details: Your full name, mobile number, e-mail address and home address should be the first thing we see on your CV. Make sure these are clear and the employer does not have to search around your CV for them.
- Short Profile: A small paragraph that highlights your key attributes, this can include a few relevant skills or achievements relevant to the role you are applying for – for example: ‘’I have reached a pick rate of over 95% consistently for the past 6 months’’.
- Work Experience: Starting with your most recent job first, list your job title, company and dates of all of your employment. You should include a few bullet points under each job explaining what your duties were, making sure that anything you mention is relevant to the job you’re applying for.
- Education: Starting with the most recent first, list and date all previous education, including professional qualifications.
- Skills and achievements: This is where you speak about any skills you have, such as speaking a foreign language or any awards you have won for attendance etc. The key skills that you list should be relevant to the job.
Tips for writing a great CV:
- Make sure your email address sounds professional. If your personal address is inappropriate create a new account for professional use.
- Be honest! Don’t lie or exaggerate on your CV or job application.
- Use a spell checker and enlist a second pair of eyes to check over the document. A good CV doesn’t have any spelling or grammar mistakes.
- Save your CV as a pdf file to ensure recruiters can open it on any device. A pdf will also retain formatting, so you can be sure that employers will see your CV as you intended.
- Most employers will receive your CV in a digital format, so choose a clear font like Calibri or Arial. You can use a different font type for your headings but keep it professional and easy-to-read.
- Keep your CV updated! It is important to review your CV on a regular basis to make sure your most current experience and skill are included.
Good Luck in your job search!