Although there a few hard and fast rules concerning CV’s this brief guide has been put together to help you avoid the common pitfalls when creating your CV.

 

Format

·         The information on your CV should be clear, readable and not displayed in a fancy font.

·         The length of a CV should be no more than two pages and no more than one page if you are applying for a Graduate position.

·         Avoid the use of lengthy paragraphs where can be reduced by the use of bullet points.

 

Structure

Contact Details-

Best placed at the top of the first page positioned in the middle or on the left. This heading should include your Full Name, Home Address, Telephone Numbers (Home and Mobile), Email Address making sure all numbers are correct and up-to-date and that the email address you provide is sensible and projects the right image.

Personal Details-

Should include your date of birth, marital status and driving licence status

Personal Profile-

Should be concise and no more than 30 words. Content should briefly state your aspirations and what you have to offer prospective employers.

Education-

Educational history should be listed in reverse order with GCSE passes limited to A-C attainments. Qualifications received whilst in education institutions should be included in this section.

Employment History/Work Experience-

Give details of all jobs and positions held including part-time and voluntary work listing in reverse order. Each job should have basic details including job title, company name and start and finish dates. This section can be used by the person reviewing your CV to see if you fit into a particular position within the company so do not use up precious space by including the full addresses of each employer you worked for.

Personal Skills/Interests-

Include courses, membership of societies and other responsibilities which you may consider relevant.

Always remember to spell check your CV, print out your CV on high quality A4 paper and read back and ask yourself whether it represents a good reflection on you and your experiences.