How to write a good CV
Writing a good CV
A well-presented, concise and accurate CV is the single most important document when searching for a new job.
You have about 5 seconds to impress the reader; either a potential employer or a Recruitment Consultant will want to see that your CV grabs their attention and quickly demonstrates you have the necessary skills and competencies the reader is looking for.
Some people say writing a CV is an art and there is a right and wrong way, but we don’t agree, instead if you follow some very simple rules everyone can write a good CV.
It is important that you write your own CV, this way it is a true representation of who you are and the language you use. Remember you will be expected to discuss your CV at an interview and a recruiter will definitely know when a CV is not your own.
The following is guidance on how to produce a succinct and clear CV that will increase your chances of being invited for interview.
Basic Format
| Name & Personal Details |
Minimum required: Name, DOB, contact details. | |
| Qualifications |
Level of CIPD qualifications. Full title of your degree / summary of A/AS/GCSE subject and grades. |
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| Career History (in reverse chronological order) |
List the companies you have worked for.
Include Job title and dates.
Give a brief description of your role – short bullet pointed statements.
Make clear your individual contribution, and include responsibilities and your key achievements.
Include dimensions i.e. staff numbers, size of budget and results achieved, to make your skills tangible.
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| Interests |
Keep this very brief: Detail hobbies and activities such as membership of … and positions of responsibility i.e. in sports teams, drama etc. Information should have relevance and demonstrate skills relevant to the role. | |
| References | Add here ‘References available on request’ unless specifically asked for and permission has already been sought. |
Golden Rules
DO’s
Do be succinct
Do be accurate
Do use skills relevant that the reader is looking for.
Do make it brief – usually 2 pages is sufficient.
Definitely Do stick to the truth.
Do explain briefly any periods of unemployment.
Do pay attention to presentation and structure (keep it consistent throughout).
Review and update your CV regularly to tailor it to each role you apply for.
DONT's
Don’t use fancy and complicated sentences.
Don’t forget to check for spelling, grammatical or punctuation errors – never trust the spell checker.
Don’t try to cover up breaks and gaps.
Don’t include current salary details.
Don’t detail referees.
Don’t over exaggerate.
Don’t be afraid to get help from friends, family and colleagues (get them to read it over).
In addition you may want to include a Personal Profile at the head of the first page this is popular and can be very effective. This should include an outline of your skills, experience and immediate goals.
Some writers like to include a dedicated section on the first page to list a number of your recent key achievements and specialist skills which may be of interest to the reader. Although we think this is becoming increasingly unpopular if you do chose to have this separate to your Career History section you need to make sure you clearly link this in with ‘added value’ contributions to the business and not just stand alone statements.
A Functional CV can sometimes be more appropriate (sometimes very effective in Interim Management and Consultancy) where the presentation emphasis is key skills which can be grouped together under suitable headings.
Our advice is to keep the details in your CV; simple, truthful and factual and to keep presentation and structure; professional, consistent and logical.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for future advice.
