A formal document containing a brief personal profile followed by skills, education, and work-related experience closed off with details of hobbies and interests.
Aiming for 2 pages depending on experience, some candidates create several CV’s and use the relevant type to apply for different roles of interest. You might consider creating a cover letter to express further detail.

Must haves: (preferably in this order)

• Personal details (e.g., full name, address (city), phone number, email address)
• A personal profile statement
• Relevant key skills
• Work related experience. (include company name, dates, and short statements if necessary)
• Brief description of your time there and duties carried out.
• Education and qualifications (include achievements here if work experience is limited)
• Hobbies and interests (Include detail if work experience is limited)
• References (often available on request)

If you are a school/collage leaver, treat your CV as your personal profile, sell yourself and have confidence in your goals, skills, and attributes.

Key features of a cv:

• Be clear and brief (ensure dates correlate)
• Check spelling and grammar.
• Keep it relevant.
• Use a formal format.
• Sell yourself.

Keep it up to date.

Tips:

• Size your font between 10-12 depending on the length.
• Use a Calibri or Arial font.
• Use headings and bullet points where appropriate.
• Keep your format tidy, simple and consistent throughout. (don’t over complicate it)
• Headshots are not a standard requirement.
• Age, date of birth and marital status are not standard requirements.

Useful links:

Total Jobs Successful CV
Guardian CV Tips
Reed: How to write a CV