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