CV Writing

Your CV is a crucial part of any application and will often be the first thing your employer sees of you. Think of it as your sales pitch. You need to let your potential employee know why you are the best candidate and how you stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Our CV templates will help you produce a well-formatted CV. Our experience has exposed us to hundred of recruitment situations across employers and therefore we have developed a good idea of what a good CV should look like. It is important to note that some employers may have specific requirements on information on a CV that may not be covered below and therefore it is vital your follow the employer’s guidance over the information we provide.

Key tips

• There is no perfect CV, right or wrong way to write a CV but remember to always tailor it to the role you’re applying for
• Ensure that your CV is 1-2 pages max and is structured in a manner that can be easily absorbed
• Don’t add anything that gives away your age
• Only include ‘relevant’ work experience, assuming you have a surplus of things to add
• Employers like to see extracurricular activities, so if you have these, be sure to include them
• Match the style of your CV to the market you hope to work in. For example, if you are applying for a data analyst, your CV should follow a classic/ no frills layout, whereas if you’re applying to a stylist for a fashion magazine, a degree of flair may be expected
• CV should be no more than 2 pages

Here are the 5 key principles to CV writing.

Relevance

Often candidates who have had part-time jobs whilst at university or early on in their career may include these experiences in their CVs. Whilst this is acceptable, you should only be looking to include relevant experience in line with the job requirements. If you have little experience, then it may be ideal to include all employment.

You should find out what the role requires and show your knowledge, skills and experience are relevant.

Adapt your CV

Each position you apply for may be slightly different and so you will need to tailor your CV to meet the job requirements. You will need to alter your CV (without changing the truth) to highlight your strengths and transferrable skills according to each role specification.

When you have finished writing or editing you CV, go back one to the job profile again and double check that you have matched your skills to it. If a job calls for skills that you have, bring this forward on your CV.

Remember to never exaggerate your experience; don’t say you have done more than you have because you’ll get caught out at some point of the interview process. Always tell the truth on your CV. If you don’t have a particular experience or skill they require, be honest about it (in your covering letter) and explain you are eager to learn.

Attention to detail

Spelling and grammar must be correct before sharing your CV with any prospective employers. Check it over carefully, ask a friend to review it for you, use the spelling checker on Word to make sure there are no spelling mistakes. Most employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to automate the process of sifting CVs, spelling the wrong skill can be the difference between you passing the system or being rejected.

Format/ Things to include

Aim for a professional- looking CV. This means it should

• Be consistent in layout
• Have careful use of italics, bold and underlining
• Have a good balance of space and text
• Avoid cliché and over-used words
• Quantify your examples wherever possible

Including your name, contact details with emails, education and work experience are common themes.

Include an objective or personal statement that is clear, specific and concise. General statements are unlikely to stand out. Remember recruiters look at a myriad of CVs daily! You need to think about what you are trying to achieve in your career and then break that down.

Work experience should be provided in reversed chronological manner with the most recent employment first. Employers want to see what you have been up to recently and not necessarily what you did 10 years ago. Always try and cover your 5-year experience.

It is useful to include any interest, hobbies or extracurricular activities you have been involved in. Employers like to see things like charity-based work, leading initiative, travel and community work – it is a good way for them to know who you are, your values and that you enjoy operating in a team environment.

If you have any work gaps, be sure to explain them and don’t pretend they don’t exist. Importantly, be sure to highlight any new skills that you acquired during that time.