CV writing

CV Writing

Importance: A CV, or curriculum vitae, is a vital document in job applications. It succinctly presents your education, qualifications, and experiences to potential employers.

Gathering Information

  • Start by collecting all relevant information about your educational qualifications, work experiences, achievements, skills and interests.
  • Include your personal details such as name, address, email, and contact number.
  • Do not include sensitive personal information such as marital status, religion, or nationality.

Structure and Layout

  • Organise your CV in a clear, logical order with distinct sections.
  • As a general guideline, your CV should progress from personal details to education, then work experience, skills and hobbies.
  • Use bulleted lists for easy readability.
  • Your CV should ideally be 2 pages long; anything more can be overwhelming for employers.

Content

  • Clearly detail your education history, starting with your most recent qualifications and working backwards.
  • Include any relevant apprenticeships or training courses.
  • Clearly state your work experience, including job title, company name, duration and responsibilities.
  • Hone in on achievements and skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
  • Mention any languages you know, particularly if they’re relevant to the job.
  • Indicate your IT proficiency - basic computer literacy is expected in most jobs.
  • Include your references or state they are available upon request.

Presentation

  • Ensure your CV is free from spelling or grammatical errors by proofreading multiple times.
  • Use a simple, professional font size and style.
  • Consistently apply the correct alignment, indentation, capitalisation and punctuation for a uniform appearance.
  • Print your CV on high-quality paper, or ensure it is in the correct digital format if emailing.

Tailoring Your CV

  • Always tailor your CV to the specific job you’re applying for by highlighting relevant skills and experiences.
  • Read through the job description and make sure your CV addresses the job’s key requirements.
  • Make proper use of industry terminology that shows your familiarity with the field.

Reviewing and Updating

  • Regularly update your CV when you gain new skills, qualifications, or work experience.
  • Ask someone to review your CV for content and presentation before sending it off to potential employers.
  • Showing that you keep your CV up to date can demonstrate to employers your interest in continuous learning and development.