A CV will often act as a first impression to a potential employer so it needs to be the best it can be. Always write in third person and in past tense. Proof reading is essential.
Layout
- Pick a professional font which isn’t too elaborate
- Make sure the font remains the same throughout
- Use bold/italics for section titles
- Minimize the amount of white space but make sure there is enough space between each section
- Label each section
- If posting the CV, take into consideration the quality of the paper you print onto
Content
Personal Details
- Name (as page title)
- Address
- Contact details
- Nationality
- Date of birth
If you’ve recently finished education then use it as your next section, if you’ve been in employment for a long time then that should go first.
Education
- Most recent qualifications first
- Only go back as far as GCSE’s
- Include the date they were awarded and what school/college you attended
- If you reached degree level then you do not need to specify individual subjects
Employment
- Begin with the most recent
- If you’ve had many jobs then only include the most recent ones
- Information to include:
- Dates of employment
- Job titles
- Brief description of main tasks and responsibilities
- Work experience
Achievements/Interests
This section is to show what your interests are outside of employment. Make it clear how each interest is positive. For example; Playing football develops team skills. Use this space to include any information about computer skills, languages or your ability to drive.
Referees
- Check with referees first before including their contact details
- Ideally have one work related and one from a professional (who is not a relation) as a character witness
- Below is an image version of this information, click to enlarge. You can print this image off for your own use.
