How to write the perfect CV

Your CV is your initial introduction to a potential employer so it’s pretty important that you get it right! You need to draw their attention from all the other applications and highlight why you’re best suited for the job.

We’ll walk you through what you need to include in your CV and how to make it stand out from the rest.

1. Your name, title and contact details
   1. This is usually found at the top of your CV and should include your full name, a professional title (if applicable), your email address and contact number. You may also want to put your location here as well, such as the town you live in.
2. Personal profile
   1. This is a short statement from yourself explaining who you are, what you can offer the employer and your prospects. You can tailor this to fit each job you apply for, highlighting what makes you suitable for the position.
3. Education and qualifications
   1. This section should be listed in reverse chronological order, with your most recent qualification coming first in the list.
   2. You should include the name of the institution, the dates you studied there followed by the grades/qualifications you achieved.
4. Experience/employment history
   1. Here you should give a brief overview of your previous jobs or work experience. Your most recent role should be listed first.
   2. For each position, you should state your job title, the employer, the dates you worked there and a line that summarises your role.
   3. This should be followed by bullet points of your key responsibilities.

Top Tips

1. Don’t feel the need to fill the whole of the page. You want to make your CV short, succinct and easy to read – most jobs will have lots of other candidates and pages and pages of writing can put the reader off.
2. Present your CV clearly – use black and white with minimal colour to keep the document looking professional and clean. Avoid ‘fun’ fonts that can be distracting and make your CV look childish.
3. Be honest – focus on the skills you have and the experience you’ve obtained. Sell yourself on what you do have, rather than making things up that you think the employer would like.
4. Up to date – make sure your CV is completely up to date before you send it out. You may have missed vital skills you have developed that could be key to you getting the position.
5. Spell check your work – go through your CV and check for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Don’t rely on spell check as mistakes can still slip through. You may also want to get someone else to read over your CV before you send it out – they may pick up on things you have missed.

For more information visit https://www.cv-library.co.uk/career-advice/cv/how-to-write-a-cv-tips/