Employers go through hundreds of CV applications for each job. They’ll glance at your CV for a couple of seconds and debate whether or not you are a suitable candidate for an further interview pending your job application. Statistics show that employers look at a candidates CV for six seconds on average. Therefore, your CV is vital when applying for a job and it has to stand out from the crowd. This does not mean putting a display of colours and large text everywhere, it needs to consist of no more than two pages, it has to be clear and concise as well as have a professional layout.
Your CV is your chance to show an employer the best of what you’ve got. It’s about selling your skills and experience, and showing them you’re the right person for the job. It should contain:
Your Personal Details: You should include your name, address and contact details.It’s up to you whether you include your age, marital status and nationality but employers should be able to make a decision about your skills and abilities without this information.
Your Personal Profile: This is a mini advert summarising your skills, hobbies and interests, achievements and career aims. It is important that the first few lines of this section stand out and really sells you. Try to avoid over-used terms, such as ‘reliable’, ‘hard working’, ‘team player’, ‘good communication skills’ etc. These terms are heard very often and they don’t help an employer to build up a picture of you.
Experience: In this section you should start with your present or most recent job and work backwards. You should include the name of your past employers, the dates you worked for them, job title and your main duties. Provide more detail on the relevant jobs you’ve had and give examples of the skills you used and what you achieved. If you have had no real experience highlight your education and training.
Education: Start with your most recent qualifications and work back to the ones you got at school. Using bullet points or a table include:the university, college or school you went to and the dates the qualifications were awarded and any grade.
References: At least one reference should be work-related. Or, if you haven’t worked for a while, you could use another responsible person who has known you for some time, for example a past teacher.