The most important 2 pages of your life! First impressions are vital, therefore ensure your CV is accurate, grammatically correct, has no spelling mistakes and that it makes an impact.
Again, preparation is the key – jot down the following:
- Dates of employment – don’t leave any gaps. Record what you were doing, i.e, travelling, unemployed, raising children etc.
- Job Titles
- Duties and responsibilities
- Personal profile
- Skills
- Education
- Achievements
- Hobbies & interests
Layout:
The look of the CV is almost as important as its content. Try not to exceed 2 pages, stick to relevant information and keep it precise.
- Personal Data –
- Name – you could use this for your title
- Address – include postcode
- Phone Numbers – home, work, mobile
- E-mail address
- Date of Birth
- Nationality
- Personal Profile –
- Sell yourself in a few sentences
- Be truthful
- Talk about your strengths
- Use words like, communication, interpersonal, generate, implemented etc.
- Include some achievements
- Education –
- Start with most recent first
- Name college, university, schools and location
- List qualifications gained
- List other courses/qualifications
- Keep it concise & neatly presented
- Career History –
- List all employment, starting with the most recent
- Dates started and finished
- Company name
- Job Title
- Bullet pointed list of responsibilities
- Reason for leaving
- Hobbies & Interests –
- Keep it brief
- Remember you are trying to create a good impression
- Additional information –
- Computer Packages
- Languages
- Travel
- Typing speed
- References –
- Note that references can be provided on request
- Not normally required unless specified.
Other Things to Consider:
- Take your time
- Read it thoroughly
- Check there are no spelling mistakes
- Do not put anything negative
- Check it makes sense grammatically
- Do not hand write it – it must look professional
- Do not send photocopies – send an original
Covering Letters:
- Keep it concise
- Type the letter in the same format as your CV
- Ensure names and company names are spelt correctly
- State which role you are applying for and where you saw it advertised
- Don’t forget reference numbers
- Write confidently and positively
- Sell yourself and show what research you have done
- Explain why you want the job and what skills and attributes you have
- Check for errors