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CV WRITING TIPS

Preparation

Where do you start?  a blank piece of paper has never looked so empty. Here’s what you do.  Take some post-it notes and brainstorm the following topics:  

  • What are my strengths?
  • In which areas did I excel in my previous positions?
  • In which working environment would I thrive?
  • What are my weaknesses?
  • What are my mid to long-term professional goals?
  • Accurately define what I do professionally; and
  • What personal attributes can I bring to a role?

Now you have started the process you need to get them into some order.

The Basics

Your CV is a reflection of your professionalism.  It needs to state that you are the right person for the job. You need to have one master copy of a CV and you should then tailor subsequent CVs to bring out salient points in your work history that match the Person Specification and Job Specification of the role you are interested in.

A Good CV should:

  • Be laid out in a clear, un-cluttered layout (3 pages maximum);
  • Give job specific information;
  • avoid jargon and include a synopsis of the company or companies you have worked for (describe the companies - don’t assume that people will recognise the company name);
  • Use articulate, concise language- a maximum of 15 words per sentence;
  • Demonstrate specific and quantifiable achievements; and
  • Contain no mistakes of spelling, vocabulary or grammar.

Top Tip
 

Recruiters and employers look for the following attributes when filling a post. Include quantifiable examples of as many of these as possible in your CV.

  • Competence and experience; 
  • Relevant skills; 
  • Strategic thinking; 
  • Creativity and problem solving; 
  • Leadership (how many people in the teams you have led and how those teams were organised;
  • Interpersonal and communication skills; 
  • Personal management skills; and 
  • Integrity.

The Headings

A Chronological CV is the most traditional format.  They list previous employers and job roles in detail, with the most recent first, and are suited to professionals who have a formal history of experience.


Functional or skills CVs are better suited to contractors, graduates or people who have taken time out. They are useful when making a complete career change. 

The headings should include:

  • Personal details; 
  • Name, contact details, nationality; 
  • Profile;
  • A descriptive overview of your professional profile. List your key features, formal training and business acumen;
  • Work experience in reverse chronological order; 
  • Include dates; a brief summary of what the company did, size of turnover, and number of employees; 
  • Include projects worked on; responsibilities and key, quantifiable achievements;
  • Education and Qualifications; 
  • Most recent first (no need to include you GCSE results if you have subsequently gone on to achieve an MBA or similar);
  • Include PC skills and proficiencies; and
  • References.

Proofing and Checking
 

There is nothing more unprofessional than grammar or spelling mistakes on your CV.  Don’t rely on the spell-checker facility.  Print off a hard copy and circulate it around people you can trust who will read it through for you and highlight any errors.