CV Writing

Putting together a successful CV is easy once you know how. It's a case of taking all your skills and experience and tailoring them to the job you're applying for.

What is a CV?

A CV is your first chance to promote yourself to an employer. A good CV will get you to an interview. Use it to apply for advertised jobs, or to introduce yourself to employers you’d like to work for. They may have unadvertised vacancies.

Follow these simple steps to create your own CV:

Step 1: CONTACT DETAILS

your name at the top of your document – no need to add CV or curriculum vitae
your full address and postcode
telephone or mobile number – give the number you’re most likely to be available on during the working day
email address – always use a professional sounding email address

Leave out details like your age, date of birth, marital status and nationality. These are not required.

Step 2. UNDERSTAND THE JOB DESCRIPTION

The clues are in the job application, so read the details from start to finish. Adapt your skills to fit. Create a unique CV for every job you apply for. You don't have to re-write the whole thing, just adapt the details so they're relevant.

Step 3: PERSONAL PROFILE

This is a few short lines that sum up who you are and what you hope to do. Think about the job you want and what the employer is looking for. Make your profile sound like you’re the right person for the job. Include a couple of sentences about the skills and qualities which make you suitable for the post/course and give examples:

Problem-solving/numeracy/written communication skills link to achievements in school subjects
Ability to work under pressure- making sure schoolwork completed on time
Punctuality and attendance- if you have never missed a day of school since reception –shout it out here, certificates/awards!
Teamwork- don’t just relate to sports, think about working with others on projects
Keen to learn and improve skills –are you motivated and enthusiastic, enjoy new challenges?
Trustworthy and reliable – member of team/club
Leadership skills –sports captain, voluntary work, student voice

Making the most of skills

Under the skills section of your CV don't forget to mention key skills that can help you to stand out from the crowd. These could include: communication skills; computer skills; team working; problem solving.

Step 4: YOUR EDUCATION HISTORY

This section can be added after your personal profile when you’re early on in your career or if you do not have much work experience. Whatever order you choose, you’ll need to give:

the names of your qualifications, with achieved or predicted grades
the school, college or university where you studied
the dates you attended

Step 5: YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE HISTORY

Include work placements, volunteering and any paid jobs you had had.

You’ll need to give details of:

the employer, with most recent first
the title of the job

Making the most of experience

Use assertive and positive language under the work history and experience sections, such as "developed", "organised" or "achieved". Try to relate the skills you have learned to the job role you're applying for. For example: "The work experience involved working in a team," or "This position involved planning, organisation and leadership as I was responsible for a team of people".

Step 6: HOBBIES, INTERESTS, ACHIEVEMENTS

Use examples that show you have skills that are relevant to the job. This section is useful if you do not have much work experience.

Once you have completed your CV, make sure that the format is professional.