Careers articles

Writing your CV

• Presentation – make sure the format and font are aesthetically pleasing.
• Spelling and Grammar – keep checking your CV for these. Once checked, check it again by asking someone else to check it, and then check it a third time!
• Summaries – your achievements using bullets on top of your CV, below your personal details but above your work history.
• Make your CV easy to read – and ensure it is concise but not too wordy. Do not use long sentences. Bullet points are fine to use.
• Check your personal details are correct and include your date of birth.
• Work History – start with your present or most recent employment and work backwards. Make sure you put all months and years and expand on the most relevant roles. Make sure there are no gaps. If you have been out of work for any reason, for example, traveling, then say so.
• Include - all relevant work experience and achievements. Also include anything outside of work that could be relevant, especially examples of volunteering.
• Be honest – don’t bend the truth or fabricate. There’s every chance you may get found out.
• Job hopping - you do not need to explain why you left each post but, if your CV gives an impression of job hopping, then it can be useful to put such details, e.g. “Short term contract”, “left to travel” or whatever the case may be.
• Length - it should be no more than 2 pages unless you are advanced in your career, and only then in exceptional cases.
• Be yourself - write in the first person not the third… “I am”… rather than; “Richard is”.
• No need - do not include your past salary details on your CV. You do not need to include every detail of your education, unless you are coming straight from school. There is no need to include references on your CV or the line “references available on request”. You will be asked for these at a later stage.