Tips for writing CVs

What's a CV for?

A CV is the personal publicity leaflet that you send recruiters. It introduces you, tells them what you're like and shows what you know, understand and can do.

Back to top

Why should you write a CV now?

It makes you organise your personal information so that it's all in one place and easy to find. This gives you a head start when making applications because you know where everything is. You also have a document that you can change quickly to meet different recruiters' needs.

Back to top

How long should it be?

Keep it short and simple - no longer than two sides of A4.

Back to top

What should you put in it?

There are no rules but most recruiters expect to see:

• your personal details - name, address, telephone number and a sensible email address
• a personal profile - two or three sentences highlighting your best points. For example, 'A hard-working, responsible person who ...'
• your main skills and achievements - a bullet point list of skills and achievements showing what you can do and how you work
• qualifications and training - showing titles, actual or predicted grades/results, and when and where taken
• employment and work experience - employer names with dates and a brief description of work duties and responsibilities
• interests and hobbies - the top two or three plus anything like a Duke of Edinburgh Award
• referees - contact details for two referees (not relatives) who can say what you're like, including your attitude to work.

Back to top

How often should you update it?

Update your CV when you gain a new qualification or award. Update it when you achieve something that you're proud of. Update it every time you use it to make sure that it interests readers and shows how well you fit the opportunity they're offering. Remember that they won't know about your capabilities and experience unless you tell them - and an old CV won't do that.

Back to top