Information on how to write a CV

CV stands for Curriculum Vitae. A CV is a document that shows your qualifications, work experience, skills and the type of work you are looking for.

Why do I need a CV?

Getting an interview for a Work Experience Placement can depend on how good your CV is. It is your chance to show an employer you have got the skills and experience needed and that you are the right person for the job.

I have never written a CV before – where do I start?

Firstly, you'll need to think about:
·                       What to include in the CV?
·                       how much detail is needed ?
·                       how to make your CV stand out from all the others
As a Starting-Point you can follow these guidelines:
How long should it be?
Your CV should be:
·                     Easy to read with space between each section
·                     No more than two pages long - only senior executives with a lot of experience should have longer CVs.
You may wonder how to fit everything into 2 pages but you can free up space by leaving certain things out or by being brief about others that are less important. For example, it's not necessary to put 'CV' or 'Curriculum Vitae' at the top.

What should I definitely include?

Start with your personal details: your name, address and contact details. It is up to you whether you include your age, marital status and nationality – it’s not essential but some employers would like to know.
Tailoring your CV to the job
Your CV should not be your life story but should be tailored for the job you are applying for, focusing on the parts that are important. If you have a specific place for your Work-Experience Placement in mind, look at the job advert or the person specifications and think about what the job involves and what the employer is asking for. Take some time to find out about the main activities of the employer.   Ask yourself if your level of English is adequate for the job.
Your personal profile
Underneath your personal details, your 'Personal Profile' outlines your:
·                       Skills and qualities
·                       Work background and achievements.
It should only be a few lines but must spark the reader's interest. For example, if the job involves working with people, you could say you are a good team-worker and an effective communicator. Be brief – you can highlight examples of your skills in later sections.
Education and work experience
This part of your CV depends on your background and the type of Work-Experience Placement you are applying for. Some jobs require experience, while for others your qualifications are more important. If you have been working for a while, put your employment history first; if you are younger and do not have much work experience, focus on your education and training.
Employment history
Start with your present or most recent job and work backwards, using bullet points. Include:
·                       each employer
·                       the dates you worked for them
·                       the job title
·                       your main duties and responsibilities
Employers want to see how your experience will be useful to them, so be brief about jobs that are totally different from the one you are applying for. Relevant jobs should be listed in more detail, showing not only your main duties and responsibilities but giving examples of the skills you used and what you achieved. This is the information the employer uses when deciding whether to interview you or not. Your employment history shows your experience and suitability for the job. Include useful information but leave out anything that is not relevant.
Relate your skills and experience to the job description and what the employer is looking for. Also include any relevant temporary or unpaid work. Avoid unexplained gaps in your employment history, as employers may think you have something to hide. You can provide reasons for them further on where necessary.
Education and training
Start with your most recent studies and go back to the qualifications you got at school. Using bullet points or a table include:
·                       The university, college or school you went to
·                       The dates the qualifications were awarded and any grades
·                       Any other courses, if they're relevant.
·                       Any Certificates of English Studies you have achieved.
Hobbies and interests
Some employers like to read about your interests, as it can give them an idea of your strengths and what you wpuld be like to work alongside. As with your employment history, it should be relevant in some way to the job. For example, if you are involved in any clubs or societies this can show that you enjoy meeting new people. People often put on their CV that they enjoy cooking or reading, but these activities are too general and widespread to be of interest to an employer.
Additional information
If you need to add anything else that is relevant, such as a gap in your employment history for travel or family reasons, you could include a further section titled 'Additional Information' after your interests to explain this.
References
Finally, you should state that references are available if required, although you do not need to include referees' contact details on the CV. At least one referee should be work-related, or if you haven't worked for a while, some other responsible person who has known you for quite a while.

How should it be presented?

Edit your CV for size A4.   Using just one style and font. It should be concise and easy to read. Check it for spelling and grammar mistakes. You should use a computer spelling and grammar check but it is also a good idea to get it checked by somebody else.
A common mistake is to use bold type everywhere. It is good for section headings such as 'Employment History' or 'Education' but many people use it to highlight dates and previous employers' names - this draws the reader's eye away from what's important.

What are the different styles of CV?
There are four main styles:
·        Chronological CV – the most widely used, listing work history then education in reverse order
·        Functional CV – has a section near the beginning that describes skills and abilities acquired through many jobs. Often used by those who've had a very varied career
·        Targeted CV – similar to the functional CV, and useful for those with varied or patchy employment histories
·        Alternative CV – for jobs requiring creative flair.
Examples of different CV styles can be found on the following websites.
learndirect Futures
totaljobs.com
cvspecial.co.uk
workthing.com
alec.co.uk
bradleycvs.co.uk

More tips

Do’s
• use positive language – when describing your work achievements use power ‘doing’ words like ‘launched’, ‘managed’ and ‘improved’. Quote figures if possible to back up your claims.
• use good quality paper – first impressions count!
• Use a word processor on a computer – typed or written CVs won’t impress
• include other skills that might be useful to an employer – driving, languages, IT skills etc
Don’t
• lie – employers have ways of checking what you put is true, and may sack you if they take you on and find out you have lied to them
• delay responding to contact made by a prospective employer.
• Delay responding to contact made by a prospective employer. Only contact an employer in the way they requested to be contacted (don’t phone them if they only gave an email address)