How to write a flawless CV

Competition for all types of jobs is intense, so catching the eye of a potential employer is of vital importance.

Most employers and recruitment agencies expect you to submit a curriculum vitae, or CV, in the first instance.

This is a brief description of your experience and achievements to date, which should fit on two sides of A4 paper at the most. If you can fit it on one side, so much the better.

Recruiters, whether recruitment consultants, human resources people or line managers, are often faced with a huge pile of CVs in the first stage of the selection process.

So, it is essential your CV communicates information succinctly and creates a favourable impression.

You might have excellent technical skills or enviable business sense, but if you cannot get the message across to an employer.

MAKING A GOOD IMPRESSION

• Never write a CV by hand, even if your handwriting is immaculate. A word processed document is readable.
• When laying out your CV, don’t be afraid to experiment with fonts and features like ruled lins and bullet points. But, by the same token, don’t make the presentation too gimmicky.
• Check spelling and punctuation meticulously, as just one mistake can spoil an otherwise good impression.
• Use high-quality white or cream paper and envelopes, and make sure you get the postage correct.
• Avoid flashy extras such as presentation folders, as they tend to get in the way.

THE CONTENT
When listing your personal details, stick to the essentials.

These are name, age, date of birth, address, marital status, nationality, home telephone and mobile numbers and, if at all possible, a daytime telephone number. Also include an e-mail address.

It is worth noting that some employers will be a bit sniffy about you having a free web-based e-mail account.

The next element is your educational background, which should include a list of all secondary schools and any further education establishments you have attended. Include the dates when you attended and examination results, for both academic and professional qualifications.

Don’t be overly modest about your grades. Recruiters tend to be a suspicious lot and are likely to assume the very worst if you leave them out.

Moving on to the employment history section, remember that too much detail is just as bad as reducing the past to a couple of sentences.

List your jobs in reverse chronological order – most recent first – this is also the position that should be covered in the most detail.

Give accurate dates and briefly explain the reasons for any gaps so the interviewer doesn’t mistake your round-the-world trip for a spell in Wormwood Scrubs.

Aim to show a history of progression and achievement in your career and draw attention to technical accomplishments, people (interpersonal) skills, decision-making ability and computer literacy.

Give proportionate weight to your key responsibilities in present and past jobs rather than rambling on about the areas that you are most interested in.

State the business of past employers – everybody knows what BT and Ford do, but Bloggs & Co is a lot less obvious.

Also include a closing section briefly covering interests and achievements. This gives you the opportunity to show there is a real person behind the qualifications.

Then, round off your CV by giving the names, job titles and contact details of two referees. And make sure they know they’re your referees before they start receiving unsolicited letters from your prospective employers.

When the CV is complete, get someone else to read it to check for typing errors, sense and signs of modesty or megalomania, then edit as necessary.

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