Careers centre
All-purpose CV
Your number-one selling tool
In general:
- It is vital that you tailor your CV to each job. Otherwise your efforts will be wasted.
- Dates go from most to least recent.
- 1 page (max. 2) recommended (absolute max. 3 if you’re applying for a really senior position. Otherwise, no excuse!). Bullet points help keep things concise.
- Try to identify use the keywords featured in the original job offer. This makes your CV sound relevant, and besides, some employers use computers to extract CVs which contain specific words and phrases.
- JobisJob recommends “positive honesty”. Do not lie, but equally there is no need to point out your various inadequacies (such as failing GCSE French). Always put top grades first.
- Keep the format simple and leave any pictures or (in the UK) your photo out. Unless you’re going for a design job, these only serve to provoke ridicule.
- “If you require references, please ask” can also be left out – this should be obvious.
- Avoid clichés.
Up close and personal:
Title
Use your name and not “Curriculum Vitae” – your recruiter already knows what this is about. (1)
Personal details
Address/telephone/email/Twitter handle if applicable.
Check you have a suitable email address. (2)
Education
List qualification titles, places, dates and grades (if they’re good).
Only include qualifications applicable to this job.
You may want to go into detail of the modules you have studied where relevant. (3)
Experience
List job titles, companies, locations, dates and responsibilities.
Responsibilities should show how your previous position has prepared you for the one you are applying for – don’t include those that aren’t relevant/are too vague. (4/5)
Skills
It’s common to include language, IT and driving skills.
Do not include hobbies unless they’re strictly relevant. (6)
Personal statement
You may wish to include one sentence (no more!) at the beginning or end of your CV which summarises your meteoric rise to stardom. A good formula for this is the following:
“An (adjective) (job title) with (added feature).” (7)
In general:
- It is vital that you tailor your CV to each job. Otherwise your efforts will be wasted.
- Dates go from most to least recent.
- 1 page (max. 2) recommended (absolute max. 3 if you’re applying for a really senior position. Otherwise, no excuse!). Bullet points help keep things concise.
- Try to identify use the keywords featured in the original job offer. This makes your CV sound relevant, and besides, some employers use computers to extract CVs which contain specific words and phrases.
- JobisJob recommends “positive honesty”. Do not lie, but equally there is no need to point out your various inadequacies (such as failing GCSE French). Always put top grades first.
- Keep the format simple and leave any pictures or (in the UK) your photo out. Unless you’re going for a design job, these only serve to provoke ridicule.
- “If you require references, please ask” can also be left out – this should be obvious.
- Avoid clichés.
Up close and personal:
Title
Use your name and not “Curriculum Vitae” – your recruiter already knows what this is about. (1)
Personal details
Address/telephone/email/Twitter handle if applicable.
Check you have a suitable email address. (2)
Education
List qualification titles, places, dates and grades (if they’re good).
Only include qualifications applicable to this job.
You may want to go into detail of the modules you have studied where relevant. (3)
Experience
List job titles, companies, locations, dates and responsibilities.
Responsibilities should show how your previous position has prepared you for the one you are applying for – don’t include those that aren’t relevant/are too vague. (4/5)
Skills
It’s common to include language, IT and driving skills.
Do not include hobbies unless they’re strictly relevant. (6)
Personal statement
You may wish to include one sentence (no more!) at the beginning or end of your CV which summarises your meteoric rise to stardom. A good formula for this is the following:
“An (adjective) (job title) with (added feature).” (7)
