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CV Tips

There is no single, standard way of structuring a CV but the main components are as follows:

1. Personal Details

Full name and address. Contact telephone numbers.

2. Profile/Summary

This should be a short summary of your experience, skills and abilities. It should be no longer than four to six lines of text and should list only those attributes relevant to an employer.

3. Achievements

If you have any achievements which might be relevant to the position for which you are applying, you should list them. Bullet points will make them stand out.

4. Education/Qualifications

List your qualifications, including grades and results. Include any in-house training courses you have attended.

5. Employment History

This should appear in reverse chronological order starting with your most recent job and working backwards. If you are applying for work in a secure restricted area i.e. an airport it is necessary to have a full 5 year work history with exact dates of employment.

When describing your experience for each job you should start with your strongest skills and work backwards. If you have lots of experience in each job you may want to split these into two or more sections. These could be listed as Responsibilities and Achievements or as specific functions such as Management, Sales and Marketing.

Once again bullet points are the clearest way to highlight your experience and skills. Ensure you draw attention to skills which will be relevant to the job for which you are applying, but avoid repeating information, as this will bore the reader.

6. Additional Information

Include any additional information, such as whether you have a current driving licence.

7. Hobbies and Interests

Keep this information fairly short, but make sure you list any positions of responsibility. i.e. Captain of local football team. This will show you are a dependable individual, who is also a "team player".

8. Referees

You should include two referees. Where possible, one of these should be an employer; the other can be an academic referee (personal tutor, college lecturer) or even a professional person who knows you well. If you do not wish to disclose these on your CV just state; References are available on request.

Carefully check your CV for errors before sending out to prospective employers. Tiny errors can detract from an otherwise good CV and make you look careless.