What is a CV?

A CV is a summary of your skills and experience.  Having a well laid out CV can increase your chances of getting your foot in the door and landing a job interview.

An employer will sometimes use a CV when assessing which candidates would be suitable for a job.

Its first impressions that make or break your chances of being invited to an interview.  So make sure your CV is word processed and correct (make sure you don't have any spelling mistakes).

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Different types of CVs

When it comes to writing your CV you should always think about which format you should use.  There are several different types and each relate to a type of employment sector or the post advertised.  Here are the more common types to consider...

Conventional

Gives details of your education and qualifications, work experience, skills, interests and referees.

Skills based

Factual details such as qualifications and work experience are kept to a minimum and emphasis is on the skills that you have to offer and evidence of how and where you have developed these skills.

Academic

Most commonly used for Post-Graduate applications, placing the greatest emphasis on subjects studied, projects/dissertations undertaken and areas of academic interest, along with details of results obtained.

Scientific/Technical

Would contain more detailed information on coursework (including final year projects), equipment used and procedures followed.  Technical buzzwords are important here.

Creative

Appropriate for jobs in the media or advertising world, where jobs are very competitive. You should use your imagination in how the information is presented, whilst ensuring that the content demonstrates your suitability for this type of work.

Whatever format that you use remember that this is your opportunity to sell yourselves to an employer, make the most of it!

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What Information I should include?

Personal Details:

- Your Name
- Your Address (and postal address if different to your home address)
- Your Contact Number (Home, Mobile & Fax)
- Your Email address

Education & Training:

You should include the name of the school you attended, the date you started and date you finished and your qualifications and grades.

If you are still at school and you're applying for a part-time job you should say what year you are in.

If you have attended college you should include the name of the college you attended, the date you started and date you finished and your qualifications and grades.

Repeat this information for any college, training provider or university you attended and completed a course.

Awards & Achievements:

List down all of the awards and achievements that you have gained or accomplished.

Include sporting achievements, if you were a member of a club or volunteer work.

Employment History:

Being a school leaver or a recent graduate, you may not have any employment history except the work experience you gained through College or School Work Experience, you should include this information in this section.

If you do have employment history you can organise it from the most recent to the least recent employer you had.  Details you should include are:

• Employer Name
• Period of employment (Date you started & finished working with the company)
• Your Job title
• Your role and responsibilities, write about what you actually did while you were at work, also include the skills you gained from these responsibilities. For example organisational and communication skills.

If you do not have any employment history you can highlight your personal skills (include this under the Personal Skills section below).

Computer Skills:

Include all the computer packages you know how to use.

Personal Skills:

Personal qualities you have, for example if you enjoy working as a team, get on well with others, leadership skills, time management skills, communication skills and if you are willing to learn.

Hobbies & Interests:

List your hobbies and interests, this could include reading, swimming, going to the gym, socialising with friends, fishing etc.

References:

You will need to include a couple of references.

Normally you would put down your manager or supervisor from your previous work places.  Employers who are very interested in offering you a job will want to contact one of your references.

If you don't have any 'work references' you can ask a family friend, teacher or lecturer, someone who knows you well but not a relative.

Remember to ask the person if they could be your reference before putting their details down.

Details you provide about your references:

• Name
• Job title (or if not a previous employer put down their relationship to you eg teacher, family friend etc)
• Company name (if a work reference)
• Address
• Contact phone numbers
• Email address (if your referee is happy to be contacted via this method)

Overall Length:

Try to be brief but accurate with your details. Your CV should be no more than 2 pages long.

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Useful Links

Get further information from 'CVs and Application Forms'