How do you write your own CV?
A common question I am asked is “how should I structure my CV”, so I thought I would pass on a few ideas to help.
Your CV should be tailored for each role you apply for. However, it is a good plan to have a more generic CV which you can adapt per application based on the requirements of the role you are applying for.
Contact details:
It is important to add your phone number and email address, making sure it is the one that you use/check the most, you don’t want to miss that all important call or email.
Personal profile/summary:
This is important and should be at the top of your CV just below your name and contact details. It should not be too wordy, as no-one wants to read an essay, and should include a summary of your experience in relation to the job advert as opposed to being too generalist.
Skills:
It is worth including a skills section; this pulls out your applicable skills to the job you are applying for making it easy for the reader to see instantly how well you are suited to their requirements. Use a brief bulleted list of the skills and key strengths that you have that are relevant to the role. This should include software packages that you have worked with.
Work history:
Here you want to add your work history and any ‘relevant’ work or volunteer experience you have had. Always add project successes making sure this outlines your skills and experience.
Other things to consider when writing your CV:
Start with your most recent job and remember not to leave any gaps. If you have travelled or been out of work, add this in with a brief line on what you were doing.
List your highest qualifications by institution, then the name of the course and the grade achieved.
Don’t forget to add professional qualifications and any training courses that are relevant, including memberships to chartered institutes or other organisations.
References:
If you want to include this section – then ‘References are available on request’ is sufficient.
If you would like us to CV or want a confidential chat, do get in touch: [email protected]. We have seen a lot of CVs over the years and know what a standout should look like!