How should a CV be written? We’ve all been asked this question at some point, especially when looking for work. Your CV is an important part of a job interview because it is what gives your potential employer their first impression of you. Follow our CV writing guide to create the best CV possible for your experience, skillset, and applied-for job role.
What Is a CV(Curriculum Vitae)?
A CV (curriculum vitae) is Latin for “course of life,” and it is essentially a document that summarise your skills, work experience, and academic achievements. You can also add some personality by including a personal profile and hobbies.
However, don’t be tempted to tell the recruiter about your entire life; they don’t have the time or patience for that. A CV is 1-2 pages long and provides an overview of your academic and professional history. Keep it short and to the point.
What Should Be Included In A CV?
Recruiters are experts at scanning CVs and determining whether or not a candidate is qualified in a matter of seconds. Knowing what to include can help you land the next job, and before you know it, you’ll have enough money to buy all the chicken nuggets in the world.
The following are the basic components of a good CV:
- Contact Details
- Personal Profile
- Key Skills
- Employment History
- Education
- Achievements
- Hobbies
- References
Contact Details
Include your full name, email address, phone number (mobile, home, or both), and mailing address.
‘Wow!’ you’re probably thinking. Why should I include my personal information on my CV?’
Employers may require a candidate to have a permanent address or to know where you are located, depending on the position. If you’re still unsure, include your home city or town instead.
Personal Information
This is your CV’s and your personal introduction.
Personal Profile
It is critical to tailor this to the specific job at hand. For example, if you are applying for a position as a shop assistant, express your desire to assist customers or to gain experience in a retail setting.
This section should not be more than 5-6 sentences long, so no waffle! We have a few CV examples for you if you want to avoid clichés or get some new ideas.
Key Skills
Examine the job posting and make a list of all the skills required. After that, go through and see which ones are relevant to you, then include them on your CV.
Please, no deception! If you claim to be an expert in Microsoft Excel (who isn’t? ), make sure you back up your claims.
Another suggestion: whenever you list a skill, include a brief example of when you demonstrated it. That will make a lasting impression on the employer.
Employment History
Knowing what to include in your work history of CV can assist you in listing it in a concise and informative manner. Most people list their work experience in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent.
How do you organize all of this job information? Keep it simple for the recruiter and format your experience as follows:
- Name of company (including duration i.e 2017-2019)
- Name of role
- List of achievements and duties covered (keep it relevant!)
Name of company (including duration i.e 2017-2019)
Name of role
List of achievements and duties covered (keep it relevant!)
Do you not have work experience? Then don’t worry, we have some helpful hints for writing a school leaver CV further down the page.
Education
This is your chance to list your grades and certifications! Again, keep your CV relevant, and don’t feel obligated to include every single grade. List your work education in reverse chronological order, just like your work experience.
Are you stuck for words because you haven’t received the grades you listed? No need to be concerned; you can also enter your predicted results!
Achievements
You may believe that listing achievements on a CV as a student is premature, but you couldn’t be more wrong.
Consider what you have accomplished or participated in at school…still nothing? No need to worry, we’ve got a few ideas in our CV Examples!
Hobbies
Mentioning your interests allows you to show off your personality. As much as this is true, it is best not to include: socializing with friends or spending a lot of time playing Fortnite. Avoid clichés like reading’ (if you are applying for a journalism position or something similar, highlight your passion in creative writing) and if you are still unsure about what hobbies to put on a CV, check out the list below…
- Sports
- Volunteering
- Learning a new skill in your spare time (e.g. coding)
- Blog writing
- Travelling
What Not To Include On A CV?
We’ve already discussed what to include in your CV, but it’s also useful to know what CV mistakes to avoid.
Spellings:
Make certain that your CV’s spelling is correct!
Use free tools such as Grammarly to help you (if you’re unsure, ask someone to proofread the document).
Lies:
Remember, if you say you are advanced in programming, make sure you can prove it!
Irrelevant information:
Maybe you like to laugh at memes in the dead of night or enjoy that nice cup of coffee in the morning. However, if it is not relevant for the job, don’t put it in!
Not too long, not too short:
If you have produced a Shakespearean play, then employers would rather spend their time reading something else! Keep it to 1-2 pages long.
Your first email address:
Sorry, but the email address bubbalicious47301@gmail.com does not belong on your CV or anywhere else.
Fancy fonts:
Long gone are the days of using word art and crazy fonts to make everything fabulous. Hiring managers and recruiters prefer something that is easy to read.If you are wondering what font size and font to use on a CV then best stick to:
Font size 12
Arial / Calibri
Black
