Writing a CV

In a competitive job marketplace your CV will play a crucial role in attracting the attention of the hiring manager. It is important to think carefully about how you write it; this document will decide whether you are successful in gaining an interview with an organisation. A manager will often be looking at numerous CVs in a short space of time and yours will need to stand out for all the right reasons.

• Think about the layout – is it clear and easy to read quickly?
• Your first page should include a concise summary of your key technical skills (in bold), educational history and contact details.
• Describe your career history in reverse chronological order as it is the most recent that will be of most interest and relevance to the hiring manager.
• The job summaries are the key part of your resume and your opportunity to sell yourself. Each job summary should contain:
  • Job title
  • Duration of employment
  • The technology used
  • Your role and what you actually did – not just a list of generic duties
• List your hobbies and interests, but only briefly and at the end of your CV
• Include two professional referees or write 'References available upon request' and be ready to provide them.
• Pick a legible font and use it consistently throughout. Bullet points or similar tools may help to keep the format clear.
• Proof read and spell check
• Be prepared to accept feedback from a recruiter – we read a lot of CVs!
• Make sure you do not describe the environment in which you work and fail to state what you actually do and have achieved
• Try not to waste too much time detailing jobs from over 5 years ago – the hiring manager will generally not have much interest in this part of your CV
• Try not to allow your CV to get over 4 pages A4 size in length