Writing an Effective CV

A CV is the most effective tool you can use to generate interest in your application. A CV is an advertisement of yourself, an effective sales tool if executed correctly.

The details you need to include should be clear and concise.

The longer a CV is, the more likely your reader will lose interest in your application. As a rule of thumb, CV’s of 1 to 2 pages are ideal, with 3 pages being a maximum. A 3 page CV is usually suffice for most positions.

Increasingly, CV’s are being e-mailed to employers. This is a fast and effective method of delivery but to minimise any problems it’s advisable to create your CV using a widely accepted word-processing application. We recommend using Microsoft Word.

The use of graphics etc. livens up a CV and makes it more prominent. However bear in mind that these may increase the file size of the document and make it difficult and time consuming to download, if sent via e-mail.

A critical piece of information is your desired and current salary details. Omitting this can result in your CV finding its way to the ‘reject’ pile. Include the details, not on your CV but in a covering letter.

Do not write your CV in the third person, it is yourself you are marketing, not an impersonal third party. CV’s written in this style create an air of formality and stuffiness.

Misspelling and poor punctuation are common faults and should be avoided. Use a spell-checker and get someone else to read through your CV to check for correct punctuation.

Formats vary depending on what position has been applied for but there are key areas that should be covered. These include:

Personal Details

Start your CV with all your personal details such as name, address, postcode, telephone details including mobile and fax numbers, e-mail address, date of birth, nationality, details of driving licence, marital status, willingness to re-locate and language proficiency. Make sure all details are correct.

You may want to include an overview of yourself at the beginning of the CV. This will outline what type of person you are, what key skills you possess, your achievements and the type of job and company you are looking for.

Qualifications (educational)

These should include your highest qualification first and then work back chronologically.

List all relevant training courses.

Your employment details are very important and should start with your current or most recent position. The name of the company, title of the job and the dates of your employment are key features. Detail your key responsibilities and tasks. Use more descriptive text to cover your most recent career history – e.g. the last 5 years, less on your earlier career.

Describe your computer skills by platforms, systems and applications.

Hobbies and Interests

Companies are interested to read about details concerning hobbies etc. The only tip here is to ensure you remember what hobbies you have included on your CV and be able to talk about the subject if asked!

References

If possible, list at least two names with titles and contact details.