How to write your best CV
Whether you’re applying for a part-time job, or looking for your first graduate scheme, a good CV is crucial to getting employed. Your CV can be tricky to write, as most people aren’t used to bragging about themselves professionally, so, here are some tips to guide you on writing your best CV yet.
Keep it up to date
Make sure you have all your up-to-date qualifications and job history listed on your CV. Don’t forget, the recruiters aren’t mind readers! They won’t know how qualified or great you are unless you tell them.
Limit yourself
Always keep your CV to 1-2 pages maximum. Some jobs may specify length in their application process, so do keep an eye out for this too.
Divide into clear sections
Splitting your CV into sections makes it easier to write and easier to read by potential employers, so it’s a win-win! Most CV’s should have these sections: Qualifications, Work Experience, Job History, Voluntary Roles, Skills and References. Of course, it is up to you what you want to highlight about yourself but make sure you include the essentials.
Keep it relevant for the job you’re applying for
You may have spent a summer working at a supermarket 5 years ago, but is that really relevant to your graduate scheme application? Focus on the skills your employers are looking for and aim to cover all of them in your previous experience. For example, work in retail gives you excellent customer service skills, verbal communication skills, experience working as part of a team, working towards sales targets and experience handling money.
Check grammar, spelling and punctuation
Your CV can often be a first impression of you to your potential future employers, so you want to make it a good one! It may sound obvious, but do check you have spelled everything correctly, haven’t repeated yourself or used incorrect punctuation.
There you go! Go make your CV gleam with all of your achievements and don’t forget to be as positive as possible about all of your previous experiences; instead of saying your Duke of Edinburgh award was ‘miserable’, describe it as ‘challenging’. Best of luck!