CV Tips

Your CV will be your first point of contact with a prospective employer and will be the basis for securing an interview. You should consider your CV as a marketing tool, a tool to promote yourself to potential employers.

A CV provides the employer with the first impression of you and so it is vital you take the time and invest the effort in getting it right! It must be an accurate and realistic reflection of yourself and should present your skills and experience in direct relation to the position you are applying for.

A CV does not automatically get you the job: the purpose of the CV is to secure an interview. It is the success of the interview that determines whether or not the job is offered.

Your CV should include the following:

Personal Details

• Include contact numbers and address, ensuring all details are accurate and up to date.
• Include an email address.
• It is not necessary by law to disclose gender, age or marital status.

Education

• Include details of qualifications gained from secondary, higher and further education and include any related work training.
• List professional memberships. 

Interests

• Give other interests and hobbies to allow a prospective employer to build up a full picture of you.
• Do not lie about hobbies as you may be asked about them at a later date. 

Employment History

• Do not include telephone numbers of your current employer unless the company is aware that you are seeking alternative employment.
• Do not disclose your current salary rate on your CV.
• Start with your most recent post and work backwards chronologically.
• List achievements in bullet point style.

References

• Ensure contact details of referees are accurate and regularly updated.
• Give referees a copy of your CV to allow them to familiarise themselves with it

General Hints

• Spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, typos, and incorrect information in your CV are inexcusable.
• Proof read your CV and ask a friend to proof read it to pick up on typos, spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
• Use a font that is easy to read, no larger than 14 point and no smaller than 10 point.
• Be consistent - for example; if your headings are in bold type, all headings should be in bold.
• Re- read your CV before any interview as the interviewer may ask you questions related to details included in your CV.
• Your CV should be no longer than two pages.
• If required to post your CV print it on quality A4 paper and use a matching envelope.
• Attention to small details will impress future employers.

Remember to attach a covering letter to your CV when submitting it to an organisation - it's your one chance to to sell yourself and to display your interest.