CV Writing Skills
An S-cool Guide to Writing the Perfect CV
Sooner or later we all need a job - and this usually involves writing a CV. Your CV is the first impression a new company may get of you, so make sure it gives the right message...
About CVs
Whether you're looking for employment after your A-levels, or just a period of holiday work, a CV is always handy to have around.
The CV is usually the first thing employers use to find good staff, so its essential to make the maximum impact. Remember, you may know how well-rounded a person you are, with a great personality and charming manner, but the person who reads your CV has never met you, so make sure this message gets across in your CV.
Of course your CV can continue to work in your favour even after it has obtained an interview for you. It can help you at an interview by carefully focusing the interviewers mind on your good points and on your achievements.
Your CV is basically a list of your academic and personal achievements it is not the application for the position, so avoid making it too specific, although you may want to change it slightly for different jobs.
Setting out your CV
There are many ways to set out your CV. None are wrong, but it is important to concentrate on the content rather than the style. Most employers are rather conservative in their tastes and may not be impressed by a fluorescent orange CV.
If it looks professional, it will be read, don't make it too cluttered. For this reason your CV must be typed - preferably word processed - as then it is easy to produce a CV that is well laid out.
CV Length
Use one or two pages, if it is any longer, there is too much information, or you have begun to waffle! Try to keep your sentences short and punchy and use bullet points to break up the text under section headings. Employers do not want to know your whole life history - just enough to decide whether they should interview you or not.
Visual Layout
The layout must be clear and easy to read - divide your CV into clear sections and appropriate headings so all the information is easy to find, and use plenty of white space.
Not Enough Info
A lot of people do not include enough details about their previous jobs and experience and an employer therefore does not have enough information.
Ensure every year is accounted for. If you have taken a year out, make sure you have explained what you were doing.
When writing about previous jobs, such as a painter and decorator or interests, such as music, make sure you include a short note of any specific skills you acquired, or any positions of responsibility.
Unwanted Errors
Make sure you check your CV for misspellings, typographical errors and poor grammar, before sending it out to employers. Tiny errors in your CV can detract from an otherwise good CV. Not the sort of qualities you want to portray to an employer.
CV Tips
- Do mention things you're good at, but do not go over the top. You can oversell yourself.
- Don't mention things you're bad at or say negative things about yourself in your CV.
- Make sure your CV is true. If you do not match the picture you have painted with your CV at the interview then your application will not be taken any further.
Cover Letters
Every time you send your CV out you will need to send a cover letter with it, whether you are sending your CV in response to an advert or direct to an employer or recruiter.
The cover letter needs to tell the person you are sending it to, why they should read your CV.
It needs to tell the person why you are writing to them and outline why you are the ideal candidate for the job. You need to pick out the highlights from your CV that are relevant to this specific application.
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