6 Steps to a Good CV

The ideal CV demonstrates that you are suitable for the job. The average time spent reading a CV is 2 minutes, therefore your CV should always be carefully laid out and should be no more than 2 pages in length.

One - Do Yourself Justice

·           Employers are likely to receive many CVs so first impressions count.

·           Take the time to lay it out clearly and check for spelling mistakes and errors.

Two - Things to Remember

·           There isn't one particular way to write a CV. The most important thing to remember is that your CV should be a flexible document.

·           If you are applying for a particular position, you should tailor your CV to be relevant for that position. Use specific pieces of information that you think may be of interest to the employer.

·           Read the job requirements carefully to make sure you provide everything that is asked for.

Three - Get Organized

·           Your CV should be organised, easy to read and interesting. Use headings, short sentences or bullet points to get the information across clearly.

·           Use specific terms rather than general phrases - "I have two years' experience in" is better than "I have lots of experience in".

·           Be honest and accurate - remember this information is likely to form the basis of your interview.

Four – The Vital Ingredients

Personal details - Include the following information:

• Name in full - use this as the heading rather than 'Curriculum Vitae'. Your name is more likely to stick in the employer's memory.
• Your full postal address.
• Phone number (daytime and evening numbers if possible).
• If you have a full, clean driving licence, say so.

Education - Start with college or university, then schools, with the highest level of education obtained.

• Name schools and colleges, list dates attended and results achieved including grades.
• List any specialist training courses attended that are relevant to the job, stating whether they were internal or external.

Five – Past Work

• Include a brief statement about your achievements in your previous jobs. List all employment, with the most recent job first.
• State the name, nature and size of each of the companies, and include the dates of employment and job title.
• If you are working it is best not to include the name of your current employer.
• List your achievements, responsibilities and results for each job using bullet points.
• Place more emphasis on achievements. They carry more impact than responsibilities.
• Try to highlight achievements for all jobs: e.g. increasing company turnover, improving staff morale etc.
• Avoid leaving gaps in your employment history. If you have taken a career break to travel or raise a family, just say so. Most employers will value these life experiences.

Six – Additional Information

• Use this as an opportunity to express something of your personality, but keep this section brief and factual.
• List your skills - for example computer skills with the packages you can use, typing speed, and any languages, stating how well you can speak or write them
• Interests and hobbies: Try to show hobbies that underline skills useful to the job - sports show health and fitness; chairman of a society shows leadership; secretary of a team shows organisation.

Reproduced with kind permission from

Maryb.ie

www.maryb.ie

info@maryb.ie