Actually writing your CV

CV - An Advert for YOU.

These are just notes to read, make sense of them if you can

Have a CV prepared at all times, you never know when someone might say 'I might want to employ you, send me your CV', then you will panic writing one and make mistakes. Write one at your leisure and you will make fewer mistakes

Perhaps write 2 types of CV. 1 specific to your potential career, the other a general one highlighting skills you have rather than specific work experience. In your early career the type highlighting your skills might be better than one listing your works experience, or if you are changing job type
Similarly, preparing a covering letter for a CV write 2 types, 1 to answer job adverts, the other for speculative job searches.


CV.
Appearance.
- Printed on Good white paper. It should be in a 'normal' type, not fancy.
- Printed in Dark ink on plain paper since it will be photocopied by the employer.
- Prepare it in electronic form (as MS Word) and paper version. The electronic form should be universally accepted (e.g. MS Word)
- Sheets should be paper clipped together (not stapled - see later)

Content.
- The first appearance counts most, make it look tidy otherwise it might be rejected before the words are read.
- No need to put CV at top as a title. It is obvious what it is. Use its space to improve CV layout. The title should be your name - YOU are the most important thing on the CV
- 2 Pages long.
- Page 1: Sell your self, page 2 only gets read when page 1 sells you to the employer
- Page 2: Add details about you as a person.
- Reduce unnecessary extra lines. White space on the paper can make the CV more readable.
- Do not include bad spelling

Top section could be about you.
- The CV Title should be your name - you are the most important thing about the document
- Age isn't necessary. It can work against you in some circumstances. If they want to know your age they can ring and ask you - then they will have started a conversation with you and your CV will have been noticed. Next step interview.
- Contact details, do you want them to call your home or mobile phone? Add your e-mail address (a proper one, for example Bob-Jones@hotmail.com, not MrIAmAGodWithTheGuitar@Hotmail.com).

Next section, what you are.
Write a short profile for you, a summary for the secretary to read to decide if you are worth giving to the HR person. An example is: "An assistant Electrical Engineer, working in a team to assist the engineers to produce the final designs for the construction of industrial plants and buildings. Skilled in using a variety of computer software, including drawing packages, to produce the final documentation required."
Include words an employer might look for - Team work, Computers, Driving, attention to detail. Often when they scan a CV they are looking for certain words and reject those without the words.

3rd Section
Work experience or career history, unless you are just out of education and the employer wants someone just finishing education.
- Write in reverse chronological order (latest first), most detail with most recent most relevant experience to least detail with oldest least relevant job.
- Title for each job: Job title, company, length of service / dates worked there
- Detail job - Job requirements, Skills and attributes used and learned (example, developed Excellent Customer relations skills). Training received, specialist equipment used (for example AutoCAD). Include words to sell yourself (excellent, Team leader, initiative, etc.)
- 5 to 7 lines for most relevant recent job to 2 or 3 lines for oldest least relevant job
- After jobs perhaps add any other relevant information and skills

4th Section
Qualifications and membership of institutions (for example IEE, not local mental hospital)
- Note relevant qualifications, for example hold first aid at work certificate, clean driving license, etc.
- Note any training received (for example using cash registers) that is relevant

Education.
This can come after work based qualifications or before work experience depending on the job your applying for.
- Reverse chronological order (recent first)
- Include college details: Name, dates attended and result then paragraph detailing specifics (e.g.. Bristol University, 2000 - 2004, Gained 2:ii).
- You don't need to include School names on a CV, just a line, A Levels: Biology (C)...., GCSE's: Maths (A)....
- If you are not going to detail all your exams, mention your Maths and English results, these are most important generally especially after a college or university education.

5th Section
Hobbies and interests. This sells you as a person, not as a robot who can just work. Employers want someone who has a life too.
- Qualify what you do. 'I enjoy reading' is good. 'I enjoy reading books' is a bit better. 'I enjoy reading about Norse and roman mythology' is even better - it gives them an idea what you like to read. I enjoy reading could mean just the menu at McDonalds and you enjoy that cos you will be eating it soon.
- Beware of mentioning hobbies that make you sound like a freak.
- Mention achievements. 'I am a Scout leader and am responsible for running the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme for 8 Young People. I have successfully guided 15 young people through the award so they gained their gold award'

6th Section
Any other information like computer literacy

References
You can add these or just write a line 'Available on Request' - If you don't add their details there is some more space to alter the formatting of the CV



Other Notes:
- At the top of page 2 include your name. The 2 pages will get separated and if page 2 is missing you might miss out on the job
- Don't staple the 2 sheets together since the secretary will tear them apart to photocopy them and your original will look a mess. Use a paper clip instead.
- Write 1 large CV with all your details on. When you are applying for a job copy and paste the pieces you want to make a 2 page CV to send to the employer. Keep a copy of this to remind what you wrote before interview
- Write 2 types of CV, 1 with emphasis on employment history the other with skills history

Skills CV / Functional CV:
Name etc.
Profile - Not specific
Key Skills
Achievements
Employment History
Hobbies
References

Keep the CV readable, include spaces between sections. Use short easily understood words except specific technical terms