Everyone wants to present the best possible CV to prospective employers but a number of people are confused with what is or is not acceptable.

There are a number of ways in which to either create your first CV or update your current one. Although you may be tempted to use an on-line CV builder tool, you will have a better quality document if you prepare and design your own CV rather than taking the one size fits all solution.  After all, your CV is the one document that promotes you as a commodity long before a prospective employer meets you.

Preparing a good CV is fundamental in your search for a new job.  It is the first thing on which a potential employer will judge you.  Most employers will scan initially, giving you less than two minutes to create that all important first impression.

Presenting and promoting yourself within your CV is therefore vital or you will be overlooked.  Your CV must immediately show how and why you should be considered by any prospective employer.  Most of all, your CV must make the employer want to know much more about you.

Looking for that all important interview to happen?  Follow our key steps:

Building Blocks of the CV

Start by listing the facts all the information you need to include in your CV:

• Personal details – this tells the employer basic information about you
• Up to date contact details where you can be reached
• A chronological list of your qualifications
• The responsibilities / duties of each of your previous roles
• Achievements attained at each of your employers

This information forms the basis of what will become your CV. 

Writing the CV

This is often described as the most difficult feature of CV writing, so don’t expect to write the perfect one at your first attempt.

• Tailor your CV to your ideal next step, for example a particular job, specialism or organization bearing in mind you need to be realistic and ensure you have qualifications / experience / skills to match this ideal position
• The first page needs to ensure the prospective employer maintains an interest and want to read more therefore ensure it is clearly known who you are and what you have to offer an organisation
• Demonstrate how and in what way you are a benefit to a prospective employer
• Concentrate on your strengths
• Ensure information provided is relevant to the job / vocation you are applying for – if it fails to add value then leave it out
• Don’t tell lies in your CV – you are very likely to be caught out
• If you have any gaps in employment – provide details of this for example unemployed due to redundancy
• Always have your current or more recent job first then work back.
  Ensure sentences are no longer than about 15 words.
• Create an impact with appropriate ‘action words’, e.g. successfully achieved…, energetically lead…

Your CV

Now that you have completed one of the most important parts of your CV; you now need to ensure it creates that all important visual impact.   Use the following as an ideal guide:

• Word process your CV, e.g. using Microsoft Word.
• Keep to two pages maximum – certainly no more than three.
• Use A4 portrait style.
• Stick to a white background, and don’t include any decorative borders.
• Choose black font and a simple typeface – use this style consistently throughout – do NOT chop and change.
• Highlight headings using italics or bold; avoid capitals and underlining.
• Keep paragraphs as short as possible. Use bullet points instead.
• Stay reader friendly by using lots of ‘white space’.
• Use good quality white/cream paper when printing your CV. Avoid special effects such as binding.

Accuracy of your CV

Potential employers expect a perfect CV without errors!

This is your chance to shine.  Do not be sidelined for another candidate due to an employer spotting  a mistake on your CV.  Don’t allow spelling mistakes or grammatical errors to let you down: spot them before an employer does by carefully proofreading your CV. Print it out, as you will proofread better from a printed page than from a computer screen.  Better still ask someone to check it over for you and to give an honest opinion on how well it looks.

Updating your CV

Remember to keep adding to your CV when you change jobs.  If you don’t, you may risk forgetting important dates, details and important successes or achievements.

If you want us to prepare the perfect CV for you you can use our CV appraisal service.