CV GUIDELINES

A CV is a vital selling tool in the search for your next job. It is the first thing that a potential employer gets to see and it can make or break your employment opportunities. It must be clear, concise and accurate, yet it must also thoroughly portray your skills and experiences to your greatest advantage.

Layout and Content

CVs can be set out in any way but it is imperative that they are well spaced with clear text and presented on good quality plain paper.

There are no hard and fast rules about the length of a CV, however it would be a mistake to provide unnecessary personal information e.g. Names and ages of your family.

Personal Profile:
A brief overview of your character, experiences and ambitions. This should be no longer than 5 lines.

Personal Details:
Name, Address, Telephone numbers, Date of Birth, Nationality, Marital Status

Education:
This must be in Reverse chronological order. Show dates attended and name of establishment followed by qualification and grades achieved. Please show Further education and secondary education only.

Training Courses:
This should be kept relatively brief showing the course and qualifications gained along with dates.

IT Skills:
All IT packages that you have used and are confident should be listed.

Career History:
Shown in Reverse Chronological order. Ensure your employer’s name, employment dates and all duties and responsibilities and shown clearly. Bullet point the duties and responsibilities for maximum clarity. Use third party when describing duties and responsibilities i.e. Not “I” or “we”. If you have any gaps in your CV due to redundancy, travelling or raising a family etc. make sure this information is accounted for.

References:
You should provide the name, addresses and telephone numbers of two referees. A minimum of one of these should be a previous employer.