For most people, writing a CV can be the most stressful part of the application process. If you find the process of writing a good CV highly stressful, we’ve outlined the following 7 tips to help you get through the process in one piece – failing that, we’d suggest looking at hiring a competent CV writer;
- The Introduction
The introduction part of your CV should include your name, your key contacts details and a few sentences that describe who you are and what motivates you. For example you might write, “A creative Journalism student from New York, looking for opportunities to put my writing skills into practice in the professional word.”
- Education and Qualification
It is very important that you give a brief summary of your education in reverse chronological order i.e. with the most recent qualifications first. It is also vital that you include as much information as possible including the names of the modules of study if your degree subject is too broad.
The obvious things like A Level and GCSE qualifications do need to be named in the CV, don’t go into too much detail. Simply referencing the number of GCSEs you achieved and the grades.
- Employment History and Work Experience
Be sure to include your employment dates, the full job title and the name of the company you worked for. The best way to do this is to use bullet points since they can make your achievements and responsibilities appear more presentable. You must also write these in chronological order, with the most recent first. Don’t include anything that is not relevant to the position you are applying for.
- Key Experience Including Extra-Curricular, Skills and Interests
In this section, you should include any relevant experience you may have and the key aspects about yourself that make you perfect for the role you seek. This can be anything from your Grad school thesis to a particular project you worked on at school or while working for your previous employer. Be sure to include only those experiences that are both meaningful to you and relevant to the position you seek. Remember that your CV is meant to help you stand out from the crowded field. If anything can help you do that, your unique experiences can.
- Presentation and Length
Ideally a CV should be contained to a single page especially since you are not at managerial level yet. If the content is more than one page long, re-evaluate to see what can be deleted. Delete anything that is not relevant to the position or may raise more questions.
It is also a good idea to use bullet points as opposed to prose. Most recruiters are put off by a block of text they have to read. They often have a few seconds to look at your CV and bullet points can make it easier to read.
- Focused and Complete
The most important aspect of writing a CV is to always keep it relevant to the position you seek. It is also important that you keep the most relevant information nearer to the top.
While you’re at it, ensure that all the details are there. Double-check to ensure that any relevant grades and dates are there and don’t forget to add an introduction to the CV.
- Check Your Spelling and Grammar
Finally, but just as important ensure that your spelling and grammar is flawless. The tiniest thing can make your CV look less professional and go in the “definitely not” pile.
