Candidates

CV Writing Tips and Example CV

Your CV must be clear, concise and factual. Key features to include are:

Personal Details

  • List postal address, phone number, mobile number, e-mail address etc.

  • If you include an e-mail address, make sure you check it regularly.

  • If you are a student, give both term and home contact details, making it clear when you will be where.

  • Include your date of birth as this is often used to confirm your ID.

Education

  • List most recent qualifications first.

  • Clearly state dates of studentship, place of study and grades achieved.

  • If you are a recent graduate, include details of any final year or Honours projects and also A levels with grades if they are good.

  • More experienced candidates with further academic qualifications can safely omit school qualifications from their CV.

Employment History

  • Ensure your employment history can be seen on the first page of your CV, starting with the most recent position.

  • Detail dates of employment, job title, company and a brief list of duties for each position.

  • Be specific. For example, list projects undertaken, techniques used, standards worked to and specific achievements in each role.

  • Ensure all information is clear at a glance. Bullet points can help.

  • The last five years are the most important. Much less detail is required for your earlier career.

Additional Information

  • This section is where you can highlight key skills under headings such as Technical Skills, Computer Literacy, Foreign Languages, Driving Licence, Training Courses. If you include Hobbies as a section, give a cross-section of true interests and be aware of what impression (true or otherwise) they might create of you as a person.

References

  • Give two employment references if possible, including your current employer. For a recent graduate, one reference from a summer job and one from a university tutor would be appropriate.

  • Include the job title and contact details of your referees.

  • Contact your referees in advance to obtain their permission.

Tips and Hints

  • Proof read your CV thoroughly and ask someone you trust to do it again for you. It is very easy to make a spelling mistake or misquote a date.

  • Do not include a photograph with your CV unless specifically requested.

  • Be aware of the impression a silly email address might make on a prospective employer. Would you give a job to skivingbarfly@serviceprovider.com?

  • Keep it concise. Two pages should be enough space for most people, with an addendum for publications or other additional information.

  • Use a word processing package such as Microsoft Word and keep the formatting simple to avoid technical problems if you send your CV electronically.

Why not have a look at our example CV (.doc format)