CV Writing Help, Tips and Advice

 

Are you sitting down, ready to start writing your new CV?  It can be a bit of a daunting process, can’t it – not knowing where to start?

Whilst we would always recommend you use a Professional CV Writer to maximise your success, we fully understand that for some of you, this is not an option so here is some CV writing help and advice to put you on the right track.

‘The Dos’ when writing a CV

- Do include your contact details: Your name, full address, telephone numbers and email address.

- Do be truthful; do not be tempted to tell little white lies.

- Do choose the correct format for your CV.

- Do ensure you highlight your key skills.

- Do make sure your CV is word perfect and the grammar is impeccable.

- Do keep your succinct, ensure it reads well and is pleasing to the eye with sufficient white space.

- Do include a personal profile,  encourage the recruiter to want to meet you.

- Do ensure your CV is easily readable.

- Do avoid cramming in too much information or cluttering the page with fancy fonts, boxes, underlining, etc.

- Do make sure your CV is no more than two pages in length. (IT/Medical CVs – 3 pages)

- Write your employment history reverse chronologically.

- Do use (plain circular) bullet points, complete sentences, action words and concise sentences.

- Do Qualify and quantify where possible to give your statements more weight.

- Do make your statements under specific headings.

- Do include any qualifications or relevant training in reverse chronological order, listing the course, subject and date.

- Do print your CV using the best ink setting and use good quality paper, preferably 100g.

- Do tailor your CV to the position you are applying for.

- Do send in your CV with an outstanding cover letter, addressed to the correct person.

‘The Don’ts’ when writing a CV

- Do not include any unnecessary or irrelevant information.

- Do not include your picture unless asked to do so.

- Do not include your current salary details unless specifically asked.

- Do not over clutter your CV content.

- Do not use lots of differing fonts, borders, italics, bold or underlining.

- Do not exceed two pages unless you are writing a specialised IT or medical CV.

- Do not move the margins excessively, re-write your text more succinctly if you run out of space

- Do not use a font less than 10 and try to use Arial or Verdana as these fonts are easily readable.

- Do not use paragraphs, use bullet point statements.

- Do not include your reasons for leaving.

- Do not include your marital status, nationality or date of birth as these are no longer required.

-  Do not list your referees but outline that they will be made available on request.

- Avoid jargon and any words which the human resources department will not be familiar with.

- Do not use the word responsible,  think of alternative verbs to describe your role.

- Do not use ‘I’ or ‘My’ within your CV.

- Do not fold your CV.

- Do not use a small envelope, always send it in an A4 envelope.

- Do not use the wrong stamp, remember to adjust the postage for an A4 envelope.