CV Hints and tips

Use our CV tips and guidlines to kickstart your Job Application

A CV is your first and possibly only chance of securing an interview. It should highlight your strengths and be presented in a way that is clear and concise. Below we have outlined the information your CV should contain and added some further advice on compiling a successful CV.

Follow our Guidelines
	Contact Details
	Start with your name and contact details at the top. Your name should be bold and contact details should only consist of a phone number, address and email.
	Personal Profile
	Follow with a brief personal profile that should be one paragraph of a maximum of 5 lines. This is your opportunity to sell yourself and establish whether the reader will carry on reading your CV. Most people reading your CV will decide whether it is worth reading in the first third of the page so make an impact and make it relevant!
	Career History
	Start with your current or most recent employment first. Do not leave chronological gaps in your history as people may assume wrongly and ask difficult questions. If you spent 6 months travelling the world then say so and use it as a positive!
	Education
	Details should include relevant qualifications starting from your secondary education. It is ok to list your actual qualifications but do not be tempted for example, in breaking down your degree into its many modules as the detail is best covered in an interview and will only serve to clog up your CV.
	Personal Details
	This should be brief and cover details like date of birth, driving licence and marital status.
	Interests
	Finish with your interests but ensure you are brief and honest as it would be a shame to get caught out in an interview on something relatively insignificant!
	General CV Guidelines
	Try to keep your CV to 2 pages Your CV must be clear and concise Bullet points are great as you can expand further at the interview Check your spelling and grammar; remember this is an employer's first impression of you!
	Covering Letter
	A good covering letter is just as important as a good CV Get straight to the point and be positive Use the letter as a less formal approach so your personality shines through Check your spelling and grammar; remember this is an employer's first impression of you! Do not ramble; keep it short and concise