WHAT IS A CV?
CV stands for curriculum vitae, which is Latin for course of life. A CV is a short factual account about you, including your work experience and qualifications. It should ideally be no more than two sides of A4 paper. It gives potential employers essential information.
WHAT ELSE DOES A CV DO?
You can send your CV along with covering letters or e-mail to potential employers to enquire if companies have any current or future vacancies in your job area.
You can use your CV to help you fill in application forms. It helps you remember all the dates and information of your past experience, qualifications and skills.
Having your CV handy when applying for jobs by telephone can help you answer questions asked about previous experiences.
Reading your CV before going to an interview can help you refresh your memory. It is also handy to leave a copy with the interviewer if they don’t already have one.
Employment Agencies require a copy of your CV before registering you.
WHAT DO I INCLUDE ON A CV?
Personal details
Name Driving Licence
Address
E-mail address
Phone Number
Personal profile
A short statement at the beginning of your CV can be a good way of selling yourself. Think of words to describe you, confident, competent, adaptable, conscientious. Try using these words in sentences.
Training and Qualifications
Can include secondary education details or you can include this under a separate heading. Include any training and qualifications gained at school, college, university and previous jobs. Also include any in house training you have done. Try and put the most recent first.
Work History
Start with your most recent job first, with dates. What you have done recently will be more interesting to a potential employer. You could even include a brief description of duties or skills needed in your previous/current employment.
Try not to leave gaps. Employers will want to know what you did during these dates.
If you have limited work experience you may want to include temporary, holiday, part-time or voluntary jobs. Give job title and main duties involved, keep it short.
If you have had many different jobs, try and emphasise the skills and experience you have gained by grouping them together.
Hobbies/Interests
Aim to show the employer that you have a well-rounded personality. This is a chance to sell yourself. You can include any sporting activities, hobbies and memberships of clubs or societies.
Make sure you know about your interests to be able to talk about them at an interview. They are often picked by employers for further questioning.
Additional Information
This is a useful section to include if you have any gaps in other parts of your CV. Do this by describing the skills you have used during this time.
References
You have now put your CV together and are happy that it provides a good picture of your strengths, now the real test is to put it use and apply for jobs. If you have any problem with a CV, we can help you create one.
Curriculum Vitae Example Sandra Sampleton A cheerful and polite individual who communicates in a courteous manner. Constantly pays specific attention to detail, often generates new ideas and suggestions. Can be relied upon to use own initiative in difficult situations. Performs effectively as a part of a team. Education and Training 1990 – 1995 North Sample Comprehensive School Educated to GCSE Standard Sampletown Standard 1995 – 1998 Sampletown College NVQS 1 + 2 Hairdressing Employment History 2004 – Present Reception work at Sampletown medical centre. Duties involve answering phones, arranging appointments, updating patients details and preparing them for the doctor. Sending tests away etc. 2000 – 2004 Worked in call centre. Duties included answering telephones, customer service duties, administration duties and some sales as required. 1998 – 2000 Self-employed. Worked as a mobile hairdresser. Duties included cutting and styling hair and handling cash, managing own stock and keeping the books. Hobbies and Interests In my spare time I enjoy socialising and bargain hunting, I am also an avid reader and enjoy taking part in local pub quizzes. References Available upon request. |