CV Advice

Traditionally, the CV has been a tool for listing your work experience, education history and qualifications. Employers are now looking for much more than this. With so many people applying for the same vacancy, your CV has to stand out from the rest. Try The CV Centre for more information about how to write a winning CV.

Style and Content

• Contact Details; Start the CV with your name, address, phone / fax numbers and e-mail address - you want to make sure you can be easily contacted by a potential employer.
• Profile; This should be a brief statement which incorporates your main skills and reflects your objective. It will give an employer a general description of you. See Example.
• Career History; List your previous positions, with dates, job title and a brief description of the company. Start with your current or most recent position. See Example.
• Achievements; Your CV should be in the form of an achievement CV. This means listing achievements you have done and quantifying or qualifying them. See Example.

Other Information

Once you have completed the hardest parts of your CV - writing your Profile and Career History, consider what other information an employer would like to know about you or any other selling points you have. Consider:

• Date of Birth
• Education and Training
• Interests
• Membership of Professional Bodies

Make sure that you include this information on your CV, but ensure that any information is kept brief and relevant.

General Tips

• Remember that the aim of the CV is to get an interview.
• Don't lie on your CV - the truth will come out in the interview.
• Keep your CV short - as a rule, 2 pages is best, 3 pages is okay if you have enough relevant information.
• Pay attention to detail - look at fonts, alignment, spelling, grammar and overall presentation.
• Use good quality white A4 paper for your correspondence.
• When sending your CV, always include a relevant covering letter, detailing the position you would like to apply for and brief details of why you should be seriously considered for that position.

Examples

Profile Example

A professional Sales Manager with a record of achievement in new business development and account management within the FMCG sector. Has focused on establishing and implementing strategies for exploiting existing and new markets. Self motivated and resourceful, able to act on his own initiative or as part of a team. A good communicator with first class interpersonal skills. Having gained a significant record of achievement to date, now seeking increased responsibility and recognition within the sales/marketing function of a progressive organisations.

Career History Example

A furniture manufacturer employing 400 employees and with sales to over 20 countries.

Achievement Statement Example

Regional Sales Account Manager

• Launched a new range of products which bought in additional revenue of £50K.
• Introduced a sales target incentive system which motivated staff and increased sales turnover by 12%.

Information supplied by CareerWorld.