0Writing a CV can often feel like a daunting task. It can be time-consuming and you might wonder how you’re supposed to know what potential employers are looking for.
If you have an old CV saved somewhere, you might make the mistake of thinking you can dig it up, send it off and save yourself some time and effort. This is a common and vital mistake that many people make! More likely than not, an employer will be able to tell when an old, generic CV is sent in to them, which only suggests that you haven’t put much thought into your application. To get the most out of your CV you need to make it stand out to each and every potential employer.
The free guidance below sets out a fool proof template for your new and improved CV.
Personal Statement
This will be at the top of your CV and is the first thing the employer will read, so it should be concise and punchy.
Aim to tailor your personal statement to the role you’re applying for. You want to give an effective representation of yourself, so think about writing a few short lines on who you are, what you have to offer, and what your career goals are.
Avoid empty statements by giving specific and appropriate examples from previous experiences. This will help give credibility to your application – anyone can make sweeping statements about their skills but giving clear examples of times you’ve put your skills into practice will show employers that you mean what you say. Try not to include cliché statements as these can seem impersonal and will likely be written on hundreds of other CVs the employer looks at.
Professional Experience
This is your opportunity to show potential employers your experience and achievements in the workplace. You want to sell your best roles and responsibilities, so focus less on daily duties and more on the skills you’ve acquired along the way that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Begin with your current or most recent employment and work your way backwards. As well as paid employment, this section can include any voluntary work you’ve carried out. If you don’t have any paid work experience to write about, consider what voluntary work you might be able to carry out to help build up your skills and experience. Research local charities as they’re often in need of volunteers, or offer to work free of charge at local business a couple of days a week. They’ll be grateful for the extra pair of hands and you’ll get hand-on experience, so it’s a win-win situation! On the other end of the scale, if you have too much professional experience to list, pick out the main or most recent roles or those that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Education and Qualifications
As with your employment history, start with your most recent education or qualification and work in reverse-chronological order. Go as far back as GCSE (or equivalent) level and include your grades. Again, pick out the qualifications that are relevant to the job, for example state grades for subjects like English, Maths and IT. If you’re still studying and haven’t yet received your grades for a subject, you can include mock/expected results if you want to. Include results of A Levels, your degree or any other higher education diplomas you might have, and expand on any modules that might help demonstrate knowledge which is relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Hobbies and Interests
This section of a CV isn’t compulsory but it offers a good chance to tell employers a bit more about yourself and show your personality. If you don’t have much work experience this can also be a good way to demonstrate that you spend your free time proactively.
Things to bear in mind here: try to include hobbies which might be related to the job you’re applying for, which support your motives for applying, or which help demonstrate that you have the skills needed for the job. Hobbies that involve team work or self-motivation are a good place to start. Avoid including anything which might interfere with your job and only include things that you’d be happy to talk about if asked in an interview.
References
Occasionally a job listing might specify that you include the details of one or two referees. Check with the individual before you put their name down that it’s ok to do so, and avoid using a family member if possible. Instead ask a teacher, past employer, career advisor or a friend who can vouch for your skills and character.