What is a CV?

A CV, which stands for curriculum vitae, is a document used when applying for jobs. It
allows you to summarize your education, skills and experience, enabling you to
successfully sell yourself to employers.

What to include in a CV
 Contact details

The first part of your CV, positioned at the top of the page, should contain your full
name, home address, mobile number and email address.

 Personal profile

A personal profile, also known as a personal statement, career objective and

professional profile, is one of the most important aspects of your CV. It’s a short
paragraph that sits just underneath your name and contact details giving prospective
employers an overview of who you are and what you’re all about. Pick out a few
relevant achievements and skills, while articulating your career aims. Try to keep your
personal statement short and no longer than a few sentences.

Education and qualifications

List and date all previous education including professional qualifications in reverse
chronological order i.e placing the most recent first. Include the name of the institutions
and the dates you were there, followed by the qualifications and grades you achieved.

Work experience

Like education and experience section, your work experience should be listed in reverse
chronological order making sure that anything you mention is relevant to the job you are
applying for. When listing each position of employment, state your job title, the
employer, the dates you worked and a line that summarizes the role.

Skills and achievement

This is where you talk about the foreign languages you speak and the IT packages you
can competently use. Whatever you list should be relevant to the job and not over-
exaggerated, as you'll need to back up your claims at interview.

Hobbies and interests: If you feel that your CV is lacking, you can boost your document
by inserting a hobbies and interests section at the end. Be careful though; avoid listing
hobbies that don’t add value to your CV. Your interests can provide a more rounded
picture of who you are and give you something to talk about at interview. Examples
include writing your own blog if you want to be a journalist etc.

References – ‘

Depending on your field, you might include a list of your references at the end of
your CV or You can include a line that reads ‘references available on request’

CV format
 Avoid fonts such as Comic Sans. Instead, choose something more professional,
clear and easy to read such Arial or Times New Roman with font size 10 to 12,
but nothing smaller. Ensure fonts and sizes are consistent throughout your CV.

 Section headings are a good way to break up your CV. Ensure they stand out by
making them larger (size 14 or 16) and bold.

 List everything in reverse chronological order so the recruiter sees your most
impressive and recent achievements first.
  Keep it concise and easy to read by using clear spacing and bullet points. This
type of CV layout allows employers to skim your CV and quickly pick out the
important information.

How to write a good CV

1. There should be no spelling or grammar mistakes in your CV. Use a spell

checker and enlist a second pair of eyes to check over it.
2. Avoid using generic, over-used phrases such as 'team player', 'hardworking'.
Instead, provide real-life examples that demonstrate all of these skills.
3. Don't put the term 'curriculum vitae' at the top of the page.
4. Make sure your email address sounds professional. If your personal address is
not appropriate create a new account to use professionally.
5. Never lie or exaggerate on your CV or job application. Not only will you
demonstrate your dishonesty to a potential employer, but there can be serious
consequences too. For example, altering your degree grade from a 2:2 to a 2:1 is
classed as degree fraud and can result in a prison sentence.