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CV Writing

Useful information

Download the Microsoft Word template CV Your CV is a tool with one purpose: to introduce you to a prospective employer and win you an interview with them. Therefore, it should present you in the best possible light and convince that you have the skills and/or experience to be considered for the position on offer. You don't have much time to impress with your CV – most employers scan each one in about 30 seconds, rather than reading them in detail.

We have provided an example of a completed CV for you to check out. The headings in bold below correspond to the headings on this template. Strip out the content and fill in your own details to prepare your own CV.

The team at myJobCaddy offers personal advice on individual CV's. If you would like us to review your CV, please tick the box at Step 3 of the registration process or Contact Us.

General Tips

  • The optimum length for a CV is about two sides of A4.

  • Throughout your CV points should be presented in bullet format to ensure they are concise and well set out. Avoid jargon and acronyms that others may not understand.

  • Before submitting your CV make sure you check it thoroughly, not just for spelling mistakes, but also to ensure it is a clear representation of you, is relevant and will encourage the prospective employer to contact you to find out more. If possible, get someone else to proof read your CV and give you an objective opinion.

CV Heading

  • Most CVs start with Personal Details such as name, date of birth, contact details, nationality, visa status, availability, etc. Take care to avoid superfluous detail which employers do not need to know.

  • List any current Professional Membership.

  • Education and Qualifications should be written chronologically with the most recent first. Include the names of learning institutions, the dates you attended and qualifications gained.

  • Emphasising Key Transferable Skills can be particularly useful when you have had a large amount of experience. Limit these to about 10 and either bullet point them or write a brief personal statement. Any foreign languages you speak should be included in this section.

  • Software Experience is a major component of most roles these days. Include a list of all the computer packages you have used in the past or are familiar with. Contractors especially are often exposed to a high number of different software packages, therefore it is useful to keep a record of these, including if they are in-house or widely used.

  • Work Experience should be written chronologically with the most recent first. Older roles can be summarised to keep your CV to a manageable length. Provide the company name, your job title and the dates you were there. Including a very brief summary of the company (i.e size, turnover, etc) can be useful if the company is based overseas and/or not widely recognised.

    When detailing your experience be truthful but also sell yourself. Using words such as 'implemented', 'launched', 'developed', 'reorganised', etc help to create a good impression. Show where you added value to the company and how your career skill set advanced as a result. Use past tense language and include strong action verbs (like the ones above).

    Any gaps between jobs longer than four weeks should be accounted for (i.e. long holidays, maternity leave or long-term sick leave). Do not exclude any employment periods - a prospective employer is likely to ask you about these in the interview.

  • Some people like to include a Personal Interests section where, if you are a member of an organisation (professional or extra curricular), it can reflect your commitments.

  • Referees are optional. Recruitment agencies will be obliged to check your last five years employment including verifying breaks of longer than four weeks. This means that, rather than using your referees, they will contact all of your past employers. Personal referees, however, will be used to confirm holidays, sick leave, etc.

What to Avoid

  • Covering letters can be superfluous and most agencies will not require one – it's your CV they really want to read.

  • Avoid jazzing up your CV. Don't use coloured paper, coloured text, fancy font or include pictures. These distract the reader from the real message you want to convey.

  • Try not to make subjective claims about your abilities.

  • Keep your personal information succinct.

  • Do not include your desired career objectives or your salary expectations. These are part of the interview or post-interview discussion.