Icknield Community College - CV Writing and Job Search Website

Top Tips on CV Writing

Here are some top tips on how to write a CV, what you should include and what information is important for your interviewer to know about you.

What is a CV?

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

How long should a CV be?

A standard CV in the UK should be no longer than two sides of A4. To save space only include the main points of your education and experience. Stick to relevant information and don't repeat what you've said in your cover letter.

What to include in a CV

Contact details - Include your full name, home address, mobile number and email address. Unless you're applying for an acting or modelling job you don't need to include your date of birth or a photograph. (NB: As you are writing this whilst in school, please DO NOT include personal details, but instead list schools address and phone number as your contact details)
Profile - A CV profile is a concise statement that highlights your key attributes and helps you stand out from the crowd. Usually placed at the beginning of the CV it picks out a few relevant achievements and skills, while expressing your career aims. Keep CV personal statements short and snappy - 100 words is the perfect length.
Work experience - List your experience in reverse date order. Whilst I appreciate your Work Experience was cancelled this year, please take time to consider other things you may have done. Do you have an after school or weekend job? This could include babysitting, paper-round, working in a café etc…. During Lockdown have you volunteered to support people within your community? This is also something you could mention in this section. Maybe you’ve been shopping for the vulnerable. You can include volunteering work in this section.
Education - List and date all previous education, including professional qualifications. Place the most recent first. (NB: There is no need for you to list your primary school, just any previous secondary school if applicable. This list would extend onwards from your secondary school to include college etc.) You can also list your predicted GCSE school grades here but be sure to put them in a small table so they are clear.
Skills and achievements - This is where you talk about the foreign languages you speak and IT packages you can competently use. You can also list DofE in this section, together with any awards you may have received from sports clubs or external clubs such as Police Cadets, whether you are Head Boy/Girl or a senior prefect at school. Remember though - don't exaggerate your abilities, as you'll need to back up your claims at interview and those who don’t tell the truth will be found out!
Interests - 'Socialising', 'going to the cinema' and 'reading' aren't going to catch a recruiter’s attention. However, relevant interests can provide a more complete picture of who you are, as well as giving you something to talk about at interview. Examples include writing your own blog if you want to be a journalist, or being part of a drama group if you're looking to get into sales.
References – if you do have a weekend job then feel free to list your employer as your reference, otherwise please list Mrs McMillan as your Head of Year reference and also your tutor should you wish to.

CV format

Avoid fonts such as Comic Sans. Choose something professional, clear and easy to read such Arial or Times New Roman. Use a font size between 10 and 12 to make sure that potential employers can read your CV. Ensure all fonts and font sizes are consistent throughout.
Section headings are a good way to break up your CV. Ensure they stand out by making them larger (font size 14 or 16) and bold.
List everything in reverse chronological order so the recruiter sees your work history and most recent achievements first.
Keep it concise by using clear spacing and bullet points. This type of CV layout allows potential employers to skim your CV and quickly pick out important information first.
If you're posting your CV, print it on white A4 paper. Only print on one side and don't fold your CV - you don't want it to arrive creased.

How to write a good CV

Use active verbs when possible. For example, include words like 'created', 'analysed' and 'devised' to present yourself as a person who shows initiative.
A good CV doesn't have any spelling or grammar mistakes. Use a spell checker and enlist a second pair of eyes to check over the document. I have highlighted this section as I spend hours checking CV’s for SPAG! Please don’t let yours be an example of poor SPAG!
Avoid generic, over-used phrases such as 'team player', 'hardworking' and 'multitasker'. Instead, provide real-life examples that demonstrate all of these skills.
Create the right type of CV for your circumstances. Decide whether the chronological, skills-based or academic CV is right for you.
Don't put the term 'curriculum vitae' at the top of the page, instead use CV.
Make sure your email address sounds professional (in this instance, please use your school email address.) If your personal address is inappropriate create a new account for professional use.
Don't 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.

The 11 most common CV mistakes….

Not checking for typos
Always use spell-check and also read through your CV carefully.

Not getting someone else to check it too
Get a second pair of eyes (it can be a friend or family member) to look for spelling mistakes, spot grammar issues and check it makes sense to them.

Not making it ‘idiot proof’
Your CV should make sense to someone outside your industry – or even your grandma. So explain who ‘Joe Bloggs Ltd’ are and what you did there.

Making it too wordy
Too many words in your CV and people won’t read it. Use short, descriptive sentences and bullet points.

Worrying about the number of pages
If you have a long career or lots of experience, it’s okay for your CV to go onto three pages – provided it covers everything you do in a succinct way. Your CV is your first step to an interview and needs to tell potential employers who you are.

Adding a photo
This is okay in some countries, but in the UK it’s a no-no. Add your LinkedIn profile to your CV, if you really want them to see you.

Inappropriate social media profiles
If you do add LinkedIn or Twitter profiles, make sure they’re professionally put together. Your social presence is your personal brand and shouldn’t portray you as an exhibitionist party-animal. For any profiles that include incriminating photos, make sure your privacy settings are high!

An unoriginal personal profile
Everyone says, ‘I am sociable and work well in a team or as an individual.’ This is wishy-washy and over-used. Make your personal profile different and interesting. Talk about your skillset and what you want as your next job.

Unprofessional fonts or colours
Avoid flowery and ornate fonts or colours that don’t look professional. Red as a font colour is too harsh and freestyle script, although pretty, is not professional or easy to read at a glance.
Incorrect personal details
Triple check everything and make sure you spell your email address correctly and don’t miss any digits in your phone number.
A cover-all covering letter
If you’re sending lots of applications, it’s tempting to just copy and paste your covering letter or email. It’s so important to take time to personalise each one for the role you’re applying for. The company you’re writing to want to feel special – that you’re interested in them and genuinely want a job there.

Make sure your CV is interesting from the start. Employers receive hundreds of CV’s sometimes just for one job. Make sure your CV stands out from the crowd! It is well known that most employers will give each CV they read approximately six seconds before they decide to bin it or place it in a pile of potentials……make sure yours doesn’t go in the bin!

Any questions or concerns then please feel free to email me: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Attachments:
10 Tips for Writing a Great CV	93 kB