A quick guide to creating a CV.

This is a very quick guide to creating a CV for the UK job market.

The CV (Curriculum vitae) is the second most important thing in your job search tool box, the most important thing is you!

There are some ‘rules’ to follow when creating a CV for the UK Job Market, so follow this step-by-step guide to help you create that professional CV.

 

1.       Personal Information

·       Always begin with your full name.  This should be centred at the top of the page and in BOLD.  Also make your name slightly bigger by using a font size no larger than 26pt.

·       This should be followed by your residential address, all on one line, each part separated by a comma and should include your postcode.

·       This then should be followed by contact information such as your phone number and email address.  You can also include here a link to your ‘Linked In’ profile if you have one.

·       Both of these should sit under your name and be centred.

 

2.       Personal Statement

·       Write a concise and compelling personal statement at the beginning of your CV. It should summarize your skills, experiences, and career goals in a few sentences, capturing the attention of potential employers and relate to the job/industry you are applying to.

·       This part of your CV should change for every job you apply for so that it reflects what is being asked in the job advert by using some of their wording (for example, if applying to work in a retail establishment, some will advertise for a ‘shelf-stacker’, others will advertise for a ‘stock replenisher’, they are the same job, just different words used to describe them.

 

3.       Key Skills

·       Create a separate section to highlight your key skills and competencies relevant to the job you are applying for.

·       Include both hard skills (e.g., programming languages, software proficiency) and soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork).

 

4.       Employment History

·       List your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent or current job.

·       Include the job title, name of the company/organization, location, and employment dates. Provide a brief description of your role, responsibilities, and notable achievements.

·       Focus on quantifiable results and use action verbs to highlight your accomplishments.

·       Include both paid and voluntary work

·       Explain any breaks in employment history

 

 

 

5.       Education:

·       List your educational qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest degree or most recent education or training including any relevant in-work training.

·       Include the name of the institution, degree/qualification obtained, dates attended, and any relevant academic achievements or projects.

·       If qualifications are from countries outside the UK, have these been checked to see where they fit within the UK qualification system, if so what were the results?  Do you need to bring these qualifications up to the UK standard?

 

6.       Hobbies and interests

·       There is some debate whether this section should be included on a CV.

·       You would only use it to describe hobbies and interests that you have that can demonstrate a relation to the industry you are applying to.

·       Do not put ‘Socialising with family or friends’

·       If you have not got anything that relates do not put his section in.

 

7.       References

·       We do not put the names and contact details of our referee’s on the CV.

·       This is so that employers cannot contact them before they have had the chance to interview you.

·       We write a simple statement that says ‘References can be provided upon request’.

Note:  Referee’s should include a previous employer where possible.  If you have not worked for a while or the company is no longer in business then you can use character references.  These are references from people with ‘good standing in the community’ and who know you personally and should not be a relative.