The Latin phrase Curriculum Vitae (CV) translates into English as something like "the race of life". Today, in a competitive job market in which people are defined as much by what they do as anything else, this translation makes perfect sense: a good CV can give you an immensely valuable head start in the race that is your working life. Whether you are just setting out, looking to change tracks and career paths, or hoping to start again, a strong CV provides a base from which you can derive great confidence in the modern work place.

Layout

A CV will be the basis of an employer's first impressions, and a good one may be the reason that you reach the interview round. On the other hand, a shoddy CV could mean that you don't get the chance of a face to face meeting. Don't let your CV do you down. If you were a book, your CV would be its cover. For this reason, it is important to take the utmost care in presenting it.

• Choose a font that is both attractive and clear. 'Times New Roman' is a good font but is a tad boring. 'Georgia' and 'Perpetua' are both good choices. It is best to choose a font that looks professional. Avoid anything over-elaborate, and make sure to stay consistent throughout. Use different sizes to emphasise headings rather than different fonts.
• It is better to use bold and italic for emphasis rather than underlining.
• Don't waste space on unnecessary headings. The title of the page should be your name, and you don't need a separate heading for the 'personal details sections'.
• Try to maximise the use of space. Avoid creating large areas of white space on the page, but don't cram things in too tightly either. The key is creating a balanced look. Leave enough space between each section.
• Make sure each section is clearly labelled with an appropriate heading. Separating lines can help to differentiate sections from one another whilst maintaining a professional look.
• Try not to split sections across two pages. If you need more room, move the whole section onto the next page.
• If you are printing your CV rather than emailing it, make sure you use good quality paper, and keep it from getting folded or crumpled.
• Make sure that all spellings are correct. Nothing appears more unprofessional than bad spelling.

 

Content

A nice layout will only get you so far. At some point, someone will (hopefully!) actually read your CV. The content of your CV will depend somewhat on the type of job that you are applying for. In general however, the following sections should be included. Remember, although you should portray yourself in the best possible light, you are by no means allowed to lie on your CV.

• Start with your name as the page title.
• Underneath this, include your address and contact details – telephone number, mobile number and email address.
• You also need to supply your nationality and date of birth. You can include gender and marital status, but these are by no means necessary.

If you have recently finished school/college/university, then education should be your first section. If you have been working for a long time, it is better to lead off with employment history.

Education

• Put your most recent qualifications first. You should only go as far back as GCSE results. Along with the results, include the date they were awarded and the school/college/university at which you attended. If you have reached degree level then you do not need to list individual GCSE's, only the overall awards (e.g. 3 A's, 4 B's, 3 C's)
• If you have not yet completed your degree, then put down your most recent examination mark and a predicted overall class mark.

Employment

• Here you should include details, again starting with the most recent, of the jobs you have held. If you have had many jobs, then only include the most recent ones – remember, space is the most important thing. Try to include the jobs that you think are most appropriate to the position that you are applying for.
• Again, include dates of employment, as well as job titles and a brief description of your main tasks and responsibilities.
• This is the place to include any work expience, internships or placements, but make sure that it is clear exactly what you were doing.

Additional Achievements and Interests

• It is a good idea to provide a section which details your life outside of school and the workplace. Here, you can note down any achievements you may have accomplished and your interests.
• Try to display each one in a positive light, so that it is clear how much of an asset you are. Taking part in a local football league, for example can develop team skills, whilst travelling abroad can equip you with independence and confidence.
• You should make a note here of any computer skills, languages and your level of fluency, and also whether or not you can drive.

Referees

• It is not crucial to include any references on your CV. If an employer wishes to check, they can ask you for them at a later date. Sometimes it is a good idea to place them in a cover letter instead. Your referees may not be comfortable with you disclosing their contact details, so check first.
• If you do decide to include them on your CV, choose 2 – preferably one academic/work related and one to serve as a character witness. This can be anyone you know but not someone related to you, and it is better to choose a professional.

Vocabulary

Always write in the third person, and in the past tense. Try to make your CV as lean as possible; don't over elaborate on any descriptions. Keep it as clear as possible. So instead of:

"I talk to people on the phone and get all their information such as names and dates of birth. After that I make them an appointment for an interview and type it up onto the computer"

Try:

"Communicated with clients by phone, collected personal information and scheduled appointments on computer"

Not only is it much more succinct, but it sounds much more professional. As you can see, employers will respond better to some words than others. Here are a few that are good to lead off with…

• Assisted
• Collected
• Communicated
• Created
• Demonstrated
• Maintained
• Organised
• Produced
• Represented
• Scheduled
• Wrote

Summary

The most important thing to remember in writing your CV is that it will form your potential employer's first impression of you. For this reason spend as much time as possible crafting your CV and refining it until it gives the best (truthful) representation of you. Try to cater it to the specific requirements of the job on offer, so that anyone reading it can see that you are the ideal candidate. Choose your layout carefully, provide information that is relevant and use vocabulary that is both professional and concise. These steps will ensure that your CV will give the best possible account of you.