How to write a
Curriculum Vitae
What is a CV?
CV stands for ‘curriculum vitae’, which means ‘the course of one’s life’, or ‘life history’. A CV is a document which records relevant facts about you, such as your skills, work experience, education and personal details.
Why have a CV?
· Your CV is your passport to a job interview. It's your chance to show an employer you've got the skills and experience they need, and that you're the right person for the job.
· Your CV will highlight your achievements and your suitability for a job.
· A good CV will make it easier for employers to find out the things they want to know about you.
· Having an up-to-date CV means that you can respond quickly to current job vacancies.
· It enables you to market yourself speculatively to organisations that you would like to work for.
· Additionally, a CV is a handy reference document which you can use to fill in job application forms.
What needs to be included in your CV?
There is no single way to produce a CV. This guide covers two possible options. There are no fixed rules about what you need to include, but you should aim to cover the following areas:
Personal details – name, address and telephone contact numbers are essential. Include an email address if you have one. Nationality and marital status can be included if you want to. Date of birth is now optional.
Profile – Your personal profile should summarise your skills and qualities; work background and achievements and career aims. Not everyone chooses to include a profile, but it is a good way to emphasise qualities and abilities that may not be reflected in the rest of your CV.
Work experience and skills – In this section you should start with your present or most recent job and work backwards. You should include employer, the dates you worked for them, job title and your main duties. Provide more detail on the relevant jobs you've had and give examples of the skills you used and what you achieved. Use bullet pointed lists. However, if you have had limited work experience, a wide variety of jobs, or have gaps in your work history, you can focus on your relevant skills and achievements.
Try to relate your skills and experience to the job description or what you think the employer is looking for, if you're sending your CV on spec. When detailing your work experience, don’t overlook any voluntary work or other non-paid activities that you have undertaken.
Education and qualifications – Start with your most recent qualifications and work back to the ones you got at school. Using bullet points or a table include: names of schools, colleges and awarding bodies and any work-related courses, if they're relevant. List qualifications gained, including dates, subjects and levels achieved.
Other information – here you can list additional information such as health and safety training, first aid qualifications, computer literacy, languages, driving licence, membership of organisations or anything that might attract an employer’s attention. This is also the section where you can include your hobbies and interests. Make sure that all your interests are not solitary activities as this may imply that you are not a team player. Try to avoid putting activities like cooking or reading, as these activities are too general and widespread to be of interest to an employer. Make them specific and interesting!
References – references can be work-related, academic or personal. Personal references, or character references are useful if you are applying for your first job or if you have limited work experience. You need to ask two people if they would be willing to provide a reference for you. Make sure you have their contact details ready to pass on to a potential employer. All you need to put on your CV initially is ‘references available on request’.
General Tips
To make an impression, your CV needs to stand out. An employer may have a large number of CVs to read through and will want to weed out unsuitable applicants as quickly as possible. Your CV needs to be easy to read, so make sure it is relevant, concise and well laid out. In order to achieve this, consider some of the following points:
Do:
· Use headings or bullet points to separate sections and leave a space between paragraphs as this will make your CV easier to read
· Use good quality white or cream paper
· Choose a font style that is easy to read such as Arial
· Use font size 12 and allow at least 1 inch margins
· Make sure your CV is accurate and proofread - ask someone else to check it over for mistakes
· If possible compose and save your CV on a computer so you can update or amend it when you need to, but don’t rely on spell check
· As a general rule don’t use more than two sides of A4 paper
Don’t:
· List full addresses of previous employers or places of learning – town and/or county is sufficient
· Include photographs
· Lie or exaggerate
· Be too modest – remember that you are ‘selling’ yourself to a potential employer
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Next Step is a publicly funded service, helping adults get the advice they need for future skills, careers, work and life choices.
Choosing a CV style
There are many different ways of producing a CV. This guide highlights two tried and tested styles which you can adapt and combine to meet your own needs. You will be more prepared for potential job opportunities if you are able to produce your CV in different formats.
The Chronological CV (or Performance CV)
This is the most traditional CV format and the most familiar to employers. This style highlights your work experience and is ideal when you want to emphasise progress and increasing responsibility and experience. It is also useful when you want to emphasise a stable and structured career path.
Each job you have ever held is listed in reverse date order. Beneath each job you can bullet point your achievements and responsibilities.
· Good for applying for positions in similar fields to your previous jobs
· Useful if you have had an employment history that shows development over time
· An appropriate style when applying for jobs in more traditional fields
This style is not particularly well-suited to the individual who has changed jobs frequently or who is switching career paths.
The Functional CV
This CV style emphasises skills, talents and abilities over and above your employment experience.
· Use this style when applying for jobs outside of your work experience, as it will allow you to draw attention to your transferable skills and abilities
· Useful if you have had a variety of jobs previously
· Good for disguising a patchy or limited work history
Remember to adapt your CV to the particulars of a job advert or job specification. You don't have to use the same CV every time. You can have different versions, each for a different kind of job. Or you can tailor your CV to suit the job you're applying for. It isn't a case of one size fits all.
Example of a chronological CV, including a short profile statement
George Smith
1 Fairway Banks
Dorset, DT6 8KL
01234 56789
Mobile: 07777 123456
Email address
An enthusiastic and dependable individual with several years experience in the retail trade now seeking full time employment in the local area.
Employment History
Any Store, Weymouth
Sales Assistant March 2001 to present
· Responsible for dealing with customers on a daily basis
· Operating till and cash handling
· Organisation and display of stock
· Assisted with the maintenance of store cleanliness
Any Newsagent, Weymouth
Shop Assistant Dec 2000 to March 2001
· Marking up papers for delivery rounds
· Serving customers and dealing with queries
· Oversaw delivery of supplies
· Assisted with cashing up at the end of the day
Any Garden Centre, Preston
Administration Assistant 1996 to 2000
· Dealt with incoming invoices from suppliers
· Handled and distributed the post
· Received and made telephone calls
· Liaised with customers and assisted with problem solving
Catering Assistant 1994 to 1996
· Prepared food
· Assisted Chef with general duties
Work Experience Summer 1993
· Washing up
· Clearing tables
Education and Training
NVQ Level 2 Customer Care – 2004
Basic Food Hygiene Certificate - 1996
NVQ Level 1 Food Preparation and Handling – 1996
3 GCSE’s passes, including English - 1990 – 1993 Any School, Bournemouth
Additional Information
Full driving licence
Hobbies and Interests
Football, fishing, reading, going to the cinema and socialising with friends
References available on request
Example of a chronological CV
Maurice Edwards
20 Blackway Road,
Heythorp
Rutland,
HE9 2RR
Tel: 01321 412516
Email:
Date of birth: 27 April 1965 (Optional)
A qualified and experienced maintenance engineer, with effective communication skills and management experience in plant hire, seeking further responsibility in a managerial position.
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
February 1992 to present: Manager, Russell Hire Ltd, Heythorp
· Responsible for smooth and effective management of this small but busy branch, hiring out tools and equipment to customers in the construction trade and to the general public.
· Oversaw the successful introduction of a computerised financial record system.
· Developed the existing staff induction programme, which has now been adopted by the company nationally.
· Increased turnover by 30% since taking over management of the branch.
October 1986 – February 1992: General Assistant, Kennet Plant Hire, Heythorp
· Dealt with customers wishing to hire tools and equipment.
· Responsible for checking and maintenance of the equipment, and undertaking basic repair work.
· Provided instruction and advice to the customers to ensure customer safety, and correct usage of the equipment.
September 1983 – October 1986: Maintenance Assistant, Heythorp Borough Council
· Responsible for the upkeep of machinery and tools in the Parks and Gardens Department.
· Undertook simple repair work of gates, seats, etc.
EDUCATION
1981-83 Heythorp College: City and Guilds General Horticulture
1976-81 Heythorp School: A range of CSE’S, including English and Mathematics
OTHER INFORMATION
Due to company takeover and closure of the branch in the next six months, I am actively seeking to improve my management skills and qualifications by following a NEBSM Diploma in Management course at Heythorp College.
I am a positive, well-motivated person, both at work and in my spare time, where I help a local charity for the visually impaired. At present, we are raising funds for a scented garden.
References available on request
A functional CV – emphasising skills, talents and abilities over and above
employment experience
Mrs A N Other
1 Any Street
Bournemouth
BH1 1WR
01202 123456
Mobile: 07888 123456
Email Address
A motivated, committed and hard working individual, eager to learn new skills currently looking for a part-time permanent position in Customer Service or Sales.
Key Skills
· Effective communicator at all levels
· IT Literate
· Able to prioritise and work to deadlines
· Excellent customer service skills
· Accurate and methodical approach to all work responsibilities
· Willing to learn new skills and knowledge
Employment
Primary School, Bournemouth
Voluntary Classroom Assistant 2001 to present
· One to one support
· Small group reading
· Assisting with classroom preparation
Managing home and personal development 1997 to 2001
A Baby Shop, Bournemouth 1990 to 1997
Customer Assistant
· Cash and till handling
· Stock taking
· Dealing with customer enquiries
· Responsible for Window displays
Education and Training
1984 to 1990 Any School, Bournemouth: Educated to GCSE standard
ECDL Level 2 – 2000
College Certificate in Pottery and Ceramics – 1999
Interests
Designing and making vases and urns, swimming and spending time with family and friends.
References available on request
Useful phrases and words to help you build your CV profile
A conscientious and hard-working administrator, fully experienced in the use of Microsoft Office applications, seeking a full-time position in a local company.
A flexible and efficient operative, with ten years experience of manufacturing processes, looking for a supervisory position.
An adaptable and efficient catering assistant, able to work under pressure, keen to expand their skills in the industry.
A skilled and innovative manager, with a proven track record in achieving targets, and specific experience in sales and marketing.
A friendly, outgoing person, punctual, reliable and willing to learn, happy working on own initiative or as part of a team.
An innovative and motivated individual, with an extensive background in retail, looking for an opportunity to move into management.
Other useful words you might use in your profile
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Next Step is a publicly funded service, helping adults get the advice they need for future skills, careers, work and life choices.
Able
Adaptable
Ambitious
Analytical
Bi-lingual
Bright
Calm
Capable
Caring
Competent
Confident
Co-operative
Creative
Decisive
Dedicated
Dependable
Determined
Diligent
Dynamic
Educated
Effective
Efficient
Enthusiastic
Experienced
Flexible
Hard-working
Honest
Imaginative
Independent
Innovative
Lively
Loyal
Mature
Methodical
Motivated
Open-minded
Organised
Out-going
Patient
People-oriented
Personable
Practical
Productive
Professional
Punctual
Qualified
Quick-thinking
Reliable
Resourceful
Responsible
Self-reliant
Sensitive
Skilled
Sociable
Successful
Supportive
Tactful
Talented
Tenacious
Thorough
Trustworthy
Versatile
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Next Step is a publicly funded service, helping adults get the advice they need for future skills, careers, work and life choices.
You can use the Job Profiles stored on the Next Step website at: https://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/planningyourcareer/jobprofiles/Pages/default.aspx
to help you build your CV profile, Key skills and describe your job tasks and responsibilities.
Suggested profile phrases
I am a professional person who strives to achieve high standards
I am organised and methodical in my approach to work
I am flexible and adaptable in my attitude to my role and its responsibilities
I enjoy learning new skills and developing existing skills
I am an effective team member capable of using my own initiative when required
I can handle all kind of situations with confidence, tact and diplomacy
I am an effective communicator and can converse easily on all levels
I have excellent time management ability
I promote Best Practice within the team
I have in the past increased my team’s productivity by introducing effective working practices
I have always adhered to health & Safety policy and procedure
I always promote equality within the workplace recognising the value of a diverse workforce
I always prioritise my workload depending on internal & external influences
I find it easy to motivate other team members as I am always motivated myself
I always follow company policy and procedure
I have many transferable skills that would allow me to be successful in this position
I have an approachable personality
I have good interpersonal skills
I have excellent problem solving ability
I thrive on a challenge and adapt to change readily
I am used to working under pressure and to tight deadlines
I am used to achieving and exceeding targets and recognise that they encourage investment
I enjoy building good working relationships
I have excellent networking capability and can build capacity
I have excellent verbal & written communication skills
I can successfully analyse problems and develop effective solutions
I have developed good people management skills with a democratic approach
I am able to concentrate and pay attention to detail
Able to work accurately under pressure
Action words – useful when completing the work experience and skills section of your CV, whatever style you have chosen