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CV Writing Help

Your CV shouldn't be an unexpurgated account of your life to date. Recruiters simply won't be interested in the likes of that cycling proficiency badge you gained at the age of ten.

When a recruiter tells you that your CV is 'comprehensive', it's not always a compliment. The better your CV is edited and the more it focuses on the particular needs of the job you're going for, the better your chances of getting an interview.

Here are a few tips on how to play the various sections of your CV:

EXPERIENCE

When you provide details of the jobs you've held, the main areas you need to focus on for each role are:

Your position, the organisation where you work(ed) and the relevant dates
An outline of responsibilities and accountabilities
Your personal and managerial skills
Any significant achievements

Once you've compiled all this information, you should ask yourself three key questions:

Is this information relevant to the needs of the reader?
Does it provide positive evidence of my skills and competence?
Does this information add value?

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Don't automatically trot out every single qualification you hold. Judge how much detail the reader is likely to be interested in, given the job you're going for. For example, if you're applying to be Director of Finance in a blue-chip company, chances are that the grade you got in your woodworking exam twenty years ago isn't going to be one of your most impressive trump cards. On the other hand, it would be extremely relevant if you want to be considered for a carpentry apprenticeship.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

There's an argument for including date of birth, marital status (although recruiters tell me this isn't necessary most of the time) and possibly whether you hold a full driving licence. Just about everything else is unnecessarily self-revealing. You certainly don't need to give details of the number of children you have and their ages (and definitely not their names).

GENERAL

Eliminate unnecessary headings

For example, there's no need to put 'Curriculum Vitae' at the top of your CV. Besides stating the obvious, it takes up valuable space that you could devote to making a selling point.

Keep it short

As far as possible, stick to two sides of A4. CVs are subject to the whims of changing taste, but just now long and detailed CVs are definitely out of fashion. Besides, keeping it short forces you to be concise and relevant.

Use active verbs

Just compare the punch of active verbs like 'implemented', 'launched' and 'optimised' with the rather more mundane 'maintained', 'administered', 'recorded' and even 'managed'. Active verbs will give your CV more zip and impact.

Stuff to leave out

As a rule, don't include:

The reason(s) why you're leaving your current job
The salary you're looking for
References
Political allegiances
Pre-senior school education
The months when you changed/started jobs (just the years will do)
A photograph

There's an acid test to apply when deciding what to put in and what to leave out. Go through your CV and ask yourself whether each piece of information makes it more likely that you'll be invited to interview. Some pieces of information are neutral but necessary, such as your name and contact details, but the vast majority of the content should be positive and relevant.


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