Kehf

Candidate Guide - Writing a CV

Writing a good CV is crucial in your search for a new job. In a normal selection process your
CV is the first thing on which a potential employer will judge you. And even then most will
scan read, giving you less than two minutes to create the right first impression.

It is therefore imperative that you package, present and sell yourself well in your CV. It must
immediately highlight how you could positively benefit the employer. It must inspire
confidence in your abilities. And most of all, it must make the employer want to know much
more about you.

Now you must write up this information in a way that sells you and your background to
potential employers. This is often the most difficult aspect of CV writing, so don’t expect to
write the perfect one at your first attempt!

Your CV should include the following:

Your full name

Your home address
Your home phone number
Your mobile phone number
Your personal email address

Profile – describe what you are like to work with in one short sentence.

Employment History – listing most recent first. Try to keep it concise whilst including
your main responsibilities and achievements in the role.

Education – an overview of your qualifications.

Key skills / training / awards – list any relevant skills, training and awards you have eg.
computer packages you can use, languages you can speak, Duke of Edinburgh or
memberships of professional bodies etc.

Interests – Keep this relevant.

Top Tips

 Try to keep your CV to no more than 2 sides of A4

 Tailor your CV to the job you are applying for eg. if you are applying for a role that
involves people management don’t forget to mention any examples of where you
have managed people
 Check your CV for errors making sure you have no spelling mistakes, ensuring you
have told the truth throughout and have left no obvious gaps (eg. if you have had a
gap year or career break then say so!)
 Write in a professional and commercially aware style. Demonstrate how you could
benefit a prospective employer
 Question the relevance of everything you include, e.g. listing your children's
names won’t add any value and are therefore best left out