Chapter 6: What to include on a CV

1. A good CV should include the following:

• your personal information
• your personal profile
• your academic profile
• details about your work experience (if you have any)
• details about any voluntary work that you’ve undertaken
• details about your key skills, experiences and achievements
• details of any courses and conferences that you’ve attended that are relevant to the position that you’re applying for
• a brief summary of your leisure interests and hobbies
• references.

Write a great CV for yourself. The information that you include in your CV will differ depending on your personal situation, or on your current employment status.

The information mentioned above is only applicable to graduates or school leavers. It’s not applicable to people who are, or have been, in full-time employment.

2. Your personal profile…

• should provide a short summary of your character, your experience and what you can bring to an organisation
• shouldn’t be more than ten lines (not sentences!) long
• should stand out so justify the text, make it bold and italicise it.

3. Be specific about what you’ve done

The examples that you include in your CV that refer to your work experience should provide specific details about what you’ve done in all of the jobs or work experience placements that you have had. Your examples should:

• explain what each of your work placement roles involved
• provide examples of what you’ve done in each role that you’ve had
• explain what skills and competencies you used when you did your job.

4. Key skills, attributes and achievements

The examples that you include in your key skills, attributes and achievements section on your CV section must:

• be relevant to the job that you’re applying for
• demonstrate the skills, experience and competencies that your potential employer has identified as necessary for the role that you’re applying for
• provide real and explicit evidence of your skills and attributes
• demonstrate how good you are at doing something.

5. Other skills and qualifications

The text that you write under the key skills, attributes and achievements section on your CV should also include details about all of your relevant skills and qualifications that are not covered elsewhere in your CV.

Things that fall under this category might include: your language skills, computer literacy and IT skills, general qualifications and memberships that are relevant to the job or role you’re applying for.

6. Demonstrate the breadth of your vocabulary

If you can, avoid repeating the same words and phrases throughout your text.

Varying your text will demonstrate to your potential employer that you have a broad vocabulary. If you’re struggling to find suitable alternatives then use a thesaurus.

7. Checking your text for spelling mistakes

Don’t rely on your computer to spot all of your grammar and spelling mistakes. Always check your text manually.

8. Use the space on your CV wisely

Don’t waste space by typing “Curriculum Vitae” at the top of your CV. It should be obvious that it’s a Curriculum Vitae!

9. Looking and feeling good

Once you’ve finished editing your CV and you’re happy with your text and the layout, then you can print it.

You should print your CV on a good quality paper that weighs 100gsm (per sheet) or more.

10. Submitting your CV in hard copy

If you’re going to send your potential employer a hard copy of your CV by post then:

• don’t fold it
• send it in a reinforced A4 envelope so that it doesn’t get creased or damaged in the post. Your potential employer might not bother to read a shabby looking CV.
• don’t bind or staple it together, use a paper clip to hold it together instead (this will make it easier for your potential employer to photocopy your CV if they need to).

These tips and practical steps have been sourced by Creative Choices° and written by the team at 1st Steps to Success Limited. You can visit their website for more information and to download a more comprehensive guide (or ‘Knowledge Insight Pack’) which includes plenty of examples, tips, practical advice and easy-to-use templates that will help you to find and then secure full-time employment..