CV Do's and Don'ts
DO
- Clearly state all your contact details at the top of the page, including telephone and e-mail
- Include your qualifications, with the highest level attained first. No need to list all your ‘O’ levels or GCSEs. Include membership of professional institutes
- Use bold to highlight different sections. Leave white space around each item to make it easy to read
- Use bullet points. They break up information and make it easier for the reader to find key information
- Use quality paper if you are sending the CV by post and put it in an A4 enevelope so you don’t have to fold it
- Start bullet points with “action” verbs, write in the third person and past tense. Eg, Instigated, developed, improved, managed, co-ordinated
- For chronological CV's, make sure you start with the most recent position and work backwards.
- The CV should be no longer than two pages.
- Don’t forget additional skills you may have, for instance language skills or IT skills Include any training courses you have attended that are relevant
- Check the CV carefully for spelling, grammar, punctuation and typographical errors
DON'T
- Write the heading Curriculum Vitae at the top - recruiters will know what it is
- Use “I”. It’s a CV not a story
- Include information on religion or political affiliation. The person reading it may have a different view and you don’t want to end up on the reject pile for the wrong reason
- Make up your interests! You may be asked to talk about them
- Mention salary on the CV – keep this for the covering letter if you have been asked or preferably for discussion when an offer is on the table
- Attach a photograph.
Next: What to Include?
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