How to write a CV?

When applying for a new role, you need to make sure that your CV stands out and is at the top of the list!

There are many different ways to structure a CV and this can change depending on the type of job that you are applying for.

Our preference, as a recruitment specialist, is short, sharp, to the point and easy to pick out the key information.

In our opinion, for any role that DOES NOT require a qualification, this format works for us:

1. Personal information (name, number, email address, location, maybe a link to your LinkedIn profile if you have one), ensure that your contact information is upto date and correct.

2. Quick intro/personal statement (if you wish) to give a brief overview of your objectives and what you are looking for.

3. Straight into career history! Start with the most recent role first, ensure you list all of your responsibilities and achievements and the dates of employment are current (and match your Linkedin profile, if you have one). For us, bullet points work to list responsibilities so that it is easy to locate the key information. If your current position is sales/KPI/target focused, put your figures on your CV, it really helps to show your commercial brain.

4. Next, education. Add as many qualifications as you can, where you got them and when (if you can remember!)

5. It is completely up to you whether you want to add a hobbies and interests section. It can help to demonstrate team fit, or it could also have the opposite effect if you add something that the hiring manager really isn't into.

6. What may be a better idea is a skills section, where you rate your own ability in various key areas that are relevant to the role that you are applying for. Get creative with some great graphs and graphics displaying this information.

7. References - NEVER put the details on your CV!

If you are applying for a position that DOES require a specific qualification or degree, then our advice would be to switch the education and career history section around to showcase that you have this early on, as this may be a deal breaker and affect the success of your application.

Remember, the quicker and easier it is for people to identify the information that they require, the more likely your CV is to make it into the shortlist!

We hope this helps and thanks for reading 👍

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