COMMENT
Get A Better Job

We all know that in the competitive world of job hunting, our curriculum vitae (CV) is our most important weapon. Those little sheets of paper will be scanned in seconds, and if they don't make a good first impression you can forget about getting any further! So how can you give yours the edge?

Everyone has their own opinion of the ideal way to present your CV – but here's a basic format:

CV Length

It's important to realise there is no set rule governing how long your CV should be. That said, potential employers are unlikely to bother sifting through a 'War and Peace' epic – so try to stick to one or two pages.

Structure

Start with your personal details: Full name, date of birth and contact details, including telephone numbers and email address. Then add a succinct profile of yourself, outlining your skills, experience and career goals.

Chronological CV

You can now follow this with your career history. You can do this chronologically – presenting your career history over the past ten years in reverse order, starting with the most recent and working back.

This is the most common format and emphasises career progression. The flip side, of course, is that it will show up any career breaks so you'll need to be prepared to talk about them.

Functional CV

An alternative method is to write a more functional CV – putting emphasis on key skills which can be grouped together under suitable headings. This can be useful if you've held a number of unrelated jobs as it puts emphasis on your skills and aptitudes.

Whichever format you choose, give brief descriptions of responsibilities and achievements, remembering to show how your experience demonstrates your communication, leadership or initiative skills.

Now you can add your educational history and professional qualifications. List these in reverse chronological order, including institutions and grades achieved.

Finally, add a section on personal interests and hobbies – but keep it short. Add details for referees if they have been specifically asked for, otherwise you can write 'References on request'.

You'll also need to write a good covering letter, tailored to the job you're applying for, to personalise your approach. The covering letter, coupled with your CV should create a clear picture of you and your career history, and hopefully secure you that all important place in the shortlist!

Remember:

• Your CV is selling you. Make sure it looks clear, uncluttered and is laser printed in black ink with a clear typeface on good quality white paper.
• Bullet points can get your points across clearly whilst reducing the number of words used.
• Keep re-writing it until you are satisfied – and check your spelling and grammar carefully.
• Ask a trusted friend to read it through and listen to any constructive criticism.
• You don't need to include salary details, marital status, details of children or photographs (unless you look like Brad Pitt, maybe)
• Follow all instructions given in the job advertisement.
• Stick to the truth. Do you honestly think a potential employer won't carry out any checks?

Go on, get writing that CV and you could end up with the job you've always wanted!