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CV Tips & Templates

First impressions count and in many cases, your CV, covering letter and/or application form will form part of your first impression with a potential employer.

It is therefore vital that you make sure these documents portray you accurately and in the best light so you can make a great impression.

In this section you can find advice on:

How to Write and Layout a CV

We have provided 3 alternate cv templates for you to download and use as a starting point:

• Template 1 (Microsoft Word Format - 25Kb)
• Template 2 (Microsoft Word Format - 25Kb)
• Template 3 (Microsoft Word Format - 30Kb)

You might wish to look at this CV, which is marked up with a number of common CV mistakes (link to 'bad CV')

Your covering letter is as important as your CV. It can help to differentiate your application from all the others and ensure that it stands out. Our guide on how to write an effective covering letter can help. This template (link to Letter) might also come in handy.

If you need any further advice or would like to discuss your individual CV, please speak with your Consultant

Writing your CV

A good CV gives prospective employers a quick, concise summary of your qualifications, experience, skills and suitability for a particular role.

A really good CV gets noticed ahead of the many others that arrive on employers' desks every day.

What your CV should include

• Your name, address and full contact details
• A one-paragraph profile that sums up your professional and personal attributes, such as:
  • Key roles you've completed to date
  • Your experience in a specific sector or industry,
  • Your 'unique selling points', eg. problem-solver, team player, etc
• Your professional experience - starting with your most recent position and including start and finish dates, job title, employer, key responsibilities and achievements and accounting for any career gaps
• Your education - from secondary school onwards, with names of schools, colleges or universities, attendance dates and qualifications gained
• Your skills and professional or specialist qualifications - including any relevant training courses you've completed
• Details of any software packages you're familiar with and level of proficiency e.g. basic, intermediate and advanced
• A quick overview of your life outside work - include hobbies, sporting activities and personal interests so that employers get a sense of the real you and what makes you tick

How to present your CV

Lay your CV out clearly and logically, using short sentences, bullet points, a single typeface and consistently sized headings. Make sure it covers no more than two sides of A4 and that your finished article is polished and error-free.

Be honest, accurate and able to talk confidently through any point on your CV. Tailor your CV to emphasise skills and experiences that match the role you're applying for. Decisions about which candidates to invite to interview are invariably based on the relevance of the information in their CVs.

Keep your CV up to date. New experiences, skills and qualifications will improve your value to future employers.

Finally, provide a covering letter or email to give a 'voice' to your CV and let your words do the talking. Draw out key points from your CV to state where there is a good match between what is required of the role and what you have to offer.

For more information speak with your dedicated consultant.