How to prepare and write a CV
General points to remember when preparing a CV;
- Your CV should be printed on white paper with black ink, in a plain font
- Use the past tense when writing a CV, this helps it to sound more powerful
- Keep it as simple as possible, do not add pictures or bordering
- You may need to tailor your CV differently for each job application to highlight most relevant skills
- Use bullet points rather than full sentences to help minimise word usage
- Make sure that that all dates are correct and that there are no gaps
- Carefully check a completed CV to ensure it is grammatically correct and free from spelling mistakes
Always start with your personal details, including full name, date of birth and all contact details. Then follow this with education and professional qualifications, remembering to put them in reverse order so your university results are before your school results; include all grades and passes achieved.
Then include your employment history, starting with your most recent position. It is normal for the jobs to be in reverse order so your most recent and normally most relevant position is at the beginning.
For each role include the dates, position, any promotion or achievements should also be included, along with the tasks and duties you perform in this role.
Place hobbies and interests last and keep this section short.
Finally you need to either insert “References Available on Request” or include two contacts that can be approached for references.
If you would like additional help or advice on how to prepare your CV for optimum results please contact the RedPepper Recruitment Team and one of our Consultants will be happy to assist. Contact info@redpepperrecruitment.com or telephone on 0161 2121 444