Constructing a winning CV

The purpose of your CV. - To secure interviews with clients. It is a selling document designed to give the best impression of you. Highlight your skills, experience, education and achievements to ensure clients get a favourable first impression.

What is the client looking for ?

Put yourself in the shoes of their shoes!. What are they looking for.How do they decide who to interview? Your CV should be tailored so that you have:

 The Specific skills needed for the job

The right sort and length of experience

Your personal attributes

A concise CV limited only two pages

Typewritten - Laid out with wide margins, section headings and information in logical order

Accurate with NO spelling mistakes and accurate dates

Creating an impression.

The look of the CV is important. Keep it simple. Go for plain white or cream, good quality A4 paper. Choose a clear black typeface. A clear binder and well written covering letter are the final touches.

Frequently Asked Questions

"My CV would fill four pages, at least"
Highlight the skills most relevant to the job you are applying for. Detail recent experience and summarise everything else - recent activities are more interesting to an employer than what you did years ago.

"I’ve had a lot of jobs"
Condense your employment record and focus on the skills you have achieved
through your experience. 

"I’ve had gaps between jobs"
If the gaps include voluntary work, training or relevant experience - travel, for
example - put these down as part of your skills, qualifications and experience.

"Most of the jobs I’ve done have been very much the same"
Solution: concentrate on your key skills and achievements and simply
summarise your actual career history. Pay attention to the Key Skills
section on your CV as a place to bring together all of the achievements and
abilities learned over the course of your career.

"I don’t have many qualifications"
Concentrate on what you do have. Emphasise practical skills and
experience: these are more valuable to an employer.

CV CHECKLIST

When you have written your CV, check the following points:

Is it clear?

Do the relevant points stand out?

Is the language clear and understandable?

Are your skills and achievements emphasised?

Can the employer see the key points at a glance, or does the
information have to be searched for and guessed at?

Is the document free of qualifying words such as fairly, usually and
hopefully?

Is it well presented, smart and professional looking?

Be sure to communicate exactly what you’ve got to offer an employer eg:extra skills and experience you can bring.

Best Of Luck!

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