A Guide to the Perfect CV

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 679.

References

Interests

Activities at school and college

Work Experience

Qualifications

Education

Think ahead

Look at the CV and say what you think is wrong.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Name: Mary Smith

Address: 23 Forest St

Bedford

Dorchester WO3 5SM

Tel: 638208

Date of birth: 3/7/88

Age: 26

1999-2006 Bedford High School

2006-2009 University of Surrey

7 ‘0' levels – English literature (B), English language (A), Biology (A), Chemistry (A), History (C), German (B), Maths (A)

3 ‘A' levels – Chemistry (C), Biology (A)

Degree in Biological Sciences – Class II (ii)

Passable German; some computer literacy

2002 – 2005 Local paper round every morning

2006 – 2008 Bar work

2008 – 2013 Casual work with Bedford Postal Services

School perfect

Captain of school rugby team

College entertainments officer 2006 – 2008

Secretary of college section of Greenpeace

Jogging, reading, travel, socializing

Mr J Green Mr H Hunt

Head of Bedford High School Post Office Manager

Bedford Bedford

Dorchester WO3 5SM Dorchester WO3 4FT

Text 6.2 Read the text and summarise the main points as a list of guidelines on compiling a CV.

Your CV is the one thing you must get right. A badly laid-out CV, or one that gives a prospective employer the wrong impression, could minimise your chances of reaching the interview stage and getting the job. What is required is precise and well-presented summary of your strengths and achievements.

A hand-written CV is unacceptable, it should be word processed. Remember, keep it short! Busy employers do not have time to read a rambling narrative, and will not be impressed by one. They want facts: qualification, skills and experience – and should be able to see at a glance exactly what you have to offer them.

A good CV should run to no more than two pages of A4. Graduates should limit themselves to a single page. The layout should be clear and easy on the eye. Leave wide margins on either side of the page. Use bold type for headings and bullet points for noteworthy achievements.

It is generally best to begin with your education. Place it in chronological order, and do not use abbreviations. You should always list any work experience in reverse chronology, i.e. putting the most recent position first. If you have achieved anything noteworthy at work, or had some responsibility, say so. If the job you are after involves working as part of a team, put down any hobbies that show you are versatile and can get on with people.

Tailor your CV to the needs of the job. However be warned: adaptability is not a byword for dishonesty. Rewriting your CV when applying for different jobs is a good thing. Lying about your qualifications and experience is not.

Avoid including information that shows you in a negative light. Employers can find out any negative things about you at the interview; but by then you will be able to defend yourself, or at least show the issues in a more positive light.

Exclude information about your marital status, career objectives, salary requirements and references. All of these are topics to be discussed at the interview. Do not send a photograph of yourself, or write down every hobby or interest you have ever had. Give prominence to skills such as fluency in a foreign language or proficiency with computer packages. Avoid using the pronoun ‘I' – it is your CV so it is taken for granted that you are referring to yourself. Instead, begin sentences with positive, active words like ‘achieved', ‘directed' and ‘supervised'.

You should always highlight the positive, not the negative. Personnel managers do not like to admit it, but many of them look for something negative as a way of dismissing an applicant. When compiling a CV, think of it as a tool to get you an interview, and the interview as the tool to give you the job.