CV Advice

Creating a CV

Presentation

• Use good quality white paper with a plain type face.
• Avoid italics and decorative fonts and don't add an ornate border. You want to be noticed for what you say, not how you present it.
• Try to keep your CV no more than two pages long .
• Be  honest.

Structure

• Put your name at the top of the front page with your contact details directly underneath. Only include your work number if you do not mind being contacted there. 
• Have a clear structure that is easy to understand and read. Your aim is to present facts about yourself concisely and with clarity.
• Use bullet points rather than complete paragraphs which can sometimes lead to unnecessary wordiness.
• Your educational history, academic achievements and work experience should be listed in reverse chronological order; your university degree should come before your school exam results; your most recent job before your first.
• Never leave gaps. If you took a year out or carried out interim assignments, say so, otherwise employers can suspect the worst. Leave nothing to chance.
• Leave your hobbies and interests until last and keep this section short.

Double-check and proof read

• Check your CV carefully. Always run a spell check over it carefully and re-read to ensure accuracy. Ask a friend to proof read it also. 
• Your CV is the first impression your potential employer will have of you. Take the time to get it right, you may not have a second chance.