How to write a CV

The ultimate guide to writing your CV

CREATE YOUR CV NOW!

Table of content:

When it comes to writing a CV, we often get scared or think we’re unable to make a suitable personalised CV. What we forget is that EVERYONE needs a CV. Everyone in the professional working world has had to write a curriculum, apply for jobs, go to interviews and negotiate terms of a new job with a potential employer.

So how can we get our CV to make a bigger impact than any other applicant?

While anyone can make a CV what counts is knowing how to make a good CV that’s worth sending as your job application!

Below you’ll find out:

• Which type of CV you should create
• What to include
• How to format your CV

Along with these tips you can use our CV builder to create your application with ease.

What is a CV?

Some people have an outdated idea that your CV is a list of your past jobs, education, and little else.

However, there should be more to it. Your CV should also:

• Provide data of your production
• Demonstrate your motivation to work for a company
• State how your qualifications will help you succeed

In order to make an outstanding CV that will land you a job interview for your ideal role, we need to forget this traditional view and embrace the ever-evolving modern world of CV writing.

Your CV is your personal presentation to the prospective employer. It needs to represent your professional profile as best as is possible by marketing you as a new asset for the company.

The following guide will teach you how to write a good CV that will stand out in the application process and each factor that should be considered throughout.

How to do a CV?

Looking for work is stressful for most people, however, with the correct CV-drafting strategy you’ll give yourself a major boost.

When it comes to getting down to the basics of how to write a curriculum vitae, there are several elements that each candidate must bear in mind.

• A CV or curriculum vitae, often referred to as a resume in the US must embrace the notion of writing a story to intrigue the reader, in this case a hiring manager.
• It’s essential to demonstrate professional achievements, work history, education, qualities, and skills that they can bring to the position and any extra qualifications that make them a suitable candidate for a specific role.
• You must approach CV writing from the perspective of your audience and treat each CV as an individual and new application, not copying and pasting the same material for every different job vacancy available.
• Research should be done on the company and the position. Read up on what your duties would be and think about how you would tackle problems that might arise or how your accomplishments and skills would benefit the company you’d like to work for.

By following these practices, you’ll be able to draft a curriculum vitae that is genuine and full of useful information.

What is a professional CV

A Professional CV, unlike a standard CV, is an expertly tailored document crafted to match a specific job role or industry.

It prioritises the following:

• Industry-relevant terminology
• Relevant skills and experiences

This offers employers a succinct, detailed insight into a candidate’s potential to excel in the targeted role.

What makes a professional CV worth using over a standard one in certain cases?

If you are focused it shows recruiters a few essential things about you, such as:

• You’ve researched the position
• You understand the industry and the role
• You have what it takes to be a valuable performer

By opting to make your CV more specific to your industry you can show that you are a true professional. That makes it especially easier for anyone who has expertise in an industry.

A Professional CV also aids in personal branding. It narrates your professional journey in a compelling, focused manner, presenting you as a potential asset to potential employers within your field. It acts as an effective self-promotion tool, highlighting your unique selling points and potential organisational value.

That’s bound to up your chances of landing an interview and, with a bit of luck, the job itself. By using a more professional CV you can show your work history in a relatable, focused way, demonstrating the value you bring to your field.

Tips for writing a good CV

Creating a personal brand, which is essentially what a CV is all about, requires certain strategies that can help you make an outstanding CV for your job search.

Put yourself into the shoes of the hiring manager at your preferred company and find a way to wow them! Take a look at these expert CV tips to help you get started:

• Keep in mind the employer’s needs:: you are writing an application to demonstrate that you are what they need in their business so keep your focus on what your experience and achievements can bring to the role.
• Do not lie: It doesn’t matter how many times we repeat ourselves – this is one of the biggest problems in CV writing, and it will not do you any favours to invent skills, qualifications, or experience you do not have!
• Use the correct keywords: Keywords are essential, especially for companies who use Applicant Tracking Software to filter their job applications. Use the job description, company website and profiles from other experts in your desired field or industry to find pertinent keywords and phrases.
• Use powerful verbs: When describing your accomplishments and responsibilities include verbsin order to have a bigger impact and make a memorable CV for your job application.

You can also take advantage of online tools such as templates to ensure that your CV stays neat and tidy.

CV layout

It’s crucial to think carefully about your CV format when you write it. If you choose to do so from scratch you’ll have to plan carefully how to place each section.

Creating a layout which is easy on the eyes, making good use of white space and not cluttering the page with different fonts, sizes, and typefaces.

To choose your layout you should consider:

• Your skills
• Your experience

Depending on your skills and experience you’ll be able to create a layout that is readable and makes your qualifications look better.

Readability is an element to be considered when structuring a CV. This means maintaining an easy-to-read document which is well constructed and using a layout that is comfortable for the employer to navigate to find the relevant information.

Also remember that when considering the CV structure, candidates should be mindful of the margins and white space on the page as well as font sizing and types, never using more than 2 fonts in the whole document.

CV types

There are different CV types which have different advantages and disadvantages depending on your professional profile and the vacancy you’re interested in.

For that reason it’s best to consider your options before diving into writing a CV and choose the most suitable application style for you.

Have a look at the various layouts to understand which is best for you.

Chronological CV

The reverse chronological CV format is the most traditional of the 3 types of curriculum vitae that are widely accepted today. Even in the most creative designs and concepts that people send as their job application these days, they often revert back to this CV format to give a clear explanation of their previous job history.

Often preferred for professional CVs, the chronological curriculum vitae applies its main focus to the work experience section and requires candidates to give details and a description of each job role from their career history.

This is the ideal choice if you have years of experience in your field.

Functional CV

The functional or sometimes known as skills-based CV format is the dark horse of the three due to its reputation for being able to conceal career gaps as it does not focus on the work experience as its main feature.

Instead, as the name suggests, the functional CV boasts a candidate’s qualities and competencies that make him or her apt for the role.

This can sometimes be ideal for certain job seeker profiles such as student CVs or career changers who have the expertise or qualifications but do not have a long or relevant job history.

Combination CV

The last of the three main CV types is a modern take on the functional CV which combines the previous two layouts.

The format uses one section that displays a brief work history with short descriptions of the key achievements and the skills section which plays a big role, explaining examples of how the applicant’s top skills have helped them.

The combination CV is often favoured by basic CV candidates who are looking for entry-level positions because they can rely on the many qualities they have gained throughout their professional and academic history.

Which sections should a CV include?

The sections featured on a standard CV can vary depending on the candidate, their unique professional profile, what they can offer a business, the type of vacancy they’re interested in, the company and the industry.

However, there are certain CV sections that are nearly always established as permanent fixtures.

1. Name, title, and contact details – The initial part of any CV should include the candidate’s name, job title and contact details with their professional email address and telephone number.
2. Personal statement – The second section includes a personal statement, sometimes called a summary statement or a CV objective depending on the applicant’s profile. This short paragraph should introduce the individual’s principle elements that make them a memorable candidate for the vacancy.
3. Work experience – Depending on the CV type this may or may not be the main focus of your application however it should always be presented in a formal and professional manner. If you use a chronological CV format you will need to include more information and if you are using a combination or functional CV, there will be fewer details in this section.
4. Skills – Listing your core competencies with regards the position and sector including hard and soft skills and specialist knowledge is fast becoming one of the more important sections to include in an effective CV. Ensure to always only indicate skills you master at a professional level and ones that are relevant to the vacancy you’re applying for.
5. Education – This section also depends on what type of CV you choose to use because for certain candidates, especially students and entry-level job applicants, it will hold more weight than for others.

Other sections

For many professions, job seekers will be more successful by including extra information relating to their experience in other areas or achievements that are pertinent for their application.

The following are just some of the more common additional CV sections that can help you convince a prospective employer of the importance of your candidacy.

• Languages – Indicate your level for each language you speak whether it is onative, professional, intermediate or basic.
• Achievements – Any honours or awards that you have won which relate to the vacancy or industry or demonstrate specialist knowledge or abilities can be an excellent extra section for your CV to catch a potential employer’s attention.
• Voluntary experience – Volunteering is always considered a positive addition to stand out in a job application process as it demonstrates passion and dedication to your professional field.
• Publications – If you have any publications to your name either as thesis, essays, books, articles etc. these can also be included in an extra CV section.

CV length: how long should a CV be?

When it comes to deciding on the perfect length for a CV, employers and HR experts differ greatly as it can depend on the applicant, their level of experience and even the industry or role they’re applying for.

However, as a general rule in the UK, the ideal length of a CV is 1-2 A4 pages to contain all of the relevant information you need to include in your job application.

In certain professions, it is likely that the job application requires extra information such as a portfolio in artistic pursuits or academic occupations. However, this information can also be added as a separate attachment to the curriculum vitae and need not be an integral part taking up valuable CV space.

It is advisable always to maintain each section as brief and clear as possible without missing out vital details or keywords whilst avoiding long paragraphs or endless lists as these often put employers off.

If there is a specific achievement or experience you wish to embellish on, you can use your professional cover letter which should always accompany your job application to do so.

In a cover letter the candidate has the opportunity to give further explanations or details which could convince the hiring manager to add your name to the interview list.

What not to include on a CV

Once you’ve learnt how to write a good CV you still need to make sure you don’t make any critical errors which is when you must consider what NOT to include in a CV before sending off your application.

Here is what you should do to avoid those mistakes:

• Avoid adding a photo. Do not include any personal details such as date of birth, age, marital status etc. as this can be seen as discriminatory.
• Only include your citizenship if you require a working visa which is connected to your national ID.
• Steer clear of using cliché phrases and certain words that have been overdone in applications in the past.
• Remove any unnecessary details or qualifications, skills or experience which do not relate to the position or provide evidence of your aptitude for the role.
• Do not mention references on your CV at any point unless strictly requested by the job vacancy. In some cases candidates can choose to add a line at the end of the CV to mention that ‘references are available on request’.

Tip: Follow the job description to fully understand what you should add or not add to your CV.

CV templates

A successful UK CV template for your sector or role can give you an excellent opportunity to customise your CV in minutes.

CV templates allow you to understand what is necessary to include in a curriculum vitae for their preferred profession.

Our library of CV templates has a wide range of layouts for various sectors and diverse occupations. Our templates use expert career advice for candidates to make a CV with the relevant information and the right layout in order to land the interview.

CV templates take the necessary factors into consideration for each role and are adaptable for each individual to create a unique winning CV with expert tips to achieve an easy-to-read, comprehensive and straightforward CV.

You’ll have an application that shows the employer exactly what he or she needs to know about the applicant in the highlighted sections and ensures excellent formatting without having to do it yourself!