What To Include In Your CV
| Career : CV So, you have a blank word processor window open in front of you. You have decided to write your CV. What do you do?! It can be a daunting process, and make no mistake, it will take some time. But it is time very well spent - this is what you are going to use to 'sell' yourself in the majority of jobs that you go for, in order to convince them that they need to interview you. Below we list four areas that the CV should definitely contain. (a) Personal details This is information such as your address, name, marital status, nationality, date of birth. All the essential information that they need to know. If you have more than one address, given them along with the times that you can be contacted at both. Include phone numbers and email addresses if you have them. Remember that you should not write 'curriculum vitae' across the top of your CV - they know what a CV is! Rather you should have your name across the top of the CV. (b) Education Give the names of the institutions you have attended as the heading, and the exam results you have got under those headings. Remember to write, e.g. 'Leeds University', rather than just 'Leeds'. Include awards and prizes that you have achieved during your education in this section. Did you achieve a prize for outstanding performance at GCSE? If so, say so. Remember to say what year you took the exams in. With GCSEs, you often don't need to list all the subjects, but simply say that you have, for instance, 11 GCSEs, 10 at Grade C and above, or whatever is relevant for you. (c) Work experience As well as listing the jobs you have done, starting at the top of the list with the most recent job that you have done, you should say what the role involved - job title alone is very general and not particularly useful. Try and show how you developed the skills necessary for the new job in this section. Be specific, therefore and give examples of what you have done and what you have achieved. Emphasise parts of work experience most relevant to the employer's specific interests with regard to your capability as a potential employee. (d) Interests This section, which includes hobbies, is your chance to show that you have a diverse and balanced life, full of interesting things. Whilst you may enjoy reading, it is not a good idea to list too many passive parts of your life here; so if you really enjoy sitting in front of the TV and watching films, then don't say this. Include 'positive', active things that you do - for instance sports that you play. If you have travelled, then include this here and make it sound interesting. If you spent a few months last summer going round Australia laying on beaches, then at least make it sound good: 'this Summer I achieved one of my goals, which was to travel independently around Australia, seeing it's many sights and experiencing that very unique Australian culture'. Again, you should try and give information relevant to the job. Indicate to what level you have done something. So don't just say 'swimming', but 'several times a week I practice my swimming at the local club', or substitute 'I like playing tennis' to 'I have been an avid tennis fan and as such have played for ten years, including a successful period in the county squad'. You may also be required to give referees at this stage, if you are unsure then phone up to check. Many employers do not require referees at this stage; if you are asked for them, then give their full contact details, and say what relationship they have with you - old music teacher? Old headmaster? If you are at university, then make sure that you give one academic and one work experience referee where practicable, so that the company can have two different viewpoints on you when it comes to deciding whether to offer you that job or not. Also make sure that you ask the referee's permission to be used as a referee - it is rather rude just to list them, and they are sure not to be over-keen to do you justice when a form arrives on their desk unsolicited asking for information on your relationship with that individual, and requesting that they give you a glowing reference!
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