Writing Your CV

CVs are the most important aspect of job-hunting, as they are the first type of representation that your potential company is going to see. Professionalism is crucial, and it often differentiates you as better than the rest.

Make sure there are no spelling mistakes in your CV, and ensure that it is printed. Never submit a hand-written CV regardless of how neat your handwriting is. In order for your CV to stand out, it must be visually appealing and easy to read. The industry for which you are applying will determine the layout and contents of your CV.

For example, if you want to go into the design industry, you will need to focus more on design, than if you were entering the engineering industry. The content of your CV needs to be accurate and honest. Interviewers might ask you questions on something you've mentioned, or if you get the job, they may assume you know things that you don’t. Also remember that they might contact your references, so don’t lie about what you have or haven’t done.

There’s a lot of debate about the format of a CV. But the general standard is that personal information, i.e.: contact, name and address comes first. This must also include your gender, the languages that you speak and your date of birth. It is advised to start with your most current work experiences and to work your way backwards to your tertiary and school qualifications. Remember that you don’t have to get too detailed about your school history, especially if have a long working history.

For work experience, it is recommended that you give the companies’ names and the industries that they were involved in. You should also include the name of the employer and dates. For relevant positions, outline your job responsibilities in point form and any achievements. It is optional whether you would like to explain your reason for resignation.

If you do, however, make sure it’s just one line. Make sure your CV history flows. Don’t leave out unexplained years, rather state what you were doing, whether it was traveling or taking time off. Another optional angle is to include your Interests and Achievements. Here, your potential employer can get a feel for your likes and dislikes. Don’t get too involved or explanatory, rather just stick to actual awards and interests. They will get a proper feel for your personality during the interview.

Lastly include your references and make sure that your references are happy to be on your CV. Try to have as many current references rather than past ones. People you worked with 10 years ago probably won’t be able to explain the work you have done currently.

Remember to provide a covering letter to your CV, including the job title you have applied for and where you got the information for the job. You can also include a few highlighted points from your CV, which are the most applicable to the position. Tailor your reference letter and CV for the position. If you are applying for a job in the IT industry, they wont be too interested in your part time waitressing experience from school.

Make sure the font size you use isn’t overly large, headings are highlighted or bold and the CV isn’t too long. Simplicity is usually best when it comes to CVs. It must exude professionalism and efficiency.

CVs are there to represent your history and give a representation of what you are about. It is important to ensure that it is faultless, as the interviewers will judge you on that. It needs to show your capabilities and what type of work they can expect from you. After all, CV is short for Curriculum Vitae, which is Latin for “course of life".

Celeste writes for Recruitment and Employment News , who specialise information about the Employment Industry.