| Watch this short video about putting a CV together:
|
What is a CV (Curriculum Vitae)
- A brief summery about you. It includes information about your education, work experience and skills
- A CV should ‘sell’ you to an employer. It needs to create enough interest to get you an interview.
- It helps employers decide if you are likely to be right for the job
|
| Look at some CV Examples |
A CV should be:
- Word-processed
- Short, jargon-free and to the point
- No more than two pages long
- Easy to read – use something like Arial 11
- Not ‘jazzed up’ with different fonts, bright colours, borders or clip art
- Up to date
- Not have any unexplained gaps in education and employment history
- Checked for spelling and grammar
|
What should a CV look like?
While there are no fixed rules, it should include:
| Name
Address
Contact details
Personal profile
A short statement about your skills, personality and qualities. It should be tailored for each job you apply for.
Education
List your secondary schools and colleges with the dates attended. List your qualifications and grades. Leave out junior and primary schools.
Work experience
List any paid work, work experience or voluntary work you have done. Start with the most recent first.
For each job, give:
- Dates employed
- Job title
- Company name
- A brief outline of your duties
- If you don’t have much paid work experience, put down any voluntary work you have done, e.g. helping out at a school, school work experience.
Achievements
Include details about any certificates gained for timekeeping, sporting achievements, Duke of Edinburgh awards, etc.
Include any relevant skills or certificates that you have that might be useful at work, for example a driving licence, a first aid certificate, ability to speak a foreign language, experience of computer software such as Microsoft Office.
Interests
Include interests that will help show you as interesting and sociable, especially if they are relevant to the job. For example, an applicant to a catering company whose hobby is cooking.
References
Include the contact details for two referees who will provide references for you. Suitable people for this include your last employer and a school teacher or College lecturer.
If you do not want to include them on your CV put ‘References available on request’. |
Note: Laws on discrimination mean you do not have to include your age and date of birth |
CV Content
Transferable Skills
Everyone has ‘transferable skills’. One example is ‘being a good communicator’ – someone who is sympathetic, a good listener and able to help others to sort out their problems. This skill is needed for a range of different jobs, for example, a doctor, shop assistant or a teacher.
Look at the list below and identify some of your transferable skills. Add these to your CV:
THIS IS ME…
|
CV SPEAK…
|
| A good laugh |
Gets on well with people of all ages |
| Sociable, chatty, bubbly |
Good communicator, confident |
| Bossy |
Has leadership skills |
| Likes to be the centre of attention |
Confident |
| Easily distracted |
Open to new ideas and suggestions, flexible worker |
| Bit of a daydreamer |
Creative thinker |
| Helped to build a garden shed |
Construction skills, planning and budgeting skills |
| Play for a local football team |
Teamwork skills, shows commitment/reliability |
| Babysits for family |
Childcare skills, happy to take on responsibility |
| Helps out with household chores |
Organised and efficient, food preparation/catering experience |
| Took part in school play |
Presentation skills, confident in front of an audience |
| Enjoy computer games, using the internet |
Good IT skills, enjoy researching information |
| Enjoy fixing my car/bike/scooter |
Excellent practical skills, technically minded, problem solving skills |
| Like to do things my own way |
Innovative, self-motivated |
| Like to be told how to do things |
Able to follow instructions accurately, methodical worker |
| Attended school on time, every day |
Good attendance records, punctual and reliable |
| Didn’t take many exams at school but regret it now |
Willing to train and gain further skills and qualification |
| Good at getting friends to do what I want them to do |
Able to organise and motivate others, effective negotiation skills |
| Always hand homework in on time |
Able to meet deadlines, excellent planning skills, effective time manager |
| Friends come to me to talk about problems |
Sympathetic, good listener, caring attitude |
| Worked in a school shop |
Experience of cash handling, happy to take on responsibility |
| Enjoy drawing and sketching at home |
Artistic and creative, has a flair for design |
| Sell things on Ebay or at car boot sales |
Commercial/business awareness, entrepreneurial skills |
| Use Facebook to meet new people and keep in touch with friends |
Excellent networking skills, good ICT skills and awareness of Social Media |
| I’m a laid back kind of person |
Able to stay calm and work well under pressure |
| I always got my homework done before going out |
Able to prioritise effectively |
| I was a runner at school, sending messages for staff and visitors |
A range of customer services dealing with adults and peers |
|
Use positive ‘buzz’ words:
| capable |
friendly |
enthusiastic |
calm and relaxed |
| reliable |
well-motivated/ keen to learn |
self-motivated |
punctual |
| honest/trustworthy |
good team worker |
hard working |
competent |
| responsible |
organised |
committed |
adaptable |
|
Use sentences starting with:
| I enjoy |
I successfully |
I learnt to |
I took part in |
| I improved |
I won |
I am interested in |
I set up |
| I was chosen to |
I organised |
I was fascinated by |
I wish |
| I have experience of |
I can |
I passed |
I was congratulated on |
| I am good at |
I am a keen |
I raised money for |
I have good |
| I want to |
I helped |
I learnt that I am |
I was thanked for |
|
Include phrases like:
| taught me |
take responsibility |
learnt how to deal with equipment |
| helped me |
act appropriately |
learnt how to follow instructions |
| negotiating with |
made me aware of |
work as part of a team |
| dealing with problems |
made me realise |
use my initiative |
| new challenges |
gave me the opportunity |
be self-disciplined |
| know how to deal with money |
communicating with |
seek help where appropriate |
| can travel independently |
giving advice to |
opened my eyes to |
| understand how to respond to requests |
answering questions |
made me determined |
| work on my own |
learnt how to deal with people |
discussing with |
Emphasise your positive qualities:
| sense of humour |
hard working |
neat and tidy |
| quiet |
energetic |
punctual |
| generous |
careful |
caring |
| like trying new things |
friendly |
thoughtful |
| fit and healthy |
enthusiastic |
supportive |
| smart appearance |
willing to learn |
enjoy a challenge |
|
Include experience:
| work experience |
school plays/performances |
responsibilities at home or school |
| hobbies |
part-time work |
fundraising |
| dealing with difficulties |
clubs |
sports |
|
Include any special skills:
| reading |
working under pressure |
listening |
| helping others |
organising events |
telephone skills |
| computer skills |
map reading/navigating |
communication skills |
| languages (indicate whether you have fluent, intermediate or basic skills) |
|
Include accomplishments, achievements and skills you have developed in your social life or out of school activities:
| Activity |
Developed skills |
| Work-experience |
punctuality, responsibility, team working |
| Socialising with friends |
initiative, conversationalist, ideas person, peacemaker |
| Hobbies |
self-discipline, commitment |
| Sports/music/arts/drama |
skilful, curious, refreshing, dedication, patience, team player |
| Computers |
manual dexterity, coordination, competitive, technical |
| Reading |
knowledge, imagination, concentration, calmness |
| Travel/holidays |
inquisitive, knowledge, planning, budgeting, organisation, cultural sensitivity, leadership, languages |
| Looking after relatives (older/younger) |
patience, responsibility, sense of humour |
| Prefect |
confidence, diplomacy, responsibility |
| Voluntary work |
social conscience, reliability, motivation, caring |
|
Languages |
intellect, cultural interest, written/spoken ability, interpreter, sensitivity, communicator |
| Driving |
competent, careful, conscientious, safe |
| Youth Club/Scouts/Guides |
discipline, loyalty, commitment, group member |
| If you are a member of a church or mosque or if you regularly go to a temple, think how that may also show your skills of discipline, loyalty and commitment. |
|