A well written CV shows employers that you have the necessary skills and qualities to do the job you are applying for.

It is important that your CV stands out above the rest to get you an interview.

What does an employer want from a CV?

• neat presentation – easy to read with good grammar and spelling
• to the point - keep it to two sides of A4 but if you don't have much to write put it all on one side.
• make it relevant to the job
• organised – in a logical order with clear headings for each section

What makes a good CV?

A good CV should:

• attract attention
• make a good impression
• present your relevant skills and qualities clearly

What goes In a CV?

CVs often follow a standard format, with education, qualifications and work experience first, then personal skills and interests. Here is a list of common headings:

• personal details – including contact information
• personal profile (optional) - a brief overview of your main skills; you must back these up in the rest of your CV
• education and qualifications – usually the most recent first
• work experience - most recent first
• skills profile – this should be detailed and list skills which you can prove from your experience
• interests – keep it brief
• referees - one from school or college and one, if possible, from work. You can put 'references available on request' instead if you want to.