CV Writing

The number one essential on a CV is contact details. If you don’t have these, the employer can’t get in touch with you for an interview.

You should include:

• Your full name at the top of the page
• A phone number that you can be reached on during working hours
• An email address – always use a professional sounding email address. Something along the lines of firstname.lastname.number@gmail.com (or alternate email provider) should do.

If you have an online portfolio or a LinkedIn profile you can include links to these too.

You do NOT have to include your:

• age
• date of birth
• marital status
• nationality

These few lines illustrate who you are and what you hope to accomplish. This should appear after your name and contact information.

Be aware of what the employer is looking for and what you want. Tailor your profile to sound like the best candidate for the job.

This is a key part of your CV, and should include any paid jobs, volunteering, placements, and internships that you’ve had. Always list these from most recent first.

For each role you’ve had, make sure to include:

• the employer details
• the job title
• the dates you worked there
• what you did (a short summary, 2-3 lines in length)

Try to include words that highlight exactly what you’ve done (created, contributed, organised, managed, planned, etc) and give examples of your achievements rather than simply listing your responsibilities.

You should try to use the STAR method to put your achievements into context.

The education section should highlight:

• names of your qualifications
• school, college or university where you studied
• dates you attended

Depending where you are in your career will depend on how much detail this section should have.

If you’re young or don’t have much work experience, try to put a good amount of detail here, and include a short summary of what skills you’ve developed through your education.

If you’re further in your career this section should only include your most recent education, be it a degree, or other qualification.

Telling an employer about your hobbies and interests can be a chance to let your personality shine through. Just remember that you should also try to tie the interests you have back to soft skills that employers look for.

e.g. In a band – Taught myself guitar to a level where I am comfortable performing in front of audiences.

This shows that you have determination and dedication, as well as confidence that could transfer over to pitching or presenting.

It is no longer common to include the details of references on a CV. Instead, you can simply add “References available on request” or simply leave them off entirely.

If you’re successful at the interview stage, it’s after this point that the employer will ask you for references.

People can have gaps in their CV’s for a variety of reasons; don’t feel bad about this if it applies to you. If you have a large gap for any reason, try to show skills you developed during this time.

If you have a gap in your CV due to mental illness, Rethink can help you create a CV.

Gap due to a criminal record? Nacro is on hand to help you get back to work.

And if you’ve taken time off to be a carer and are looking to get back into work, then Carers UK have resources that can help.