THE AIM
The aim of your CV is to secure you an interview. You need to display your relevant skills accurately in a way that encourages the reader to study your details.
PREPARING A CV
Please note that the person reading your CV will be busy. They may not take the time to review your skills thoroughly if the content of your CV is hidden behind impressive graphics or colours.
It is also worth noting that some formats will not travel well over the internet - simple is best.
SECTION ONE
Basic Information on your first page
- NAME
- GENERAL ADDRESS
- TELEPHONE NUMBERS: HOME, WORK, MOBILE
Bear in mind potential dangers from identity theft- and set up an Email address specifically for your jobsearching. You may want to consider getting a dedicated Email address and mobile- just for when you are avidly job hunting. Do not provide your Date of Birth , specific home address details, banking information or passport number in your CV.
Next, list your qualifications.
When giving your educational details show your highest qualification first.
Include details of degree classification, but avoid listing the degree syllabus - this indicates little depth to the rest of the CV content.
Only mention the numbers of O/ GCSE’s & A levels - grade and subjects are not relevant.
SECTION TWO
A technical summary - to give the reader an accurate representation of your technical strengths.
List your main skills and provide some indication of the time spent in each different environment.
e.g.
- Windows NT 18 months
- HP - UX 18 months
SECTION THREE
Employment History/ Commercial experience - in reverse chronological order, writing in depth about your current or most recent position. Outline what you have been doing listing the technologies you have been using.
This is the most important section as it must demonstrate a history of success and progression. If your work history is lengthy, then only detail the last 5 years and list the remaining.
Avoid writing the CV from a third party perspective. It is from this section that the interviewer will compose most of the interview questions.
Always be truthful.
