Tips for Writing Great CVs

Tailor your resume to the role you're applying for – you must demonstrate how you are going to meet the employer’s needs.

Always check your resume for spelling and grammar – or better still get someone else to check it for you. You’ll be surprised what they pick up. Use spell-check!

Highlight relevant skills, strengths and achievements – highlight key skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for and leave off those that aren’t.

Don't lie, or embellish the truth – you will always get caught out.

Keep it short and sweet – don’t forget that keeping it simple is a key component of resume success. Set a three to five-page limit and stick to it.

Make sure your CV reads in chronological order – start with most recent and work backwards. Describe the last 10 years in full & summarise the earlier roles.

Use key words in your resume – increasingly recruiters are using specialist software to help them sort through the masses of resumes they receive. Such programs look for words and phrases commonly used by the type of candidate the employer wants.

Make it easy to read – Use bullet points to make it quicker and easier to read. Put headings in bold and avoid too many font’s and graphics.

Do not have unexplained gaps in your work history – if you have gaps in your work history because you have been travelling, or had time off to care for a child or relative, put this information in. If you leave it blank, the employer will assume the worst!

Make sure you can submit your CV electronically – create your CV in a common program such as MS Word, so that it can be opened and read easily.

Make sure all your contact details are correct – include the phone numbers that you can be reached on, address and email. These should appear on the first page of your CV.

Include referee details – make sure you get their permission first. These should be people who have been former employers or managers.

Don’t attach all your certificates and written references – bring a copy of these to the interview.

You can find our CV template here

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