CV preparation guide – from Chess Partnership

The essentials of CV writing…

What is the purpose of a CV?

• It is a tool to be used by you as an introduction to an employer or recruitment company. It is your way of getting noticed.
• It is a guide for an interviewer.

How long should a CV be?

One to two pages. No longer than two pages - an interviewer does not have the time to read all of the information.

How should I lay out my CV?

Part one: Name and contact details.

• List your home address, home telephone and mobile number.
• Only give your work telephone number if it is appropriate to be contacted at work.
• Give your email address if you have one. If using your work email, make sure that you are comfortable with who can access it.
• If you are moving or changing countries, give both your temporary and permanent contact details.

Part Two: Career history.

• You should start with your most recent position first.
• Your responsibilities and achievements should be in bullet point format - this makes the CV easier to read. Paragraph format makes it difficult to find information.
• List achievements that are measurable (ie: increased profit from X to Y, reduced staff turnover from X% to Y%)
• Give figures wherever possible.
• You do not want to write more than five bullet points per job and only for the most recent three jobs. All others should be described briefly.
• If you have had more than one position within a single company, list each position but do not be repetitive in the description of your responsibilities or achievements.

Part Three: Education, Qualifications and Training.

• Start with the most recent, industry related qualifications.
• Training courses should be listed separately and include all company and statutory training courses.

Part Four: Interests.

• List your personal details, such as Date of Birth and Marital Status.
• Nationality and language skills are important when applying internationally.
• You can't always be at work and should show that you have a balance between work related and non-work related activities. List your interests and hobbies, including any sports, clubs or associations that you participate in.

What else do I need to know?

• Don't exaggerate the facts. Be prepared for an interviewer to question you on ALL of the contents of your CV.
• Use a clear font/type-set. A fancy font may look pretty, but is often inappropriate.
• Always proofread a CV for mistakes or errors. It is often helpful to ask a family member or friend to check your CV too.
• Use good quality and plain paper.

Article courtesy of recruitment consultants Chess Partnership

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