If you’re struggling to get noticed, or if you’re at the start of your job searching journey, now is the time to write or reassess your CV to show employers that you’re the person they’re looking for.
The difficulty is, there may be hundreds of other people asked to do the same, for each vacancy!
A winning CV can help you to stand out, make a good impression and secure an interview.
In this Blog, the Employment Readiness coaches at Foundations 4 Work take you through the CV writing process from start to finish.
What is a CV?
A curriculum vitae (CV) is the document that all job seekers should have to share their skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience. Even though your CV acts as your professional overview, it should also give the employer an idea about your personality.
A CV is often needed when applying for a job, either on its own, or alongside an application form and/or cover letter.
Where to Start
CV’s tend to follow a similar structure, and employers can receive hundreds each day, so it’s important that your CV shows clearly and concisely why you’re the employee they should invite to an interview. Your name and contact details should be at the top of the page. After your details, from top to bottom, here are the different sections to pay close attention to:-
1. Your Personal Profile
2. Education 3. Job History 4. Achievements
5. Hobbies
6. References
Before you start writing, gather as much information as possible about the job(s) you are applying to (job avert, personal specification and any information about the company you can find). This will help you with the content you need to include.
Your Personal Profile
First impressions count, and an engaging personal profile is where you can stand out and encourage the employer to read on. Keep it brief and concise (no more than six sentences, but no less than three). You want to give just enough information to capture the employers attention, but not too much that they get bored or rush through it due to time constraints.
How to write your personal profile is entirely down to personal preference, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. In which ever style you write it, keep it consistent. Your profile needs to briefly answer the most relevant questions that employers quickly want to know, such as:-
Who are you?
What work and life experience have you got?
What skills do you have?
When answering these questions, particularly about skills and experience, keep the job specification in mind, and read it through before writing your CV (or updating it if you already have one). An ideal personal profile will highlight the attributes, skills, knowledge and experience that the job requires.
I am a Business Management graduate with a 2:1 degree specialising in Human Resources. For the last 2 years I have volunteered with several third sector, community based organisations where I gained experience in recruitment, marketing and fundraising. I am skilled in project management and able to prioritise and plan to achieve successful outcomes in both academic and professional settings. I am now aiming to begin a rewarding career within the voluntary sector to use my skills to make a positive difference in society.
Education
Write your list of education, starting with your most recent, or in a hierarchy of educational attainment. For example:-
Doctorate
Masters Degree
Bachelors degree with honors
Non-bachelors degree
Higher National Diploma
A Levels
GCSE’s
For each qualification, write the name, the school, college or university you obtained it from, the grate (if relevant) and the date you achieved it.
Underneath this, you could have another section for employment related training such as first aid, manual handling, risk assessment, food hygiene, project management etc.
Job History
Write each employment position you have had, starting with the most recent, including:-
The role you hold/held
Company you worked for
Date you employment started and the date you left (if you are no longer still employed, otherwise, state that you still hold the position)
Bullet points of your key responsibilities (no more than four to five per role so pick the ones that are most relevant to the role you are applying for) You can add examples too of how you have handled problems, used your initiative or resolved conflict for example
Be sure to add any volunteering roles you have had underneath, making it clear that it was a voluntary position.
What if I have never had a job or have gaps in my employment history?
If you have any gaps in your employment history, you can write what you have done with this time, such as raising children, caring for loved ones, retraining, travelling or volunteering for instance.
If you have limited or no job experience, you may wish to seek out a volunteering opportunity in the community while you search for employment. Volunteering is a great way of adding lots of work based skills to your CV.
Achievements
This section highlights your successes as a professional. List any achievements you have a had in previous employment.
Here are a few examples:-
Have you ever been ‘Employee of the Month’? If so, do you know why were you chosen?
Can you list a time when you secured a contract or funding?
Have you won or been nominated for a professional award?
Can you give an example of a time you worked on a specific project that was a success?
Have you suggested changes in the workplace that were implemented and made a difference
Top Tips
Keep the font clear (Ariel or Tahoma for example), and the layout simple – you want to make sure that your CV is easy to read for the employer. You can find lots of free templates online.
Keep your CV up to date. If you’ve recently taken part in any training, voluntary work for example make sure to add it all to your CV.
It is vital to update your contact details if they change!
Don’t send the same CV to every employer. Before applying for each role, make sure to add relevant information about yourself to suit the unique role that you are applying for. Use the job description and specification for each role to highlight the requested skills, experience and knowledge you can bring to their role. For instance, if an employer is looking for someone who has initiative and can work well independently, make sure to give examples of when you have been able to successfully bring this to your previous employment, education, volunteering or personal life.
Avoid any spelling mistakes and make sure your grammar is correct.
Keep your CV to two sides of A4
Ask someone to read it before you send it. A fresh review by someone else can help identify any errors.
Check how the employer wants to receive your CV. If you have to send it by post or email, add a cover letter. If you are uploading the CV to an website, check to see if there is an area where the information from your cover letter might be entered.
Other FAQs
Do I need to disclose my age or date of birth?
It is not necessary to disclose your age or date of birth, since the Equality Act of 2010 means that age discrimination is illegal, but you can if you wish to.
Do I need to add my address?
It is common for people to add their address along with their name, contact number and email addresses at the top of a CV. Some people prefer to add the location of where they live, such as the town or city, or the ward in which they live followed by the town or city.
DO I need to add names and contact details of references?
Employers usually do not need your references at this stage of the application process. It is usually a requirement if you are invited to submit and application form, or if you are offered the role subject to references. Adding ‘references available upon request’ is adequate for your CV.
Can I get help to write a CV?
Yes. There are many services available to you if you would like help to write your CV. Check with your local authority, job centre or citizens advice service if there are any employment support teams in your area, or you can pay to have a CV written if this is financially viable for you. Third sector support is also available depending on your location. We’re part of the Foundations charity for example, providing employment support to people in Gateshead.
Need Help to Write Your CV?
If you need help to write your CV, learn how to job search, attend interviews with confidence, write application forms and gain work experience all under one roof, chat to our Foundation 4 Work team on 0191 477 8337 or at foundation4work@gmail.com. The team provide free, expert job readiness programmes tailored to your needs in an inclusive, welcoming environment with free resources and your own work boots and high-vis jacket to keep. Find out more about the eligibility criteria, eligibility postcodes and how to join us from just one day per week.
If you live in the North East and struggling to afford clothing for interviews, there are two fantastic services that can help.
Gentlemen's Interview Clothing - Suitability
Ladies Interview Clothing - Smartworks
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